The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-02-06 00:00:00

LANCASHIRE FEMALE REFUGE.

The annual meeting of the Mends of this institution
was held at two o'clock, yesterday, in the Bible Reposi-
tory, Slater Street, Mr. T. B. Barclay in the chair.
There were several ladies present, and among, the
gentlemen, were the Rev. Mr. Carter, Messrs, A. S.
Gladstone, W. Green, C. H. Newman, A. Hodgson, and
David Hodgson.
The Chairman briefly opened the proceedings by call-
ing on the Secretary to read the report.
Mr. Gregson (Honorary Secretary) read the follow_

ing, :

Tama.
The committee of the Lancashire Female Refuge des!re to
express their gratitude to the giver of all good, for having
enabled them during 'the. past year, to raise that excellent
institution from the state of depression into which it had
unhappily fallen. The crisis which at one titue threatened the
existence of the Refuge has been overruled for good ; It his
called forth the benevolent efforts of old and tried friends, who
hi have not only liberally contributed to the discharge of the
debt, but have made the claims of, the institution an important
addition to the list of diircual. sUbscriGers. That addition,
however, has not yet reached the desired amount; and the
committee, therefore; earnestly solicit further subscriptions. At
the same time, they submit to those who feel an interest in
the welfare of their fellow creatures, the following
considerations as illustrative of the value and importance of
the institution. It cannot be denied, that of the females
discharged from prison very few are anxious to return to a life
of honest industry ; bat some undoubtedly are so, and yet, in
i spite of their goo.: resolutions they have but little prospect of
overcoming the difficulties of their position, 'Without character,
without meney, without friends, either able or willing to
-I procure for them any decent employment, 'they are exposed
to the artful temptations of
.their former associates, and
the natural consequence of this state. of things is, that
sooner or later, they return to crime. But could these poor
creatures, in their first struggles against evil habits, be directed
to some benevolent agent who would lend ' them an 'helping
hand, how many of them might be rescued from ruin, and be
made useful mernberi of 'society. Now, the Refuge performs
the part of such an agent, and that, too, in the kindest and
most judicious manner. • Persons of this class, previously to
their discharge from any of the county prisons or the Borough
Gaol, have only to communicate their wishes to the chaplain
of the prison, and ho has power to forward them direct to the
Refuge, where they are at once admitted, and enjoy every
opportunity of carrying their good intentions into effect. They
.are placed under the gentle yet vigilant superintendence of the
matron ; they are freqUently visited by a committee of benevo-
lent ladies, and they receive such an industi ial training, and
such moral and religious instructions as may, under the Divine
blessing, qualify them for earning an honest livelihood hereafter.
Let this long-tried institution be judged by its fruits ; for
notwithstanding its scanty means, it has been honoured as the
instrument of great good. The total number of inmates in the
Refuge duringlthe year 1856 was 41. Of these 29 left, 9 having
been placed in service, 6 restored to their friends, 9 left the
house at their own request, 2 absconded, and 3 were
dismissed for misconduct. Of- the 9in service, 2 have disap-
pointed the expectations formed of them, but the rest are
believed to be doing well. There remained at the beginning
of the prsent year 12 only, although the house possesses good
accomodation for 22 inmates. The committee cannot con-
clude without entreating attention to two points of mach im-
portance. lst—That the principles ani system of the Refnge.
as a Reformatory, arelin fnll accordance with the most approved
views of the present day. 2nd—That when the intended
Reformatory for girls (and the committee heartily rejoice
in the prospect of such an institution) shall be established
in Liverpool, with all the advantages of Government
aid and inspection, 'it will not in the slightest degree
supersede the necessity for the Female Refuge.
The two institutions, though Reformatory, aro quite
distinct--the ono is designed for the reformation of girls
under 16, legally confined for long periods. The other is for
females of any age, who are already liberated from confinement,
and who enter the institution of their own free will, as a
school of repentance and reformation, and are at liberty to quit
it whenever they please. As the Refuge is not entitled to any
pecuniary aid from the government, the committee would res
pectfully but earnestly suggest that this disadvantage, coupled
with its own undoubted merits, ought especially to recommend
it to the sympathy and generous support of all who desire to
befriend the friendless and to restore the fallen. P.S.—The
committee have much pleasure in transcribing the following
entry from the Visitors' Book at the Refuge :—" Jan, 23.
Mr. Herbert Ironies, Inspector of Prisons, went through the
institution, and found all in excellent order."
Mr. Newman moved that it be adopted, printed and
circulated among the subseribers.
The Rev. Mr. Carter seconded the motion, and in doing
so, spoke in warm terms of the value of the institution to
the community. It was a fortunate thing he observed
that the Female Reformatory would be immediately
adjoining the institution, and he expressed a hope that
this proximity would t-e of advantage to both. In
speaking of the reform effected in .women, through the
institution, be said, that, had he been in want of a
domestic servant, he should certainly have taken into his
service, the last woman who went out of it, so convinced
was he of the depth and sincerity of her reformation.
In conclusion, he urged that the committee should adopt
Measures to obtain subscriptions in Manchester, Preston,
Bury, and other towns in the county, and expressed a
conviction that if these places were canvassed for such a
purpose, the appeal would be promptly attended to.
The motion was unanimously adopted. -
Mr. A. S. G'arl-ttie, treasurer, submitted the statement
of accounts, from which it appeared that the balance
against the society was reduced during the year,
notwithstanding the high price of provisions and the
increased number of inmates in the institution, from
£123 to £22 12s scl. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Gladstone
congratulated' the meeting on this satisfactory state of
things, and, in Conclusion, moved that the accounts be
passed, and the committee appointed for the ensuing
year. _ _ _

Mr. David Hodgson seconded the motion, which was
unanimously adopted.
Mr. A. Hodgson moved a resolution to the effect that
the Female Refuge not being of the class of reformatory
institutions entitled to pecuniary aid from government
had on that account, in connection with its own merits
a strong claim on all who des.red to befriend the friend-
less and restore the fallen. He dwelt on the advantages
of-such institutions as exhibited in the report, and ob-
served in regard to reformatories what they wanted was
the maximum of Governmentsupport, and the minimum
of Government interference.
Mr. Gregson seconded the motion, which was unani-
mously adopted.
On the motion of Mr. Gregson, seconded by Mr.
Gladstone, thanks were voted to the committee of ladies,
and also to the chaplain, the Rev. W. Harke.
All the gentlemen were loud in their praises of the
services which Mrs. Young, the matron, rendered to the
institution.
Thanks were voted to the chairman, after which the
meeting separated.

THE LEAD LINE.