THE EDGHILL HOUSE IN MEMORY OF THE LATE REV. E.

A. EDGHILL.

[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] Sin,—The boys of South London have lost in Ernest Edghill a chosen friend and leader. No one will ever again be just as he was—with the mind of a great man and the heart of a real

boy. His calls and activities were without number, many different fields of work claimed his time and gifts, but he was never so happy and so much himself as among the bare-kneed boys in khaki who gathered round him at Southwark. As he lived among them these last few years a great need gradually revealed itself, a work crying to be done. He alone heard the call, set his hand to the work, and pledged his life to its fulfil- ment. It was this way. He saw boys that were born of working parents and gifted with great ability and character gain Council scholarships from elementary to secondary schools; and this warmed his heart, for he loved climbing boys above all others. But he saw two barriers that stopped the way for many a boy he cared about ; so he set himself to remove them, and settled down to this as the work of his life.

The first barrier was one of expense. Many parents were forced to refuse the scholarship their boy had won because they could not forgo his wages. Many more allowed him to go to a secondary school, but took him away after a year or two, and sent him to work. It is stated that only thirty per cent. of those who win scholarships spend their full three years at a secondary school. This is a sad waste of brains, for these scholarship boys are the pick of many thousands.

The second barrier is a less visible one. It arises from the fact that the London secondary schools are day-schools, and that it is difficult to develop character when a boy spends his days in one atmosphere and his evenings in another. The contrast of home and school is too constant and too acute to produce the best type of mind and spirit and taste. In many cases the boy enjoys a splendid classical education, seriously impoverished by the absence of definite religious teaching. This is a sad waste of character, for these boys should be the foremost men in London.

Ernest Edghill saw a single solution for both these diffi- culties in the application of the public-school house system.

He took a house at this address, and brought eight boys to live with him here who would otherwise have had no chance

of a full education. They were given board and lodging, but as true scouts they did their share of the housework. It is but six months since St. Saviour's Hostel—as he named it—

opened its doors to the eight boys. All went well : the boys were intensely happy, the future was bright, there were whispers of extension. But now suddenly the founder and head is gone. He has handed to us the work he had but just begun. It was his dying wish that we should not fail him. We believe intensely in the need for such a place as this, and are resolved that the idea and inspiration of so good a man shall not perish. His life-work must live on.

Accordingly the House will be open for the boys by the middle of September. It will no longer be known by the name of St. Saviour's Hostel or Cottage, but in memory of its founder will henceforth be called The Edghill House. We

trust that his faith and personality may be its most cherished tradition. It is hoped that other similar Houses may be founded for boys at secondary schools, possibly with differing traditions. But we should be false to the memory of Ernest Edgbill if we did not make it clear that the service of Christ

and the love of His Church and Sacraments are the founda- tion-stones of the House that takes his name.

The scheme has the warm approval of the headmasters of the schools attended by the boys. Support is urgently needed. We beg all who want the most promising boys in London to be brought up in the spirit of Ernest Edghill's life to come to the rescue of the House. Cheques, &c., should be sent without delay to the Hon. Treasurer at the Edghill House, 26 Longton. Grove, Sydenham, S.E., made payable to "The

Edghill House," and crossed L. & S.W. Bank, Sydenham.— We are, Sir, &c., H. M. SOUTHWARK. E. WINTON.

J. WOOLWICH.

Prebendary EDGHILL. Miss) E. M. EDGHILL. HOUSE, bMiss) M. A. CAMPBELL.

Committee C. EASTLANB-SMITH, A.C.A. (Hon. Treas.)

ALEXANDER PATERSON.

26 Longicm Grove, Sydenitant, S.E.