The Express.
London, England, 1860-04-28 00:00:00

THE SOCIAL EVIL.

LAST OP THE MIDNIGHT MEETINGS-RESULTS.

Yesterday morning, at 3 o'clock, tho midnight
meetiug movement committee concluded their last mid-
night meeting of the present winter .erien in the presence
of a numerous body of the promoter. and friends of the
cause and officers of the various metropolitan female ail
and reformatory institution& Mr. J. IA To the presided,
and there were present the Hoe. and Rev. B. W. Noel ;
the Item Capita Molyneux, Brock, Dr. Weir,
Madgin, 1)r. M'Lean, of America ; Mr. Stabb, of
the Monthly Tract Society ; Mr. Thumaa, of the Lon-
dun Female Preventive and Reformatory Institution
Mr. Cooper, of the Rescue Society ; Lieutenant-Colonel
Worthy, of the Female Aid Society, and between 300 and
44.10 of the " unfortunates," coosisting of all grades, young
and

11Oitiloors of tit James's Restaurant, Regentetreet, were
thrown open at midnight, and the room was soon afterwards
comfortenly filled. Refreshments were supplied as on '
former OCOlidtolte, and the visitor*, while partaking of it,
were engaged is social conversatiou by the friends of both
sexes who expressly attended for that purpose, for about
an hour, and it is needless to add that the ladies and gen- 1
Hanes trusted in every instance their frail guests with that
judicious demeanour which has been a prominent feature in
those novel fleeting. from the first.
The following interesting particulars are the results in
general id the meeting. held from the commencement, as '
derived from authentic soureee —menden of the committee
and officers of the female institution, who have taken the
meet active parts ; thus far the midnight meeting experi-
ment ha. worked so well that the results have greatly en-
couraged the promoter., and have induced to determine
them in carrying nut those meeting. on a more extensive
scale next winter. More than 100 unfortunate females have
been already rescued, awl must of them placed in various
homes, whilst some of them have been restored to their
friends in the country ; and others have, it is believed,
entirely and for ever forsaken their recent horrible and
vicious course of life. The committee unhesitatingly con-
tradict a statement that appi*red in cue of the daily news.-
piper. after the first meeting was held, that only the old,
the halt, and the maimed were gathered in ; but, on the
eentrary, it is found that the average age of all that hero
ban taken into the female bonnie is not much shove twenty
year*. It is gratifying to learn that many of the reclaimed
have made great eacrificee, independent of present cir-
cumstances, in order to reestablish themselves in virtu-
on, society. One painfully interesting fact revealed by this
movement bi that the majority of those reclaimed are
in part or entirely, and that very many of theta
to the rural districts : awl it is assumed that their
tine to the metropolis was to fill situations as
domestic servants. Our reporter leant from the managers
of the various iwititution. into which alum poor girls have
been received that their conduct alma immediately after
their Milltialltaa IMO been in perfect contrast to their
apparently gay, thoughtless, and vicious nature, immedi-
ately previous to their rescue. It is asserted by some of the
promoters that several fallen females in provincial towns,
having read the reports of these midnight meetings in the
daily newspapers, lave applied to the committee for help,
and been reclaimed.
The proceedings on this occasion were conducted 'some-
what after Mos usual manner, with the addition of singing
hymns. Mr. L TOUCH; the chairman, delivered the open-
. bug Adrpm: in Thick he said the provost motif; miu4fd
the Series of maid& ateetMge fzz the peasant, ioa mrae
a powerful appeal to hie hearers to listen to tin call, per-
hap the laid they wouldlimar —at least for the present—to
turn from their miserable seats of life, awl become virtuous
urn:tweets of society.
The Rev. ('arm. mournstm, 4 Lock Chapel, followed
with a lengthy and eloquent address.
The Hoe. and Rev. B. W. Noel and the Rev. Mr. Brock
offered up prayer, sad the proceedings went terminated by
the singing of the evening hymn.
The frail sadiron, behaved themaelver Vith decorum
throughout, with some exceptions. Many yip bitterly,
and thaireloonva joined in the silting. Twenty4oer young
women theater of homes loudly tendered Is them
by the committee, sad Won a 0 ease rammed in oho 0n
tisk roppsetive daslinstigs A large number left rain
as mid address to he vtuit44.
.. . .. •

It le further aaaer;;;llFri----the promoters that a mid-
eight mean el gentlemen who frequent the maim" the
Haymarket, alibi saloons, de., will he held some time in
May. and efforts are being ,and, to have it largely attended.
Than will also be two French midnight meetings of a pecu-
liar and important character held .luring the ensuing month,
end reverend pathos" liven France are expected to give
add/wawa