Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-01-25 00:00:00

REPORT.

After an experience of five yejars' iii the work of. reclaiming
fallen•women theicommittee of the Magdalen Institution feel
inereasektconlidence in the wisdom of the-prineiples, on which
theirsestablishment was founded, and they desire to express
their heartfelt, thankfulness to Alniighty God, for enabling
them .to _undertake and carry on this " work of faith and
labour of love ;" ,and for vouchsafing such manifest, blessings
to their lulmble efforts in this department of Christian duty.
The work, from,the very nature of the subjects with whom
it Ms. to deal, is, as might be expected, one of much difficulty,
and.attended wit .no small degree of anxietyandwatchfulaess.
The good results,. however, otreligious and industrial training
have been.so manifestly seen in the numbers reclaimed and put
out,to respectable situations, in which they continue to do
well, that all interested in the work are encouraged, and are
each year disposed to renew their labours with increased hope.
In. their desire to promote the best interests of theinstitu-
tion, they are most ably assisted by their matron, who since
her appointment ,has shown a rare devotedness to her work, a
singular eapacity for overcoming difficulties, and such a union
of Christian firmness and kindness, that the establishment has
been singularly blessed under her management. Her anxiety
for:the welfare of.the inmates, has been shown not merely by
diligently preparing them for service, but also by providing
suitable situations:for many when their period of probation has
expired. _ _

The conduct of the inmates, as regards the industrial depart-
ment, has been marked by diligence and willing obedience.
The work of the laundry was wholly suspended during the
two „last weeks of December, owing to the dreadful accident
occasioned by the frost.

The past year was entered upon with feelings of some anxiety
with ,regard to the future, as during the course of it, no fewer
than seventeen inmates would be ready for situations.
The committee are thankful to say that of these 13 have been
provided for, of whom 11 were sent out during the current
year. It is gratifying to add that owing to the good conduct
of these placed out in the earlier part of the year, applications
were made to the institution for others, and at one time two
situations offered, which could not be supplied, as there was
not a single inmate who, ad completed the full time of train-
ing retpAred by the institution.

the its:tistical account ,of the past year is as follows :---
Number of inmates, January Ist, 1859
Number in Hospital, at that date, who returned
Number admitted during tbe year

. How disposed of
Sent to serviee

Discharged at her own desire, but now in situation

Sent to otter institutions
Dismissed as unsuitable
Discharged at their own desire
At present in Hospital
Died from the accident

Leaving in house
Of the twenty-eight remaining in the House two are already
provided tor, and four others are ready for situations as soon
as suitable ones may offer.
•Of the eleven sent to service during' the year, nine are con-
tinuing to do well. They have had their difilcu;ties to encounter,
arisirg, partly from themselves, and partly from the trials
incident to domestic service; but it is satisfactory to be able
to report that these have been successfully overcome, and that
the Ladies' Committee, the chaplain, and the matron, who
' hive by sympathy and advice sustained them in the time of
need, have gained much valuable experience for their future
guidance.
The• Committee regret to be obliged to state that, of the two
others, one left her situation in a week, and returned to her
former course of life; and the other, after six weeks, gate up
her Situation, and returned to her mother.
Of the eleven discharged at -their own desire, the committee
have to report that some came beggingfor re-admission, others
expressed the greatest regret for the fatal step they had taken ;
several left after a very short stay, not finding the industrial
test suited to the idle habits contracted by them during their
life of shame. On the whole, the committee regard the past
year as the most satisfactory since the opening of the institu-
tion. The number of admissions has been considerably smaller
than in any previous year, being twenty-six as compared
with forty-nine,' the number admitted two years ago. The
greater number admitted in previous years arose from the
greater numbmsf vacancies, caused by those who voluntarily
discharged themselves, and the fact that the vacancies are how
so few may be regarded as a proof that the inmates hate
become more sensible of the value of the institution, and are
thus attesting its superior management.
The committee have to record with feelings of the deepest
sorrow, a fatal accident, caused by the explosion of the boiler
in the Wash-house, during the severe frost in December last.
Two inmates died the same day, and another after the lapse of
ten days. Three others were hurt, but have si...ce recovered--
the laundress was also severely hurt, but is progressing most
favourably.
The two inmates who first died were very promising. They
had, indeed, before entering the Institution, failed to cake ad-
vantage of several opportunities of well-doing which had been
afforded them; but one of them, who had been an inmate more
than a year, conducted herself so well, and endeavoured so
much to exercise a good influence over others, that the best
hopes 'were entertained of her-future good conduct, and the
other, who had been an inmate about three months, was well
thought of by the officers. This remark of one of the surviv-
ing sufferers from the accident may be quoted. She wasmuch
attached to the former of these women, and she said she felt
thankful that they had died in the Institution rather than in
the midst of their past sinful career.
The one who lingered for ten days, while she had the most
devoted attention:paid to her at the oyal Infirmary, was also
comforted during Oat period by the religious training she had
received in the Magthlen Institution, as well as by the visits
of kind christian friends. Though she was only learning to
read, yet having a very retentive me nory, she had learned, by
getting her companions to read to her, much Scripture and
many Psalms and Hymns. Those comforted her much in her
illness, and besides, she earnestly desired and appeared to
profit much by-the reading of the Word and prayer. Suffering
had such an excellent effect on her character, that in her the
words of the Psalmist seemed fully realised,—" Before I was
afflicted I went astray, but now have I kept Thy Word."
During her illness she rested on her Saviour, and there is
reason to hope that she "sleeps in Jesus."
Many interes in; letters have been received from former
inmates during the year; some extracts from which are given
in the appendix.
The committee have to report with thankfulness that the
general health of the inmates has been good during the past
year.

