Emigration had now for some time been in view as the only means of
relieving the chronic poverty of the East of London, and in April
1869 a circular to this effect was issued by Miss Macpherson and Miss
Ellen Logan. Fifty families were selected as being suitable for such
help, and these were gathered together at a farewell tea-meeting
before leaving for Canada, all expressing deep thankfulness for the
opening given to them. The preparations for the voyage of these
fathers, mothers, and little ones required much thought and labour,
both for their temporal and spiritual welfare, but from the very
beginning of the work, sisters in Christ came from a distance, giving
hours or days as a labour of love, and besides personal help on the
spot, many busy fingers were at work in their own homes. The first
party was followed by others, all involving much care and labour.
Before the close of the year very encouraging accounts were received
from many of the travellers, and the contrast was great between their
condition in the new country and that which might here have been
their lot. Whilst this important work was being carried on, evening
reading and sewing classes for the little matchbox-makers, and
mothers' meetings, were continued without intermission, together with
the teaching and training of boys begun at the first Homes; and on
the Lord's Day, besides the very large gathering of matchbox-makers,
every effort was made to bring all around under the sound of the
gospel. A stranger thus describes his impressions after a visit to
the Home of Industry, November, 1869:--

"'The mighty cry of anguish' that has gone up for so long from the
East of London has, thank God, touched many a heart, and led some to
carry God's answering messages in person to the suffering poor, and
others to help in the lesser service of gifts.