A dark-green medium-sized hard-cover book with the short title, 'Dr. Barnardo', author and publisher imprinted in gold on the spine only. On the fly-leaf verso are notices for 'Lord Shaftesbury and Social Industrial Progress' by the same author. There follows a portrait of Barnardo from a 'photograph taken shortly before his death', but different from the one in the 1907 book.
The title page has 'Doctor Barnardo Physician, Pioneer, Prophet' and further subtitle 'Child Life Yesterday and Today'. The author's name is followed by academic qualifications from America, Canada, and London. The Publishers, whose elaborate monogram graces the tail page of the book, are from Museum Street in London. The initial publication date of 1930 is listed on the verso.
The dedication is to his wife, and the Preface states clearly the author's intention to present Barnardo alongside Shaftesbury in the context of social history, making mention that the former founded the Ragged Schools in which the latter taught before establishing his own Homes. His sources are personal help and letters in possession of Dr. Barnardo's wife, his brother-in-law, various officials of Barnardo's, and books, including Nos. 1, 2, and 3 of this bibliography.
Comment: Having previously presented Shaftesbury the author adds Barnardo to the context of the history of evangelical philanthropy.
His first chapter, entitled the 'Great Awakening' presents Wycliffe, Wesley, and Newman as the religious figures behind the Evangelical revival that, in England, brought the social reforms of the nineteenth century through moral incentive. It was in this context that Barnardo became the Child's Champion(Ch.II) and his conversion, evangelical fervour initially directed to China, then turned to East London(Ch.III-V), and he discovered the 'Mustard Seed' as the author terms Barnardo's recognition while teaching in a Ragged School(Ch.VI), that Jim Jarvis needed a Home. Thus Shaftesbury and Barnardo come together.
In the next Chapter(VII), called 'Creative Evolution', he describes the rapid growth of Barnardo's East End Juvenile Mission as not only fundamentally Evangelical but also interdenominational and non-sectarian. When the Mission opened the Home for Boys in Stepney, it had the same evangelical basis, but missioning became ministering, and the care was a first step in social reform for children. Page 108 relates that late in 1871 Shaftesbury requested Barnardo 'carefully to study the records of "his children's" histories, and compile statistics as to the causes of the children's admissions; no less than 85 per cent were due to drink. In addition to becoming a teetotaller himself, Barnardo incorporated this into his mission work. Similarly, when Barnardo took over the Edingurgh Castle (see Notes 3) Shaftesbury joined him to declare it open, and many evangelical revivalists appeared there.
At the end of this chapter a charming account of the tenderness albeit brevity of Barnardo's courtship and marraige of Syrie Louise Elmslie is related, from accounts given to the author by both Mr. Harry Elmslie and Mrs Barnardo herself, which provides evidence for the important place of Barnardo's own family life behind his remarkable working pattern.
Chapter VIII is taken from Barnardo's extensive accounts of his experiences in the East London streets and Chapter IX is titled 'On Trial' and describes, with lurid details, the accusations and events that led to the Arbitration Board's Enquiry and Ruling(Notes 2) and (Notes 3), and, in Chapter X, 'From Trial to Triumph' the rapid increase of Barnardo's work following his vindication.
Chapter XI describes at length the deliberations of the Committee investigating the administration of The Poor Law, under Mundella, in 1894, and its findings of widespread failures, as opposed to Barnardo's work, which is highly commended from numerous aspects(Notes 2, op.cit). Similarly, Barnardo's role in precipitating the 'Custody of Children's Act 1891, the so-called 'Barnardo Act' is presented in Chapter XII.
Chapter XII describes Barnardo's success in emigrating children, mostly in terms of the supply of successful citizens to The Empire, while Chapter 12 entitled 'Pounds, Shillings and Pence' has the account of Miss Effie Bentham who, shortly after Barnardo's death, dreamt that factory workmen came to aid her in the task of liberating gagged and bound children, following which she started the "International Farthing League" which, by 1930, produced £45,000 a year for the Homes. He also points out the loyalty and generosity of some distinguished benefactors such as Howard Williams, and William McCall, who, with many others un-named, provided funds of sufficient size to enable the foundation of a number of individual institutions well into the years after Barnardo's death.
Of much interest is the final chapter of this book, since it initially reflects the author's undoubted primary interest in social history. Under the title 'The Man and his Memorial' he writes about the tendency for pioneers and prophets of their age to be decried, or worse, by their contemporaries, and later to be seen properly for their worth. In assessing Barnardo's greatness he places first his religion, and notes that while throughout he was an avowed Evangelical, he moved from the Brethrenism of his youth, through liberal Non-conformism of middle-age, to being a lay-reader in the Church of England in his later life. He was the author of thousands of sermons, apparently, and seems to have been fundamental in his Gospel beliefs without being a Fundamentalist. Dr. Grattan Guiness, a great Evangelical Preacher, is recorded as having once referred to Barnardo's "beaming face, cheery voice, broad brow, big brain, glowing heart, indomitable courage, tender sympathy, intense philanthropy, unwearied activity, and marvellous practical ability".
The author then remarks upon the extent of Barnardo's library, and his use of it in the small hours when his daytime of high activity made him sleepless. His was well-informed and his appearences in the Courts demonstrated his ability to marshall the facts and withstand cross-examination by barristers
As though induced to go beyond the historical perspective, he then explores Barnardo's personality both deeply and widely, and the character that emerges is a volatile mixture of the loving and lovable. He finds the article Barnardo wrote just before his death, entitled Some Queer Children I have Met, 'rivals the most vivid passages in Oliver Twist' and 'bubbles over with fun'.
He finishes with accounts of Barnardo's family relationships, which read as if taken straight from his two family sources, and includes at the end of this chapter 'in memoriam' a true appreciation of the artistic work of Sir George Frampton, R.A. in the sculptured memorial which graces the space before the Cairns Memorial House in Barkingside, near London.
Comment: Barnardo as an evangelical philanthropist.