Day 57: Praying for Morriston (1930)

Join with Salvationists of the Wales Division for day 57 of 150 days of prayer.

• ‘God, show how great you are, high above the sky! Let everybody on the earth see your glory!’ (Psalm 57:11, EasyEnglish Bible). 

1930

Readers of the 9 August War Cry were given insights into ‘South Wales poverty’ in an article titled, ‘Neither Vest, Shirt Nor Waistcoat’.

‘[Speaking of the corps drummer] “Did you notice,” says the captain thoughtfully, “he had neither vest, shirt or waistcoat. His boy got a job last week and I gave him my own grey flannel trousers, otherwise he wouldn’t have been able to start.”

‘Let us go across the mountain into another valley. They used to have a fine band at this corps. Now only a few elderly men and small boys remain. The others have left for the colonies or have gone roadmaking in different parts of the country.

‘That man speaking in the open-air ring has been out of work for three years and has no hope of a start now. Who will employ a man of 60 anyway?

‘Now let us go to Morriston, a suburb of Swansea… The bandmaster is employed in the nickel works … like most men who are in work, he is “on one week and off for a fortnight”. This alternative business is a problem to the wives and mothers. The kiddies need boots and clothes. Dad is working again; they shall have them. The grocer, tailor and baker all keep debt accounts… But when he draws his pay at the end of the week, he reads a notice to the effect that there’ll be nothing doing for a fortnight. The kiddies wipe their eyes and go out to play again; the tradesmen draw their breath and go on being generous.

The article then reported a joyful Army meeting with the children on the platform in their poor clothes.

‘But how the children sing! Look at the proud faces of their mothers; the delighted gleam that shows from the eyes of the fathers. Unemployment, poverty, scantily filled cupboards, empty clothes boxes are forgotten. Here is good humour, laughter even – low spirits have begun to use their wings. You are brave, you Welsh people.’

Prayer

• Morriston Corps reach out each week to help people experiencing unemployment and those struggling with their finances. Pray for the volunteers and recipients at the food bank.
• Also pray for Employment Plus staff and volunteers, that the people they help will find employment in the near future.