Philanthropy in 1900 London: Toynbee Hall

Antiques from London on eBay

CARDIGAN + London to Acton Antique Road Map.#1/2 1736
12 Jul 2011 at 6:45am
US $39.95
End Date: Tuesday Feb-07-2012 3:50:21 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $39.95
Buy it now | Add to watch list
SILVER FIDDLE PATTERN SERVING SPOON ENGLISH LONDON 1796
20 Oct 2009 at 8:45am
US $110.00
End Date: Tuesday Feb-07-2012 5:50:40 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $110.00
Buy it now | Add to watch list

Arthur H. Beavan continued his survey of philanthropy in Imperial London, published in 1901, with this look at Toynbee Hall:

In the University Settlements one general scheme of organization prevails, with modifications here and there; and Toynbee Hall, being better known than any other, will serve as an illustration.

Its origin and aim is as follows: Arnold Toynbee, to whom it stands in memorial, was an Oxford tutor, who, like many others, found himself one day face to face with the social problem, that whilst the rich daily grow richer, the poor grow poorer.

He was one of the Oxford men who, between 1867 and 1874, went to live in the East-end, determined to see matters for themselves, and not to trust to hearsay or books.

Toynbee Hall is the expression of Arnold Toynbee's views and sentiments.

It is the outcome not of one man's life or work, but of a movement towards a more thorough understanding, and a keener sympathy between the classes.

Canon Barnett (then the Rev. S. A. Barnett, of St. Jude's) was the practical man who came forward to offer advice out of the rich store of his experience as an East-end clergyman.

In 1883 he read a paper on the subject.

His remedy was the University Settlement, the leader to be a man who had taken a degree, who was qualified to teach, and endowed with the enthusiasm of humanity.

The scope of the scheme, he said, was to be "common ground for all classes. In the lecture-room the knowledge, gained at the highest sources, would night after night be freely given.

In the conversation-rooms the students would exchange ideas and form friendships. At the weekly receptions of 'all sorts and conditions of men,' the residents would mingle freely in the crowd. The one uniting bond would be the common purpose, 'not without action to die fruitless,' but to do something to improve the condition of the people.

Accommodation would be provided so that the men from Oxford or Cambridge could spend their vacations there, whilst those following some daily pursuit could take up their residence there."

Toynbee Hall was opened in 1884, with lecture-hall, library, guest, and reception rooms.

There are about fifteen resident graduates, either of Oxford or Cambridge.

There is no fixed policy, no elaborate and embarrassing code to set a limit to their efforts.

The end is the common good.

Yet the amount of the work left undone is enormous.

There are in East London people living almost as animals, whom the friendship of the more educated might startle into humanity; men and boys who, in classes, in games, and in night schools, might be drawn to other conceptions of life.

There are in West London thousands who, without giving up their work or their career, could supply the want.

Toynbee Hall exists to bring into contact the "haves" and the "have nots."

The gain will be mutual, but at present the "have nots" stand and wait, while the "haves" keep at a distance.

The residents live at their own charges.

The rents average £1 per week, board and attendance about twenty-five shillings.

About seventy have passed through Toynbee Hall, and there are about a hundred associates, who, though living elsewhere, co-operate in the work.

Associations to assist the humblest poor are familiar to all.

But there is an equally necessitous class, of whose trials little is ever heard.

The efforts to aid this class are not generally known.

Next: Philanthropic London in 1900: The Distressed Gentlefolks' Aid Association