The Sun.
London, England, 1868-03-06 00:00:00

IHE MIDNIGHT MZETING MOVEMENT.

The eighth annual Meeting of the friends-connected with
this movement has been held at the Freemasons' Hall,
Great Queen-street, Lincoln's-inn-fields ; Mr. Robert
Baxter in the chair. There was a large attendance of
ladies and gehtlemen. The report which was presented
stated that during the year ending March 5, 1868, sixteen
meetings had been held, and 173 poor girls rescued. Last
year the number of meetings held was 28, and the reason
why there had been a diminution in the number this year
was in consequence of the debt which the committee
awed at the commencement of the year to the various
homes for the board and lodging of the girls, and
the determination of the committee to hold meetings only
in proportion to the amount of funds at their disposal. One
of the most difficult questions with which the committee
had had to deal was how to employ those who once
occupied a higher position in the social scale than domestic
servants, who constitute the greater portion of the unfor-
tunatc:3. This question, they were happy to say, had to
some extent been answered by the establishment of the
Hope Printing-office and Home, mentioned in the last
report as in course of formation. The printing-office was
now open and working well, though on a limited scale, for
want of funds to purchase a larger stock of type. Though
the office had only been open six months in January last,
orders for printing amounting to £223 3s. 11d. had been
received ; the wages earned on those orders being
£156 11s. 6d. The specimens of printing which had been
executed by the inmates were both gratifying and en-
couraging, showing as they did how suitable this branch
of labour was for well-educated women. At the request
of several friends and subscribers, a new branch printing-
office (in a distinct and separate building) was being
formed, to receive, instruct, and permanently em-
ploy more of this class of gentlewomen. The committee
stated that their funds had been well sustained during the
past year, so that, though fewer meetings had been held,
the committee had been able to discharge the debt of £2OO
under the pressure of which they commenced the year.
£1,320 10s. 6d. had been raised, besides £lOO for the home
in Paris. The following statement may be interesting as
indicating the social condition of those who have been
rescued through the efforts of the society between
January 1867 and February 1868 :—ln service, 206 ; at
needlework, 10 ; factory girls, 20 ; married, 4; char-
woman, 1 ; union case, 1 ; of no previous occupation, 13 ;
no account given, 29—total, 284. The committee, while
grateful for the aid which they have received, feel that
were their object and the means they employ more clearly
understood by the Christian and benevolent public,
yet more abundant support would be cheerfully rendered,
and the means supplied for extended effort. Upon the
motion of the Rev. G. H. Stanton, the report was
adopted. Several addresses were then delivered, amongst
the speakers being the Rev. S. H. Hilliard (of New
York), Mr. W. Morley, and Mr. Baxter (the chairman),
and the claims of the society and the objects it has in view
were urged in appropriate terms upon those present.