At Piccadilly Circus, the busiest intersection in London, England, there sits a fountain called “The Angel of Christian Charity,” which some call “Eros.” Placed there to commemorate Lord Shaftesbury, born April 28, 1801, it symbolizes Shaftesbury’s belief that his Christian duty was to support the less fortunate. He is quoted as saying, “I think a man’s religion, if it is worth anything, should enter into every sphere of life and rule his conduct in every relation.” As a member of Parliament, he spent his personal time and resources championing causes like the reform of child labor laws, elimination of teenage prostitution, the end of the opium trade, better sewer systems, and keeping young boys out of chimneys as chimney sweeps.
