The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1867-11-28
Mission School Aid Society.

Eber) 1865. not As competitor to any
other Society, but to fill a niche no other
|flled.4Ours has-been a two fold pur-
pose Whilst bearing to the homes of
poverty and sorrow, supplies for their
physical wants, we have endeavored to
bear to them the great news of salvation,
Recognizing that. the two. go hand in
hand-that 1t is Twain to endeavor to
cheer the poor and afflicted, by telling
them of Saviour's love and sympathy
whilst they are suffering with cold and
hunger. But it has, been our aim to
make one accessory to the other-striv-
! ing to make life blessing by winning
them to the service of Christ; stThe
cause which we knew not We searched
! out" 1t has been our aim to make the
means which we have disbursed, sub
servient to the elevation of those who
have been the recipients.
We find that many of them have sunk
en- to the position which they now occll-
py, for the want of a word of cheer or
sympathy. and a little timely aid to
|
could be se-lfsupporting. This has
been our mission. Quietly during our
first year we moved along, drawing from.
our purses the supply, but the work in
creased upon our hands, we found our
selves unable to fill the field, which,
opened widely before us. We found,
upon investigation, that there WERE
many who were struggling, silentI, and
| alone, under the weight of pow erty,
| preferring to suffer rather than become
naming at home from Sabbath Sc hool
for the want of clothing. Others we
found far down in sin and iniquity. with
none to care for them; and so great was
the field, that we come before the public
appealing for aid. The appeal has been
kindly and promptly responded to- and
thesum of one thousand and eighty-three
dollars was subscribed.
After another years exertion in the
various objects connected with om. So
ciety, we make this our Second Annual
Report; rendering to you an accou Mt of
! our stewardship. in which We hope to be
able to show you. our friends and sup
porters, that we have applied your char
tiles to the objects for which they were
intended, and that our labor has not
been in vain. s1 ta
To You we would return our thanks
for making US the almoners of your
bounty to the poor and destitute who,
have come under our care, and could WE
picture to you by words, the scenes or
events with which we have become ia
miliar, and could we but lead you to re-
alize the depth of misery and sorrow,
both temporal and spiritual, which you r
means have enabled US to alleviate, W e
doubt not you would be satisfied with
your investment.
"A few incidents may show you some
thing of the nature and manner at GU r
labors.
Visited a family consisting of a father
and mother and a large number of small
children; found them in a suffering con-
dition. The father had been sick-th
another with young babe, both of thel
being unfit for work The family WEI
suffering for food, had had nothing to eat
but bread for two weeks. They were
discouraged and cast down, finding tha.t
no one cared for them. It was pleas
ure to minister to them words to cheer
their dropping spirits: and point tnem to
Him, who was himself man of sorrows,
and acquainted with grief.
Visited widow with three children,
she had been very i'll, unable to work
for eight weeks. Her eldest daughter
has also been sick for several weeks
Amidst all she could bless the Lord,
but most for the severe affection. Paid
her rent, furnished her with wood and
provision, and shoes for her children
Visited another family which, we found
in great distress, the mother being left
| widow with q number of children, and
| finding it difficult to maintain them, she
was induced to marry man, who before
marrying, made many fair promises, but
no sooner had he secured her for wife,
than he commenced abusing the children
refusing to allow them to remain at
home. and in her recent confinement,
totally neglected her, and for days she
was without fire. We gave her wood
and provision, clothed her children and
! took them to the Sabbath School. These
are given as examples. We could fill
many sheets with similar narratiyes.-
! Five girls have been rescued from . life
of infamy, and We believe are now lead
inc Xirtuous and useful lives Mere II