The Children's Friend (British magazine)


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, who was based near Kirkby Lonsdale where the journal was initially printed. Wilson is perhaps best known for being portrayed negatively as Mr Brocklehurst in Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre.
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 Carus Wilson's rationale for embarking on the publication of the journal was expressed to his young readers in the first edition:
The Children's Friend was published in two series, from 1824 to 1860 and from 1861 to 1930.