Why?

How best is this episode in the history of British children to be explained? Previous chapters have demonstrated the interwoven nature of the factors that shaped it, but there is no single or simple explanation. Nevertheless, it behoves the commentator to offer a view of the major elements in this complicated and involved emigration saga.

The existence of profound poverty in Britain during the years 1867-1917 must be recognised as an important predisposing condition. It was exacerbated by insecure employment (or none at all), by low wages and by single parenthood, in particular that caused by widowhood and desertion. The effects of extensive poverty were especially evident among children. Not only were these publicly visible but also regarded as a potential threat to social order. Superimposed on this was a child-saving movement, driven forward by the evangelical revival from the 1850s onwards and thereby closely linked with the desire to ‘save’ children in the religious sense. This was buttressed by a belief that children could be saved through exposure to religious teaching and God-fearing example, whereas considerably more doubt existed with respect to adults, especially if they were addicted to alcohol and ‘sunk in depravation’. It is difficult for us today to appreciate the pervasiveness of the evangelical fervour that gripped many of the middle classes and sections of the artisan population. That movement, however, was not homogeneous. It sprang from several roots, was divided and each variation vigorously defended. This led to sectarian rivalry, to competition for financial support as well as for membership. Both the Catholic Church and the established Church felt threatened by such non-conformist zeal and responded with countermeasures. Each religious faction was keen to outdo its rivals, and this included outdoing them in the realm of child saving.

What, then, can one say about the motives of those who established and sustained these child-saving schemes? We shall never know for certain and perhaps, for historical purposes, it is unnecessary to know. However, the driving force of evangelism did offer opportunities for the realisation of personal ambitions as well as religious fulfilment. Most, if not all, appear to have convinced themselves that what they did was disinterested and a manifestation of God's design for them. Most maintained that they had been ‘called’ to the work.