Reed, Andrew, D.D., an English Independent divine, noted as one of the greatest philanthropists of our age, was born in 1788 at London, where his father, a pious man, was a watchmaker in Butcher Row, St. Clement's Danes. Many a time, it is said, Andrew's mother would keep the shop while his father was off on a preaching tour; for he was much given to itinerating in the suburban towns, proclaiming among the benight- ed ••the truth as it is in Jesus," and so interested became lie in this glorious work that Mrs. Reed found it needful to provide for the family herself by opening a china- shop, which she kept for twenty years in Chiswell Street. Young Andrew was brought up in the trade of his father, and no one supposed that he would ever leave watchmaking to go on the same errand as his father. Sent to a school in Islington to get such an education as was needful for an ordinary artisan. Andrew evinced a predilection not only for all study, but especially for the dead languages. He begged to be allowed to study Greek and Hebrew. The careful mother, anxious to prevent her son's defection — for she hoped from him support in the business his father had so much neglected — took him finally from school and apprenticed him to a master. But the temptation of books was a very harmless one compared witli the temptations of another kind that awaited Andrew in his new situation. His master's son was a wild youth, and the young appren- tice entered on his diary the following: "By the wicked behavior of my master's son I was made still worse. I went twice or thrice to the accursed play-houses." On this account he got his indentures cancelled and re- turned to the parental roof. Working the usual hours at watchmaking, in his leisure he kept his mother's books, instructed his sister, and taught a little orphan girl, their servant, to read and write— thus early begin- ning his orphan work. Books, books, evermore books, were the choice friends of his leisure hours; and though he worked well at his trade, his good mother in her diary might well write down, " These are things which, if the lad be for business, show too much taste for study." She was so far right that God was leading him through secular to sacred pursuits. Andrew Reed's Hebrew and Greek studies led him to theology, and his joy knew no bounds when it was decided in the family counsels that he might go to college. He dismantled his little work- shop, sold his tools, and laid out the money in books. He entered Hackney Seminary, a collegiate and theo- logical school of the Independents. -It is needless to say that when he was ready to graduate his record was al- ready begun as a preacher. He bad many invitations to settle. Among other calls was that of colleague to the celebrated preacher Matthew Wilks (q. v.) at the Tabernacle. But Reed gave the preference to the church in the "New Road, East London, where he re- mained the pastor for half a century. He resigned the place on Nov. 27, 1861, the anniversary of his birth and of his ordination. He died Feb. 25, 18G2, happy to the last and conscious of his Master's love. Rarely, if ever, was such a record closed as this event ended. More than most men — even Christian ministers — Dr. Reed seems to have lived in the presence of some great pub- lic purpose, and to have consecrated, or rather sacrificed, all things to its accomplishment. Thus we read in the Memoir published by his sons (Lond. 1863) that at times he was so engrossed that he would not dine with his familv lor a week. "In the last four years," he
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writes in his diary, "I have been four hundred times to Earlswood [asylum for idiots] ; each time has consumed the best part of a day, so that I may fairly say that it has cost me a whole year." Indeed, nothing less than a consecration like this could have accomplished Dr. Reed's work. He must, moreover, have combined the physical strength of a giant with the powerful will of the Christian philanthropist. He was one of the most successful and popular preachers of his day— the labori- ous pastor of one of the largest churches in the metrop- olis; and yet he found time to originate not only the Hackney Grammar-school, but five great national be- nevolent institutions— viz. the London Orphan Asylum, the Infant Orphan Asylum at Wanstead, the Asylum for Fatherless Children at Eeedham, the Idiot Asylum at Earlswood, with its branch establishment at Colches- ter, and the Hospital for Incurables. The aggregate cost of their erection was £129,320; they accommodate 2110 objects of charity; and their total receipts under his administration amounted to the respectable sum of £l,043;56b' 13*. Id. Emphatically was his "a life, with deeds to crown it." Andrew Reed began his work among the seafaring population of London. He befriended the parents, established schools for the chil- dren, and founded the first penny bank for savings. Besides these stupendous works of faith and labors of love, he founded a Home for Incurables ; and, not forget- ting the interests of education while employed in help- ing the helpless, he was the friend of the Hackney Grammar-school, and always the active promoter of Sabbath and day schools for the children of the indus- trial classes. He not only refused all remuneration for his great services, but contributed, besides, a large part of his yearly income in charity. The rive asylums that he founded alone received from his hand £4540. When he opened a chapel he was ever ready with his £10, £20, and even £50, to encourage its friends to discharge a debt incurred in its erection. He lived in the most simple way, that he might have the more to give to him that needed. His remarkable success in his vast and varied enterprises he owed to his extraordinary business powers, his great sagacity, and his determined will. Few men saw more clearly what was to be done, or knew better how to do it. One record strikingly ex- hibits the stern kind of discipline that he was wont to exercise upon himself, and the resolute determination with which he concentrated his energies upon his object :