New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-01-10


Advocate. Neither in the title nor in the
operations of the Society do we observe
any recognition of the Restoration Of the
Fallen as leading object Of its exertiOns.
We deem this a great mistake-a Ia
mentable degeneracy. 1t is an impeach-
ment of Divine Government, of the efficacy
of Christianity, to assume that the Fallen
of any class are beyond recovery or hope.
1t is a libel on Womanhood to assume that
the victims of the seducer's wiles are ne
cessarily and usually class evincing pc
culiar and inveterate depravity. Individu-
ais among them may be so but they do not
establish a rule. On the contrary, lady
of Christian piety of heart and of life who
devoted much time to the efforts made here
in I83O-3l-2 in behalf of this class declared
that she did not find the majority of them
essentially depraved in heart or manners,
but that many of them would gladly flee
from their degradation to life of virtuOus
industry and frugality if the opportunity
were fairly offered them. The only clear
exception she made was against the female
keepers of dens of infamy, whom she
Judged as nearly devils as human beings
wellcould be.-And another woman, whose
nobility Of soul, force of character and en-
inence of position enabled her to speak as
she thought, declared that, on being brought
into the company of number Of Outcast
females, she was rather surprised to see
how much of womanhood still remained TO
them. From many concurrlng testimonies
we draw the inference thatif the Christian
Church were really to undertake in earnest
the work of aresting the destroying flood
Of Licentiousness, in the spirit of Him who
said, Neither do | condemn thee; go and
sin no more'-whOse preaching the common
people heard gladly, while Scribes and
Pharisees were repealed and made wroth by
1.-THE work would be found by no means
so difficult as has been pposed-certainly
not impossible.
SO much by way of preface to the
following article from The Advocate of
Moral Reform for the current month-an
article in which the old spirit 10 Ovinood
and the true causes and indictments of Lii
centiousness exposed with fearful power.
We wish every professed Christian who is
drawing income from the rent of grogshops
and worse haunts could be induced to read
and ponder it. If any wealthy Church
Corporation in our City is drawing reve-
nue. las is popularity affirmed) from similar
sources, we ask its managers to read and
consider this simple narrative:
THE sISTERS-A SKETCH FROM MEMORY.
In the year lS-, while seeking out neglected
children in M st. in order to bring them under
Sabbath School influence, we found in the yard Of
rear building two little sisters, of some four and
seven wears of age. Their sparkling eyes and
winning smiles bespoke intelligence and native
loneliness, but shoeless feet dsheveled hair, and
tattered garments, indicated, too plainly, the sad
want of maternal care. "Where is your home,
dear children r. "Yonder ma am up the stairs
DO your parents ever send you to the day-school,
or the Sunday school 2" mo, maam," said the
Let us see if your mother would be willing to
send YOU" So saying we assembled the tottering
stairway preceded by the eager little ones) On
entering the door, we found, stretched upon an
apology for bed, the helpless, besotted father,
with scarlet face and swollen eyes, the bottle,
half emptied, still within his reach. The mother
was able to stand, but could not walk except in a
zie.zag gait, and looked the very personlication
of filth and wretchedness. The general appear
ance of the premises correspondent with that OF
the miserable inmates, and may be better imagined
than described And such was the only earthly
home Of these poor children When compelled TO
escape it by fear, hunger, otherwise their only
resort was the city street. On our second visit,
we led them, decenty clad, to the Sabbath School.
For many months they were followed up, while
the most earnest efforts were made to reclaim the
parents and thus save both them and the children.
Christian benevolence did what 1t could, but
failed 10 accomplish the ends desired. The ques-
tion then arose-CRnnot something more be done
to save both these now innocent sisters from their
impe nding fate 1t was quite manifest that UNI
less they could be removedtrom their parents,
their case was morally hopeless. Persuasion fall
ed. Both, when sober, confessed they had no
expectation that their daughters would be saved
from ruin if they continued to run in the streets
from day to day as they were then doing Still,
they preferred to keep them as long as possible,
rather than 70 accept the offer to have them placed
in Christian families to be properly trained and
educated.
To the inquiry-Csn the. law do nothing for the
protection OF these helpless children the answer
came-"No, surely unless they commit some
misdemeanOr, or become entire Migrants. Then
it opens for them either the Prison, the House Of
Refuge or the Aims House, either Of which re-
ceptacles is ever regarded byits inmates as more
or less derog atory to character. For some two
years, the teachers kept an eye upon these chill
dren, often feeding and re-clothing them, when
found half famished or half clad. At length, the
moral influence of the Sabbath School seemed to
be wholly obliterated by the contaminations Of
the week day influences, by which they were
surrounded and the native blush Of modesty
gave place to an inexcusable forwardness of man
ner. About this time, the inebriate parents re-
teacher lost sight Of them, and was unable after