286 PETER SPENCE 



the church, the late Mr. Richard Johnson, 

 the well-known iron master, who at once 

 wrote and asked Spence to call on him, and 

 at the interview, inquired what amount would 

 enable him to "turn the corner." Spence 

 said it would take five thousand pounds; his 

 friend at once replied, he should instruct his 

 banker to place the amount needed to 

 his credit. Spence was overwhelmed at the 

 splendid generosity of his brother deacon, 

 and unspeakably thankful for the unexpected 

 succour thus accorded to him, and which he 

 ever regarded as a most merciful Providence. 

 The prompt and generous aid thus afforded, 

 enabled him to re-arrange his works, and 

 revert to his former processes. The months 

 that followed brought with them a period of 

 very great prosperity, and within the year he 

 was enabled to repay the total sum lent to 

 him. In these days such an incident would, 

 perhaps, be regarded as an unwise and un- 

 scientific interference with that gospel, so dear 

 to strong monopolists, that the "fittest must 

 survive," and the "weak must go to the wall." 

 Moved by the terrible and wide-spread 

 evils of drunkenness, Mr. Spence became at 

 an early age an adherent of the great 

 temperance movement, and throughout the 



