Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-04-10
Another Meeting of the London Courte
sans-A .Pen-PIcthre Of the Peculiai
Sceoa.

lion, q rHf.t. "a.
Another Meeting of the London Courte-
sans-A .Pen-PIcthre of the Peculiar
Scene.
A. second meeting of unfortunate women
took place recently at the ST. James's Hall,
Pickadilly, London. Reys. w. Brock, L. W,
Noel and II. Bickersteith addressed the as
sembly with a view TO induce them to enter
their names as candidates for admission to
various reformatories, arrangements having
previously been made for this purpose. A
correspondent of the Glasgow Guardian thus
graphically describes the Scene: t...J
| enter the restaurant as one of the prlvi-
legged few, and as the clock on the large cof-
fee-room has well-nigh feached half-past
eleven o'clock, the Hon. and Rev. b. W. Noel,
Rev. Mr.. Bickersteth, of Hampstead, (nephew
Of the late rector of Wotton, Rev. w. Rrock,
and others, (including the officials of the
various institutions above mentioned pass
along and sit down in conference at one of
the tables Midnight at last comes, and ere
il has arrived there have passed into the ad-
joining large room about twenty women, who
have been shewn to seats ut different tables.
The gentlemen enter, scatter themselves over
the room, speak kindly words, see that the
guests are supplied with sandwiches, bread
and butter, cake, tea and coffee, all of which
are placed before them, and try to make them
feel somewhat at ease.
Rapidly the tables fill up. Through that
great door, entering from Regent-street,
passes constant stream inward, and seats
ut these tables and refreshments are provided
for ALL Some Christian matrons are present,
and they take their share in kindly converse
with their fallen sisters. Some of them,
poor creatures are very young, and notmOre
than fifteen years of age; others are veterans
in sin, and have the forehead" that almost
refuses to be abandoned" There is low
class present at one table, as indicated by
levity and hysteric laughter, even when
others are deeply solemnized. But these are
the exception. The great majority, how
ever, of those present about one hundred and
eighty in number, are quiet and ladylike,
and few could guess from their aspect through
what scenes of sin and misery they have
passed.
They are dressed not extravagantly OF
gaudily, and are not ungrateful for attentions,
nor insensiblc to kind words spoken to them.
To ask them individually and in quiet tones
whether their parents were alive-when that
mother who was gone had died, &C., gener-
ally brought out feeling, and in some cases
deep emotion. Thus the ways are opened for
one to tell them that their friends who had
asked them to come tonight truly loved their
souls, had no contempt for them, looked OH
themselves as by nature corrupt, and that
they longed to see them come to Christ, and
he holy and happy and pure. They might be
restored to friends, and become happy wive:
delightful mission to be called to fulfill, anC
| it was not unappreciated. .Fr 3
! An hour passed away and more ereall wer'
| served of the numbers who arrived At las
\ Mr.. Noel, with others gathered around him
began to speak to them. He took as the sub
| ject of his address the case of the Philippial
/ jailer, and especially his terror-struck inqui
ry, and the answer, Believe in the Lore
Jesus Christ" etc. On this he did not preach
but spoke with admirable fullness and will
fervent affection His gentle, winning fac
and manner, with his sweet face and lovinl
tones, told. He urged them TO come to th
Savior ao,c, and showed them from hoy
many temporal miseries they would be saveG
if first of all they sought the souls welfar
first. Next followed Mr.. Bickersteth, VIII
dwelt on the happiness of home, with it
holy affections and relations. .g.
The Rev. VIM. Brock-the very model, il
his burly strength, and blooming cheek, an
kindly eyes, and Saxon plainness ofspeech, {
genuine Englishman-sa that the friend
present were ready to take away one hur
dred of those who he addressed, and to pre-
vide refuge and protection for them thg
very night. He then offered very short an
! feryent prayer, which was followed by spt
cial invocations of the quickening and con
verting grace of the Holy Spirit by Rev. Dl
4 Mclean, of the United States. They shoul
not be treated with severity, and wa
should be opened for their return to socet
and to their friends. ] may not dwell longe
on this matter at present but it was a MAJ
velous scene, novel in the extreme, and gle
rious in its aim and issues. .t .. p"
Mr. Noel exhibited sheaf of letters froi
girls who had obeyed tie call to leave thei
sins ON the first night Of meeting, expressin
their happiness. Two of the writers, at leas
had gone home, and were in the bosom ,
their families. Many said that they coul
not obey the summons then, as they ha
property and clothes to look after. Other
among the older ones, said that they ha
houses of their own, which they rented.
goodly number, however, went at once to Ii
different Homes and on nearly all very so
emn impressions were made. Surely thei
is enough of Christ in the spirit of this NOV,
ment, as well as in its first-fruits, as to Ell
courage and stimulate similar efforts in oil
great cities throughout the kingdom. Let
be tried. A similar meeting is soon to
held in the east of London.