The Sun.
London, England, 1860-02-10 00:00:00

THE SOCIAL EVIL.

One of the most extraordinary meetings for years
past took place yesterday morning (or rather the
proceedings were to have commenced at midnight
on Tuesday); at the St. James's Restaurant, St.
James's-hall, 69, Regent-street, in connexion with
the important question of the great social evil.
The meeting was none other than one of "fallen
women," for the purposes of hearing prayer and
addresses, and originated in this manner :—Some
gentlemen connected with the Country Towns'
Missions, English Monthly Tract Society, Female
Aid Society, London Female Preventive and Refor-
matory Institution, the Trinity House, and other
institutions, feeling anxious for the welfare of the
multitude of fallen women who congregate every
night in the Haymarket, Regent-street, and the
principal casinos and cafés in the neighbourhood,
resolved, after mature consideration, to attempt to
convene some of those unhappy persons in a suit-
able place near those localities, were judicious ad-
dresses might be given, to be followed by prayer.
The mode which to the conveners appeared most
likely to succeed was to invite them to tea and
coffee ; and a neat card, enclosed in an envelope,
was distributed among them at the casinos, cafes,
and in the streets. indited as follows :
" The favour of your company is requested by
several friends, who will meet et the St. James's
Restaurant, 69, Regent-street, to take tea and
coffee together, on Wednesday night, Feb. 8, at
12 o'clock precisely."
Some hundreds of these were distributed duringthe
past few days, and, as will be seen, the experiment
met with a great amount of success, notwiteestand-
ing that many treated the matter with ridicule,
while numerous others thought the whole affair a
hoax. Such, however, it did not turn out to be;
for shortly before midnight a large number of those
unfortunate creatures arrived at the entrance of the
St. James's Restaurant. Here they were shown
into the large dining room of the hall, capable of
holding some hundreds of persons. There was an
abundant supply of tea and coffee, with bread and
butter, toast, and cake, to which the strange assem-
bly did good justioe, at the various tables about the
103111, and round which they clustered in small par-
ties of six or eight, chattin over the peculiarity of
the meeting, and wondering what was to be the
course of proceeding. The number gradually in-
creased till there must have been at least 500 per-
sons present, and these were solely composed of
the unfortunate creatures whose moral and social
condition the meeting had been convened to amelio-
rate, excepting some 30 or 35 clergymen and gentle-
men who had been instrumental in calling the
meeting. Of course, the meeting was not allowed
to he a public one so far as regarded the admission
of the other sex; for, had it been so, no doubt a
very large number would have assembled out of
curiosity, if not for any worse motive. While the
repast was going on .the principal gentlemen pre-
sent mustered together at a conspicuous spot for
the purpose of addresses being delivered to the
meeting. Among them were the Hon. and Rev.
Baptist Noel, the Rev. W. Brock, the Rev. W.
O'Neill, the Rev. Haughton, Mr. Latouche (the
banker), Mr. W. J. Maxwell, Mr. Theophilus
Smith, and others.

Shortly after one o'clock the Rev. W. Beocx
stepped forward and briefly opened the proceedings
by stating the object of the meeting.
The Hon. and Bev. 13APTIST NOEL then addressed
those assembled in an eloquent, yet pathetic and
affectionate discourse, alluding to his hearers as his
" dear young friends." He commenced by drawing
a picture of the history of a virtuous woman from
her childhood, pointing out the unspeakable love of
the father and mother for the child, the association
with sisters and brothers, the affection of the hus-
' band, and at last the love which she herself bears
her own children ; and then he compared that pic-
ture with the position of those who had erred from
the paths of virtue. It was quite possible, how-
ever, he assured hie hearers that some of them might
yet be happy; they might ask him how, and say it
was difficult to become so—and so it was, he ad-
mitted, but it was not impossible, for they had a
friend who was even more tender than the mother,
and stronger in His love than the father; and One
who would never desert them. Ile was a friend
who would rescue them if they in His bound-
less confidence. That friend was Jesus their Saviour,
whe had died for them ; Ile was with them in that
room, as certain as possible, and just ready to be
their friend ; therefore he entreated them to turn to
their Saviour. Their whole future depended upon
whether they would have Him or not ; He could
take them to glory from a life which must end
in perdition, could cleanse them of their sins, and
carry them to God. if they asked hint when to
do it he should say at once, and they would be
happy for the rest of their lives ; if they believed
in Him they would be saved. The Saviour himself
said, " God so loved the world that He gave His
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him
should not perish, but have everlasting life." Would
they accept the offer or not ' Ile entreated them
to accept it at once and be happy for ever, the.
cheeks never fading, their conscience would sleep
in peace, and they would live long to enjoy the
the
esteem of those who were good. Let them take
resolution at once, and they would neeeiertrteeeresrefrteimt.
The hon. and rev, gentleman then read
stating the
several girls who had been reclaimed,
hwent on to say
happiness they felt, and then
hoowfceoeuuldrsetl:elyt
thatfollo Nhvisthyeouenegurfsreielnieds
must expect that, and help .
pointedmight ask
out. t .
would require some sacrifice
ea
each
ho bt
emr, made, but
it w theyould.
not be a matter of rerfhreeyt umltitgmhatttehlyintkhatthet3,lrwyohualdd
made the sacrifice.
never be loved again, but he told theta they would.
Therefore, let them
wamsaeyit not
others,
rto
ette ‘‘ ',beet
happy
pmyafkoer
ethvee
rstaherainficteo;w" fe
walk on to the end which
was perdi-
tion ? In conclusion, he exhorted them not to
depart without heeding what he had said. Might
the Lord accept his prayers, and might He alio
accept those unfortunate young creatures he was
addressing, and to them he said, " Give up that
which is contrary to the will of Jesus and say, I
will take heart and be a child of God.' "
The Rev. AV, Brock, Rev. Mr. Haughton, Rev.
W. O'Neill, and ()thus then offered up prayers, and
the effect produced by the earnest and touching
appeal of the first-named gentleman, delivered in a
deep tone of voice, was most touching.
It was announced that any present who repented
their sins would be receieed into the London Re-
formatory or the Trinity Home, and that further
arrangements would be made for the reception of
others elsewhere if funds could he provided.
The meeting broke up about 3 o'clock.
The conduct of those present was highly credit-
able, and quite void of levity or contumely, and we
may sefely say that the experiment so far has been
successfu].

