Thomas as we know had intended to become a doctor and then go to China as a Medical Missionary, this is where he felt he would find his life work He had now placed his life in Gods hands and would allow God to show the way. The London Thomas had arrived in the last week of  April of 1866, what was it like? click here to view >>>>>>>>

Although Barnardo could see the poverty of Dubliners was extreme, he felt his real calling was that of a medical missionary. He dreamt of travelling to China to heal the sick and preach the word of God. To this end he moved to London in 1866 he registered to become a doctor at London Hospital. During this time, he trained for his mission under J. Hudson Taylor, a veteran of missionary work and the founder of the China Inland Mission.

We know the cholera epidemic of 1866/7 struck the area of  Broad Street. Overcrowding had lead to many households sharing the same infected pump, and, not knowing the source of the disease, the death toll was rising. The leading doctors of the day felt the cholera infection was airborne and told patients to drink more water. Thomas Barnardo signed up for a rescue mission in the East End, helping those who's families had been devastated by the illness. This cholera epidemic is thought to be the first incident that caused Thomas to re-think his plans for China he was needed as much here as in China, The children were left to wander the streets all hours dressed in rags and tatters, the children were normally barefoot with no one to care what happened to them. Thomas did care and he rented a dilapidated cottage, that had been used as a donkey shed, hear Thomas Barnardo opened his own ‘ragged school’ for these waifs of the London’s streets.

The second incident:

This was first told in The Christian under the title 'How it all Happened.' It has the dramatic interest which attaches to the first act which gives rise to a series of events, as a pebble thrown into the brook creates successive circles which reach the farthest shore. No one would forgive the omission of this incident as Thomas described it: -

One chill and bitter evening in November of 1866 after classes at the Ragged School a little fellow, who was shoeless, hatless, shirtless, and with only a few rags to cover him from the keen wind and the pitiless night. A lad had told him that very likely if he came and sat for the lesson the "guv'nor" " would let him stay by the fire all night. To this Thomas had objected. “Oh no! run away home," he said “Got no home," was the boy's quick rejoinder. "Got no home! Be off with you now and go home to your mother; don't tell me!” before I could finish the boy said  “Got no mother," repeated the boy. "Then go home to your father.” "Got no father," said the little fellow. " Got no father I retorted ! But where are your friends ? Where do you live ?" " Don't live nowhere; got no friends," said the lad. There was a tone of sincerity in the boy's words that made me pause, I hesitated to conclude that he maybe lying. So I continued to talk with him, and further questioned him. Was this, after all, possible? Could it be that there were other little boys so wofully forsaken and uncared for and as forlorn as this one? " Oh yes, sir; lots ‑'eaps on 'em . mor'n I could count," was the eye opening answer of the lad.

I was determined not to be hoaxed, I asked the boys name "Jim Jarvis Gov'ner" was his reply I then made us both a mug of hot coffee and after some further talking I had offerd him a place for the night providing he could show me what he was saying was true. We set off, under Jim Jarvis's guidance, to see whether there really were other boys such as this, unsheltered and sleeping out in the open on that dreadful winter night.

We started looking to a wilderness of old sheds, tumbledown outhouses, and wreckage lying near the area of Houndsditch. At first there appeared no sign of boys “sleeping out," as Jim Jarvis had said. We had both peeped under barrows and behind boxes and piles of odds and ends, and peered into hidden nooks and shaded crannies and corners. But not a boy was to be found, nor sleeping child could be sighted sheltered behind or under any poor screen anywhere.

I had started to doubt whether Jim could make good his word to show me lots of children sleeping rough. "Stop a minit," " said Jim, ,and come arter me.` Quick as a ferret Jim was away up over and along a boundary wall. He had stuck his naked toes into the spaces between the worn brick work, and mounted the wall which supported sheds by the side of an old and mouldy wharf. With the aid of a stick he helped me up. And there, as the moon shone out, the seeker out of the "lost" saw right before him a woebegone group of eleven poor boys, of ages varying from nine to eighteen, sleeping in all postures, in the gutters of the iron roof, clad in thin rags, with not a shred more to cover them, exposed under the open sky to all winds and weathers a spectacle to angels and to men, and enough to break any heart of love!

“Shall I wake 'em up, sir ?” asked Jim, as one of the sleepers moved. To Jim the sight was customary enough this was one of his own familiar sleeping haunts. It evoked no sentiment in his heart, inured as he was to such experiences. "Shall I wake 'em up?" he asked a second time  " No, no!" I replied.

