Pedrocut
Master Barmmie
There is much written concerning child emigration in general from about the period 1920-1960, and the question of orphans, such as Empty Cradles/Oranges and Sunshine, Lost Children of the Empire, Leaving of Liverpool. But as Middlemore’s main involvement was before this period is probably only covered in great detail by Patricia Roberts-Pichette in her book Great Canadian Expectations: The Middlemore Experiance.
At the outset Patricia says...“Neither financial gain nor evangelical fervour motivated Mr. Middlemore, a believing Christian without strong denominational ties. He was driven by altruism to protect children from the criminalizing influences and unhealthy environment of Birmingham’s worst slums and saw his activities as part of Birmingham’s philanthropic support system for the poor. He believed that children would grow up as worthy Canadian citizens, if, with their parents’ permission, they were removed from these unhealthy environments, educated and trained with love and understanding and settled mostly in rural Canada with loving and welcoming Christian families. The Children’s Emigration Homes were not established to relieve poverty: there were other Birmingham organizations to do that. Mr. Middlemore’s intent was to help children who were failed by Birmingham’s existing social support systems, not to compete with or duplicate those that already existed.”
After the obligatory warning not to look at the events from a 21st century standpoint, the clips that have appeared in this thread so far are useful as they give the contemporaneous views.
At the outset Patricia says...“Neither financial gain nor evangelical fervour motivated Mr. Middlemore, a believing Christian without strong denominational ties. He was driven by altruism to protect children from the criminalizing influences and unhealthy environment of Birmingham’s worst slums and saw his activities as part of Birmingham’s philanthropic support system for the poor. He believed that children would grow up as worthy Canadian citizens, if, with their parents’ permission, they were removed from these unhealthy environments, educated and trained with love and understanding and settled mostly in rural Canada with loving and welcoming Christian families. The Children’s Emigration Homes were not established to relieve poverty: there were other Birmingham organizations to do that. Mr. Middlemore’s intent was to help children who were failed by Birmingham’s existing social support systems, not to compete with or duplicate those that already existed.”
After the obligatory warning not to look at the events from a 21st century standpoint, the clips that have appeared in this thread so far are useful as they give the contemporaneous views.