24 SEPTEMBER 1910, Page 18

MISS CATHERINE MARSH AND OTHERS.

[To TEE EDITOR 07 THE "SritcrATos."1 SIR,—It is so interesting to notice how the good sown by quiet workers springs up and bears fruit an hundredfold, that I am sure you will allow me to follow np "An Onlooker's" account in your issue of September 10th of Miss Marsh's strenuous labours with a short additional chapter. Your correspondent mentions Mrs. Ranyard among those who were inspired by Miss Marsh's example, and who founded the Bible Women Sooiety, to this day a large and flourishing agency. Out of Mrs. Ranyard's little book, "The Missionary Link," describing this agency, sprang the Parochial Mission Women Association, which carries out the same idea under the parish clergy, and is doing incalculable good both in London and the provinces. During the cholera visitation of 1866 not only Miss Marsh but Mrs. Gladstone and Mrs. Tait came to the rescue of the Sufferers, and the "three Catherinea " made (if I remember right) a joint appeal for public aid. " An Onlooker " has told us what Catherine Marsh achieved. Catherine Tait founded St. Peter's Orphan and Convalescent Homes, Isle of Thanet ; and Catherine Gladstone a convalescent home for men, women, and "cholera orphans," which has now developed into the Catherine Gladstone Free Convalescent Home at Mitcham and the orphanage at Hawarden. Of these three noble workers for God and man only one survives. How fruitful a harvest has sprung from the seed they sowed!—