''The Children's Friend'' was a British journal for children, in monthly parts, first published in 1824. It was founded by Rev.

William Carus Wilson William Carus Wilson (7 July 1791 – 30 December 1859) was an English churchman and the founder and editor of the long-lived monthly '' The Children's Friend''. He was the inspiration for Mr Brocklehurst, the autocratic head of Lowood School, dep ...

(1791–1859), who was based near

Kirkby Lonsdale Kirkby Lonsdale () is a town and civil parish in the South Lakeland district of Cumbria, England, on the River Lune. Historically in Westmorland, it lies south-east of Kendal on the A65. The parish recorded a population of 1,771 in the 2001 ...

where the journal was initially printed. Carus Wilson is perhaps best known for being portrayed negatively as Mr Brocklehurst in

Charlotte Brontë Charlotte Brontë (, commonly ; 21 April 1816 – 31 March 1855) was an English novelist and poet, the eldest of the three Brontë sisters who survived into adulthood and whose novels became classics of English literature. She enlisted i ...

's ''

Jane Eyre ''Jane Eyre'' ( ; originally published as ''Jane Eyre: An Autobiography'') is a novel by the English writer Charlotte Brontë. It was published under her pen name "Currer Bell" on 19 October 1847 by Smith, Elder & Co. of London. The first ...

'' (1847). Especially up to the turn of the century, ''The Children´s Friend'' was essentially a religious work, promoting a "grim morality", and encouraging in its young audience the reading of the Bible, evangelism and charitable works. In its early years, it "inculcate good behaviour by dire warnings of eternal damnation for children struck down by God, without time for repentance, as punishment for their sins." Gradually, more secular material was included. Succeeding editors included the founder's brother Rev. C. Carus Wilson, and

William Francis Aitken William is a male given name of Germanic origin.Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 276. It became very popular in the English language after the Norman conquest of Engl ...

. William Carus Wilson's rationale for embarking on the publication of the journal was expressed to his young readers in the first edition:

For the last five years, I have sent out a monthly penny tract, called "THE FRIENDLY VISITOR." It was meant for young readers, as well as old ones; and I know that it has found its way very much into Sunday-schools, and into young hands in other places. But in the space of twelve pages, I have not found it easy, always to give what would suit all ages. Hence many friends have wished me to double both the size and the price of the Friendly Visitor. But I have thought it better to keep it as it is; and to publish a new work wholly for the young, which I call "THE CHILDREN'S FRIEND".

The price was still one penny in the 1860s, and it had sixteen pages. ''The Children's Friend'' was published in two series, from 1824 to 1860 and from 1861 to 1930. Some of the illustrations were made by

Harrison Weir Harrison William Weir (5 May 18243 January 1906), known as "The Father of the Cat Fancy", was a British artist. He organised the first cat show in England, at the Crystal Palace, London, in July 1871. He and his brother, John Jenner Weir, b ...

(1824-1906).

References

External links

1824 issues online1850 issues online1861-65 issues online
1824 establishments in the United Kingdom 1930 disestablishments in the United Kingdom Children's magazines published in the United Kingdom Monthly magazines published in the United Kingdom Religious magazines published in the United Kingdom Christian magazines Defunct magazines published in the United Kingdom Magazines established in 1824 Magazines disestablished in 1930 Religious works for children {{UK-mag-stub