DURING last month there passed away Mr. William Quarrier, the eminent philanthropist and father of the Orphan Homes of Scotland, situated at Bridge of Weir. Mr. Quarrier began life as a poor boy in the streets of Glasgow, and when he attained to riper years he took a sympathetic interest in the temporal and spiritual welfare of neglected and destitute children. He started a Shoeblack Brigade to further this end, but eventually thought that an Orphan Home might be established, and wrote a letter to the press in 1871 requesting assistance from his fellow-Christians and citizens. Mr. Quarrier was a man who from the beginning of his religious life believed in the efficacy of faith and prayer, and he went forward in dependence of God. He asked for a sign, namely, that a sum of £1000 or £2000 should be sent in from one donor. “If that sum came in answer to prayer, he would go forward, nothing doubting; if it did not come, he would conclude that it was not God’s will that he should attempt this service.” After some interval the late Mr. Thomas Corbett (father of Mr. A. Cameron Corbett, M.P.) wrote saying that he would give £2000. This was the beginning of Mr. Quarrier’s enlarged sphere of work. The Cottage Homes were started at Bridge of Weir in 1872, and it is marvellous what has been accomplished since then. Upwards of 15,000 children have passed through the Homes and over £500,000 have been received. Mr. Quarrier also started Sanatoria for Consumptive Patients within recent years, and these are also doing excellent work. He began with Sanatoria for females, and not long before his death asked assistance to go on with similar institutions for men. Funds have come in, and this department is also likely soon to be developed. We recommend our readers to secure “The Life-Story of Mr. William Quarrier,” a volume that may be had for 2s 6d post free, where they will get very interesting particulars of the work he was enabled to accomplish. Like George Müller, Mr. Quarrier did
not believe much in issuing numerous circulars, etc., in order to secure money; he generally wrote a single letter to one or two of the leading papers, and then looked for the answer of Providence to his request. We are not able to say much as to the religious instruction conveyed in Mr. Quarrier’s Homes, but we observe that family worship is regularly conducted day by day in every cottage and that Mr. Quarrier’s views of truth were in the main on the old Scriptural lines. To say the least, however, it is incalculable the physical, social, and moral benefit these Homes must have conferred upon the thousands of poor children that have passed and are still passing through them. When we consider the depths of misery and degradation from which so many have been rescued and made fit for honourable life through such benevolent institutions in Bristol, London, and Bridge of Weir, we cannot but see abundant reason to praise God for such men as George Müller, Dr. Barnardo, and William Quarrier. Mr. Quarrier was 74 years of age.
The Late Miss C. Govan, Glasgow.
WE notice this month with regret the decease of Miss Catherine Govan, a native of Pollokshaws, which took place at 35 Regent Moray Street, Glasgow, on the 14th October, at the advanced age of nearly 82 years. Miss Govan was a humble, God-fearing woman of the old stamp—a stamp that is rapidly passing away in the south as well as the north. Being originally a member in the United Secession Church, she was one who was associated in early years with those who had a quick discernment of the erroneous tendencies of the times, and she partook of the same intelligent spirit as they had. Her sympathies were not, however, of a contracted order; she longed for the extension of Christ’s kingdom in the world, and took a special interest in the spiritual welfare of the Jews and their future restoration to the Church of God and of His Christ. It was very pleasant to visit her in her old age, and to observe the calm, unmurmuring submission and contentment that pervaded her spirit and words. The Psalms were very precious to her, and she had a special pleasure in the 51st, especially verses 7 to 12. For a number of years past she was unable to be present at the public means of grace, but before then she attended Knox’s Tabernacle along with her pious sister, Elizabeth, of whom she ever spoke with affectionate regard. We are getting constant reminders of the increasing spiritual desolation in our midst. May the Lord in infinite mercy send a day of power for the raising up of trees of righteousness, His own planting, that He may be glorified! J. S. S.