THEATRE-ROYAL LYCEUM.-
Sole Lessee and Directress, Madame Celeste.

Due Notice will be given of the recovery of Dona Isabel
Cubas from her severe indisposition.
THIS EVENING, a new Drama, called A TALE OF
TWO CITIES, by Tom Taylor, Esq., from the story of that
name by Charles Dickens, Esq. Principal characters by Mr.
James Vining, Walter Lacy, S'illiers, Rouse. Forrester, J.
Johnstone, T. Lyon. Morton, Palmer, White, 11. Butler,
Clifford, and Fredericks ; Misses Kate Saville, Stuart, Turner,
Mrs. Campbell, and Madame Celeste.
After which, will be produced a new Grand Christmas Ex-
travaganza and Pantomime. KING THRUSEIBEA.RD, the
LITTLE PET and the GREAT PASSION, in which is pre-
sented one of the most novel, costly, and brilliant effects ever
witnessed —dexlgned and painted by Mr. William Callcott.—
King Thrushbeard, Miss Julia St. George.
Commence at 7.

ROYAL PRINCE S S'S THEATRE.-
Lessee, Mr. A. Harris.
Re-engagement of the Wonderful Dancer, Mons. Espinosa.
First appearance of Millie. Marietta Rosetta, Principal Dan-
sense of La Scala, Milan ; and the Delapierre Family.
These highly-talented Children will appear every night.
The Royal Princess's Rifles on parade every evening.
THIS EVENING, CAUGHT IN A TRAP.
After which, a new Christmas burlesque pantomime, by H.
J. Byron, called JACK T
ui R E GIANT KILLER ; or, Harle-
quin King Artliur and the Knights of the Round Table.
Jack, Miss Lose Keeley—Harlequin, Mr. Cormack - Pante-
.oon, Mr. i'anlo—Columbine, Miss Caroline Adams—Clown,
Mr. A. F. Forrest.

NEW THEATRE - ROYAL, ADELPHL
Sole iroprietor and Manager, Mr. Beni. Webster.
Last Night but One of THE DEAD HEART until March 26
THIS EVENING, THE DEAD HEART. Messrs. B.
Webster, J. L. Toole, David Fisher, P. Bedford, C. J. Smith,
Billington, Powell, Romer, Miss Woolgar, K. Kelly.
After which THE NYMPHS OF THE LIIRLEYBERG ;
or, The Knight and the Naiades. Messrs. Toole, Bedford,
Eburne, Smith, Powell, Romer, Miss Woolgar, C. Webb, K.
Kelly, Laidlaw.
Doors open at half-past six—Commence at seven. Box-
Moe open from 10 to 5. No charge for securing
this'seats
nor for bills of performance. ' All fees to servants of
establishment are strictly prohibited.
Acting Manager—Mr. Wm. Smith.

Combination of Talent.—Engagement of these popular
artistes, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Wigan, who will appear on
Monday first, Feb. 13.—Royal Performances.—For One Week
only.—The comedy of THE HOUSE, or THE HOME? and
the petite drama of ONE TOUCH OF NATURE, as per
formed at Windsor Castle, by command of her Majesty, on
Wednesday, 18th Jan. last.