The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-04-23 00:00:00

SOCIETY FOR RECLAIMING UNFORTUNATE
FEMALES.

The first annual meeting of this society was held on Friday
last, shortly after twelve o'clock, in the Institution Room,
Slater-street. The attendance, though not very numerous,
was extremely respectable. A number of ladies and several
of the clergy were present. The Rev. Augustus Campbell,
one of the rectors of the parish, was called to the chair.
The Rev. CHAIRMAN, in opening the business of the
meeting, said that it would only, be necessary for him to say
a few words in explanation of the reasons which had induced
him to take the chair on this occasion. The object which
they had met to promote was one which he could not fail to
be deeply interested in, as it related to the morals of the com-
munity in general, and the temporal as well as spiritual inter-
ests of those unfortunate creatures who were the objects of
the charity. This society, as was well known, was an addition to
another institution, the object of which was to provide a more
permanent asylum for the abandoned females who showed a
penitent disposition—it was, as it were, an aggression into the
regions of Satan, in order to rescue perishing souls from his
dominion. This society did not wait for the wicked and un-
fortunate to come to them, but went forth to attempt to
snatch them from the wiles of sin, and as such, he hoped and
trusted, if conducted with discretion, it would meet with the
blessing of Almighty God. It was necessary on every account
that the operations of the society should be conducted with
very great discretion ; the persons employed should be emi-
nently discreet—they must act warily and cautiously or the
feelings of many might be shocked, and more harm than good
would be done. It was for these reasons that he had thought
it right to come forward and give to the society all the assist-
ance in his power. Whatever differences of opinion might
prevail on other subjects, the objects of this society were
such as all might cordially co-operate in supporting.
Mr. BANNING, one of the secretaries of the society, then
read the report of the committee for the last year, from which
the following are extracts :
" During the year, the society has had under its care two
hundred females ; sixty-seven of whom left or were dismiss-.
ed for improper conduct before they had been with the society
a month, forty-five before they had been three months, and
sixteen before they had been six months ; making a total of
one hundred and twenty-eight who had either voluntarily left
the society, or forfeited its protection 'by inattention to its
rules. Of the remaining number, two have died in the
possession of Christian consolation, eighteen have been
restored to their friends, and thirty-two have been placed in
situations to provide honestly for themselves ; making a total
of fifty-two who have been saved froin crime and wretched-
ness by means of the society's exertions, during its first years'
operation. The remaining twenty are still at the society's
lodgings.