The conunittee desire to acknowledge the valuable services
of the chaplain, the Rev. Thomas Moore, who has discharged
the various duties of his office with zeal and fidelity, and has
in many instances extended his Christian care to those who
are no longer in the institutiNn.

The Ladies' Committee have, by their unwearied labours,
rendered the institution the same important aid as in former
years, and the officers have derived much advantage from
their sympathy and support in the discharge of their arduous
duties.

The Committee are much obliged to their treasurer, S. Martin,
Esq., for the undiminished interest which he takes in the wel-
fare of the Institution, and for the great amount of personal
attention which he has bestowed on its financial department.M
The committee desire to acknowledge with thanks how much
the Institution is indebted to Mr. Batty and Mr. Cocks, the
honorary surgeons, for their valuable professional services
during the past year.

Thanks are due to the Bible Society, for a second dona-
tion of Bibles for the use of inmates going to service; to 3frs.
Waterhouse, Rake-lane, for a donation of books to the library.
The committee have much pleasure in recording their grate-
ful sense of the munificent donation of £420 through the Rev.
Lonsdale Formby. Their thanks are also due to J. N. Walker,
Esq., for a donation of £2O, in fulfilment of the wishes of his
late wife.

The have again to thank Mrs. Graves for the sum of £l9,
the profit from work so'd during the year ; and also for the
present of a suitable book to the inmates sent out to se•vice
during the past year. Their thanks are due to Mrs. Ffarke for
the New Year's treat, which contributed so muoh to the
pleasure of the inmates.
In conclusion, the committee feel that the time has at length
arrived when it becomes their duty to state that the difficulty
of conducting the institution has been much increased by the
defectiveness of their present prentisc.s in Mason-street. At the
commencement of the undertaking, the committee, consider-
ing their limited funds, had no alternative but to rent and
fit up the best and cheapest house they could obtain for
the purpose. An experience of five years has convinced them
that their present house is so defective, both as regards
the arrangement of the industrial department, the- means
of supervision, and other essential points, that it is quite ml-
suitable for a permanent establishment. The same experience
,has satisfied them that the Magdalen Institution. from the
blessed results hitherto vouchsafed to its opetutions, has proved
itself worthy to be enrolled among the permanent charitable
establishments of Liverpool. The social evil, as it is called, is;
on the increase, and this painful fact impels the committee to
take steps for guaranteeing thh perpetuity of the institution as
a home and reformatory for fallen females, and as ultimately
the means of restoring them to a life of purity and usefulness.
To secure this important object, the committee would submit
to the annual meeting the propriety of resolving that a house
ought to be provided which should be both suitable in its
accommodation and permanent in its tenure. "
The sum required will not be very considerable, and
two the
work is in accordance with the mind. of Christ wad tends to the
salvation of souls, the committee would hereby appeal to the.
(Christian) public of Liverpool, in the faith that God wiltput '
it into their hearts to give ►iberally, and that He will bless His
own work. '