Cirrus@Austlit

'Supported by a group of evangelical churchmen, [English migrant Benjamin] Short established the Sydney City Mission at a meeting at the Pitt Street Temperance Hall on 11 July 1862 and served as secretary until 1869. One of the first Mission districts was set up in Fort Street, Millers Point.

'The mission's priority was to improve the spiritual wellbeing of the poor. Those doing house-to-house visitations realised that food was as essential as the gospel and often subsidised desperately poor people from their own pockets. By 1888, 10 missionaries were employed, visiting the sick and needy, distributing of religious tracts and persuading people to attend mission meetings and church. Alcoholism and Sunday trading were regarded as major causes of poverty, and one of the mission's major activities was to persuade people to sign the Temperance Pledge. In 1888, 2,593 pledges were given.'

Source: McCormack, Terri. 'Sydney City Mission.' Dictionary of Sydney, 2008, http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/sydney_city_mission

Sighted: 31/03/2014