"The committee are happy to report, that several even of
those who have left the society, or been dismissed from its
lodgings, have not returned to their wicked courses, but are
employing honest means to obtain a livelihood ; and it has
been ascertained that a large majority of those who have re-
lapsed into their former habits, are very miserable, and would
most gladly return. Whilst under the society's care they
received line upon line, and precept upon precept,' and as
many of them were deeply convinced of sin, it is to be hoped
that with respect to some of them, the exertions of the socie-
ty will prove as ' bread cast upon the waters, to be found
after many days.'
" In conclusion, the committee cannot but express their
obligations to the ' ladies,' for their very efficient services in
superintending the females when at work, and also to the con-
ductor of the religious instruction meeting, and gratuitous
agents of the society, for their important labours of mercy.
They likewise gratefully acknowledge the liberal support
which this infant society has received from the public, and
thank the Giver of all good for the success with which He has
crowned its exertions; a success which, they fairly presume,
is greater than is apparent, as the agents of the society have,
during the year, expostulated with not fewer than two thou-
sand unfortunate females, warning them of their danger, and
exhorting them to repentance. They have also spoken to se-
veral keepers of brothels, charging them with the fearful crime
of destroying souls, and exhorting them to put away their
abominations. It is, therefore, but rational to suppose, that ,
the seed thus scattered has not all been lost, even in the case
of those who have never been placed under the car( jilt the
society ; and that the manifest decrease of prostitis:.is in this
town, a decrease which has been officially noticed, may pro-
bably be, to some extent at least, its fruit. Yet, notwith-
standing these exertions, the sin of prostitutioji still abounds.
In the words of the society's prospectus, it altsears that, ac-
cording to the lowest calculation, a sum not 'ess than £3OOO
weekly is expended in its support in this town alone ! whilst,
probably not more than £2O a week is contributed for the
rescue of its wretched victims ! Should this be so ? What !
£3OOO weekly to spread crime, disease, and death ; and only
£2O to arrest their fearful progress ! For the destruction of
the bodies and souls of a numerous class of wretched beings,
£3OOO ; and for their present and eternal welfare, only a one
hundred and fiftieth part of that amount ! Men of Israel,
help ! and wipe away this terrible reproach, by liberally sup-
porting a society whose object is, by the blessing of God, to
make a determined stand against prostitution so awfully pre-
valent, and to seek and save its perishing victims.' "
The Rev. Mr. YOUNG, in moving that the report just read
should be adopted, printed, and circulated, said—sir, in review-
ing the operations of the society during the year, there are many
things in my estimation which recommend it to the atten-
tion and support of the Christian public. The circumstances
under which it was formed were so manifestly providential,
that no doubt was entertained by the parties concerned as to
propriety.of the measures which they adopted. Nay more,
the call was so clear, and so evidently from God, that they
felt convinced that they could not be disregarded without
incurring the Divine displeasure, and probably staining, their
garments with the blood of souls. Several victims of seduc-
tion found their way to the house of God, saw and felt their
awful state, and earnestly desired to flee from the wrath to
come. What was to done ? The penitentiary could not
receive them ; and we could not send them bock to their
haunts of vice without incurring a fearful responsibility : no
alternative, therefore, was left but to undertake their
protection ourselves, and by the grace of God to endeavour
to strengthen, by wholesome instruction, the good impres-
sions they had received. I do not like to try mere experi-
ments in the services of religion, but to follow the pillar of
cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, that I may
know that the path in which I walk has been selected by the
guide of my life. The same Providence, under whose gui-
dance the society was formed, has graciously watched over
it during the year. We began with 10s, and although the
fund of the society has frequently been reduced below that
amount, it has never been entirely exhausted. We have
received support from sources we never anticipated, and,
trusting in the Lord, we have not been confounded. The
objects of the society likewise argue in favour of its sup-
port. It does not merly contemplate the outward reforma-
tion of those whom it seeks to benefit, but a reformation
springing from a sound and scriptural conversion to God. It
seeks to make good the tree, that the fruit may be good also ;
to cleanse the fountain, that the streams may likewise be pure.
I t is my decided conviction, sir, that any attempt to reform
the victims of seduction without seeking the conversion of
their souls, is like putting new cloth into an old garment.
Mere patching such a case is unavailing ; for the per-
manent reformation of such persons can be hoped for only
on the ground of their new creation. They must be led as
penitents to the foot of the cross, that they may, according
to the divine promise, receive a new heart and a right spirit.
They are in the horrible pit and miry clay, and I for one
should never think of going down to assist in bringing them up
but for my confidence in the promise of God to them as re-
deemed souls. That is the rope, if I may so speak, which I
firmly grasp, and by which I would descend to rescue them
from their wretched and degraded condition. The grace of God
is sufficient to meet their case ; for harlots were converted in
the days of our Lord. The first church at Corinth included
amongst its members many reclaimed prostitutes ; and this
society has been the means of bringing about seventy unhappy
women from their sink of iniquity, and of placing their feet
upon the rock ; and it is pleasing to know that a new song is
put into their mouths, of praise and thanksgiving to God. The
means employed by the society to effect the objects are such
as to recommend it to the patronage of the christian public.
A few excellent persons, at great inconvenience and sacrifice
of feeling and comfort, go on the streets during the night to
expostulate with the victims of seduction. Such women
come not to the house of GOd--they are shunned by the
pious and modest, and but for some such agency as that
employed by this society, they would never receive a gospel
warning, but in all probability die in their sin, and exclaim,
as the pit closed upon them, " No man cared for our souls."
In the whole catalogue of crime, there is, perhaps, no evil
more pernicious in its influence than that which this society
seeks to check. It is not only in itself more odious, but " its
name is legion, for it is many." Connected with this abomi-
nation, are not only parents dishonoured, and the marriage
contract violated, but every form of falsehood, intemperance,
blasphemy, robbery, suicide, and murder, follow in its deadly
train. It is stated on good authority, that in London, not
fewer than 90,000 females live upon the wages of this iniquity.
Nor is London to be regarded as an exception in its morals
to other towns and cities, for it will be found on close exami-
nation, that in proportion to their population other places are
as deeply sunk as our great metropolis. The report says,
that in this town, £3OOO weekly is expended in the support
of prostitution ; but there is reason to believe it is not less
than £4OOO, or £200,000 annually ! How appalling the con-
sideration ! Commercial and christian Liverpool expends
£200,000 annually to crowd our prisons—people our penal
settlements—to cause the scaffold to groan beneath its load—
and to increase the number of lost souls ! An unprotected
female is led from the path of virtue—she is abandoned by
her destroyer—she seeks refuge in a house leading down to
the chambers of death—she becomes a pest to society—she
ekes out a most wretched existence, and dies unattended and
unlamented. Her soul is lost ! Yet no man puts on sack-
cloth, or mingles his drink with his weeping. If on such an
occurrence both man and beast should be clothed in sack-
cloth ; if every creature capable of emotion should unite in
one doleful lamentation ; if every tree of the forest and herb
of the field should immediately droop like the weeping willow ;
if every dew-drop of the morning should be mingled with
blood to indicate the agony of maternal nature ; and if the
sun should put on his sable robes, and stand forth on the
occasion as the first mourner, the expression of sorrow would
be truly appalling, and yet it would inadequately set forth
the misery occasioned by the loss of that one unlamented
but lost spirit. I therefore wish to support a society whose
object is to save souls from death, and hide a multitude of
sins.
Mr. JOHN CROPPER seconded the resolution. He stated
that he felt a very great interest in the welfare of the society,
as must every man of right feeling and Christian principle.
He had paid a visit to the places where the reclaimed females
were lodged under the superintendence of the society, and
though exceedingly shocked at the deplorably wretched state
in which those females were sunk who had but just been re-
claimed from the paths of sin, he was much gratified to see
the improved condition of many who had been some time
there. They who had been longest there had certainly man-
ifested a change which was peculiarly gratifying. Perhaps
the nature of the lodging-houses was not properly understood
by many. He might be permitted to state then, that they
were houses occupied by persons in the poorer classes of so-
ciety, and in which there was rather more room than the
tenants themselves needed. The occupiers of those houses,
who were selected from the fact of their being pious persons,
took in the poor creatures who had been placed in the protection
of the society, and not only attended to their temporal wants,
but to their spiritual necessities. He might also be allowed
to mention a circumstance, which had come to his knowledge
as one proof out of many which might be adduced of the
change of heart which many of the reclaimed females had
evinced. One of the members of the committee, who had
been exceedingly diligent in his exertions and kind in his at-
tentions to the poor creatures, was taken dangerously ill—he
believed of the typhus fever—so as to make it unsafe to visit
his bedside : but notwithstanding that, those women were
constantly in attendance upon him, and considered it one of
their greatest pleasures that they could thus return some of
the kindness that they themselves had experienced. The in-
dividual to whom he alluded had recovered, was now in the
room, and could testify to the truth of what he had mentioned.
Another fact which had struck him was the cheapness with
which the reclaimed females could be provided for ; he be-
lieved that for the sum of 3s 6d per week they were provided
with food, clothing, and lodging. At first some of them,
who came under the society's care in a state of great destitu-
tion, having very few clothes, found it extremely difficult to
maintain themselves upon so small a sum ; but considering
that that was their only chance of escaping from a life of fear-
ful iniquity, they persevered, and with a little experience and
care, they found that they were enabled to live upon that sum,
small though it was. He hoped that an institution which
went so boldly and benevolently to work, plunging its saving
hand, as it were, into the darkest and foulest regions of sin,
to snatch from thence the guilty wanderers, would receive the
support to which it was pre-eminently entitled. The sum of
£3OO a-year—no very large amount to so wealthy a commu-
nity as Liverpool—was the least with which the society would
be enabled to carry on its operations efficiently, and the sub-
scriptions now amounted to £l3O only,
_so that £171) or £lBO