We descended quietly and went away. On our journey home, Jim inquired whether I wanted to see any more. "Shall I show you another lay, sir ? There's lots more." But I had seen enough for one night. Sick at heart, I wended my way home, perplexed, dumfounded, smitten, humiliated we arrived at my lodgings with one clear and simple duty and determination before him‑that whatever might become of this night's discovery, he must shelter, feed, clothe, and care for “little Jim.” My first street Arab

Thirty years Thomas Barnardo later added:

As I have hinted, that dreaded night of discovery determined my subsequent career. Often since, amid scenes of comfort, I have seen before me the upturned, piteous faces of these eleven outcast boys, realised their awful misery and destitution, heard their mute appeal for assistance, and afresh registered in my own heart the resolve to devote my future life, by God's help, to their rescue and training. I knew no one then who could render me any help in the rescue and care of these boys. I was, comparatively speaking, friendless and unknown in London myself; but our heavenly Father, who feeds the hungry ravens, heard the prayer of my heart, and gradually the way opened to accomplish this work I had set before me. I asked Him, if it was His Holy Will, to permit me to provide a shelter for such poor children, to give me the wisdom needed to seek them out, and to bring them in to learn of God, of Christ, of Heaven. How that prayer was heard, and how all over the kingdom, nay, all over the world, thousands of kind hearts have been moved to uphold my hands in the work, is now a well‑known story.

The third incident:

This had taken place at a great Missionary Conference that was held at the Agricultural Hall, Islington. The date is not known but it was mid November of 1867 as near a mark I can make. I, as a Missionary student, received an invitation to attend. There a crowded and most enthusiastic audience sat and I had placed myself on the platform which was next to the chairman, three of the speakers had sent word that they were unable to attend. The chairman found himself in some difficulty owing to his dearth of speakers. Suddenly turned to me and said " Barnardo you must say a few words about your Ragged School in the East of London.

I declined his offer as I had never spoken in such a place with so many people, yes I had spoken in public to small groups of people, but never in a place such as this. Without warning the Chairman stood and addressed the audience. We have with us tonight a young medical student who is bound for China once he is qualified as a Doctor. At present he runs a Ragged School in the East of London. Before I knew what had happened I was stood before this vast audience, I just closed my eyes to concentrate my mind on what to say, but somehow without notes I was talking about the ragged school and as time passed I quite warmed to the subject and wanted to say more than I had time. I spoke of the squalor that I had found since I arrived in this great City, I spoke regarding my meeting with Jim Jarvis, though I did not mention his name. I think I can say my story impressed the audience as they had exhibited their feelings in a manner which was very encouraging to me after  had sat down.

As I was leaving a young women came up to me. She was of the servant class, "please sir may I speak with you?" I said "but of course" She stated she was a servant and could not give much and placed a small package in my hand which was clearly coins.

When I arrived home I count this money, the package had contained 6¾d in farthings which I re-rapped and placed in my draw. I knew not what to do regarding this gift that had been the first public money I had ever received. I had been asking God for his guidance and I therefore felt this was Gods way of telling me what I should do.

The fourth incident:

While all the other incidents made Thomas stop and think, this was the one were Thomas knows his place is in England. Thomas is invited to dine with Lord Shaftesbury and others. At this dinner Lord Shaftesbury asked Thomas if London was as bad as he painted with young children sleeping rough, so Thomas offers to take Lord Shaftesbury on a guided tour to visit and view the waif's, that would give Thomas a good friend and supporter for the care of children (waif's) The full story is quite long so I will allow you to source the information if you have an interest.

The fifth incident:

This came in the summer of 1868 and caused Thomas quite a few sleepless nights, it was a letter from Samuel Smith a Liberal MP containing an offer of £1000. More than a year before, Thomas had opened his first ragged school, it is recorded Thomas was still of two minds regarding China, the guiding hand was revealed to Thomas. In his hand he wrote:

I received an amazing letter, the contents of which were so surprising, so unexpected, and, as I judged, of so manifestly a providential character, that I was brought to a solemn and sudden decision concerning my life's work almost there and then. For although many days passed before I spoke of this letter or its contents to any one, or even admitted to myself that I had arrived it a crisis in my life, I felt as if the guidance, the answer I had been seeking, had been vouchsafed to me in a wonderful manner.

The contents of that remarkable letter were to this effect that the writer would provide £1000 for the furtherance of my scheme of child rescue if I felt able, for the present at all events, to give up the thoughts I had entertained of China, and would be content to remain in England, and to establish in East London a Home for Waif and Stray Children. No other condition was attached! That letter came from a well known Member of Parliament whom I had up to that time never met, but who after wards became and continued until his death a warm and close and generous friend of the work of God in my hands. It will be understood with what wonder and mazement I received such an unexpected intimation at such a time and from a person to whom I supposed I was absolutely unknown! As I have said, at first I kept the contents of that letter absolutely a secret in my own breast. For at least ten days I told no one of it, lest I should be persuaded one way or the other. But it raised anew in a fresh and practical fashion the whole question of what I was to do with my life.

So these were the main points why Thomas stayed in England and so  waved the party off to China in May of 1867 Thomas had arrived at the vineyard where his life's work would take place.

Web Note: I have my self included the cholera epidemic as the first incident as in his own words " if it had not been for the cholera I would not have known Stepney" In all the books I have read it seems to start with the letter from Samuel Smith which we have recorded in 1868, I have again moved this to the filth incident so it will tally with the time line.

While looking in the Cambridge Dictionary for the meaning of waif which I found to be: a child or animal without a home or enough food and care, usually thin and dirty in appearance!.

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