more were wanted. The deficiency, he trusted, w°uld
on
promptly furnished, and the society be enabled to eareY
its work without being crippled for resources.
and
dhoef RtheoviaMdire.a,Ma
The motion was unanimously adoted.
thee 1 l°effiec'!:e
ing year. He briefly addressed the Pleating in auP:P- and
Gn
dmL gentlemen'sm ov e d the
committees appointmentfor
ropf
the society, and expressed a conviction that, if its cloon'oith
successes were more generally known, it would Ineetfore,
adequate support and encouragement. He was, theted eft
gratified to hear that the report was to be printed ati,di
ciliated, because that would speak more loudly and eir'co ia
to the public than he could pretend to do. " Let uoti
the rev. gentleman, " lay our heads, and hearts, and ka
together to promote the good work ; for I do not iir°
ela
more beautiful or affecting picture than that of a ree are
female, who, instead of assailing us in the streets, as w,nrg
proceeding home, and shocking our souls with handisga',o
language, is heard singing the praises of God tho"`
him for his mercies." hich sc3s
The Rev. Mr. JOSEPH seconded the resolution, w-
carried. _ A 0110,1'
On the motion of Mr. KAY, seconded by Mr. "" Or!
(the president and one of the secretasies of the ileeiten4l ,the
Society,) a vote of thanks was passed' to the chairmanrthen
briefly acknowledged the compliment. The meeting
broke up, having lasted one hour and a quarter.

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