The Portland daily press., 1869-11-22

Last evening Rev. r.Pratt delivered dis
coursas at 81. Stephens Charch in aid q The
M,r,h, w l<hington ,eiejs. Use + a CON.
mesrei by saying that by an accident, which
was much regretted by the Society, the same
evening had been chosen that had also been
appointed for discourse atanother church in
! aid of another excellent Charity This fact
had been ascertained too late to remedy the
natter, and he trusted that both charities
would be literally provided for. He stated that
Ne watched the progress of this institution
rom its beginning, over twenty-seyen year,
lgo, and how deserving it was of all the aid
that could be extended TO it. 4, lrs.s, 4, s
| As you asce nd the Alps you will fbd every
little distance small house provided for those
| who, overtaken by the fierce storms that rage
| here, seek shelter These little houses are
| called refugees. Now this Society is also re-
uge for those ascending the mountains of life,
| 1t is here they find that sleep and food and
warmth that they cannot obtain elsewhere.
| Many have known for years OF this Society
| They say it is a very good thing but they know
| little of its advantages. They don't stop to
| investigate. The trouble is we live in fast
| ,ge. Tell man to gaze upon mountain to
note its sublimity, and the centuries it has
| withstood storm and whirlwind, and his eye is
wandering abont looking for a railroad train
| That's what's the real trouble Men should
stop and ask if they are considering the inn
mortal souls which are about them. They
throw off the poor too carelessls This Society
is like the shelter houses you find on the
beaches, put up for the benefit Of the ship
wrecked mariner. 1t nourishes their bruised
spirits, gives them help and encouragement
until they are able to 60 back into the world.
These loving, blessed women take care of these
wretched beings, of their wives and little ones,
and they want the men who can give to fur
nish the means; they want to draw Gordon OF
loving hearts about them, not for a twelve
| month but for all time. He then said that it
would shock his hearers TO tell them of the
scenes Of wretchedpess and want that had been
exhibited to him when fifteen years ago be
lived in this city. He told them of a letter he
received about that time from gentleman at
the South who enclosed draft for 800 for the
unworthy poor of the city. The gentleman
said he had heard that the winter was very
severe one at the North, that he knew the
worthy poor would be taken care of, and he
""oeSN w mop ehO ubWOitug pOOis III. Edtl
understood it to mean such as this Society
helps-the families of drunkards There are
many such families administered to by the So
ciety, any If the audience could have seen what
he saw in the expenditure of the 800 their
hearts would bleed with anguish. .rl II,
Abroad the wretched are paraded in the
streets. In this country the poor shrink from
observation. Cases must be investigated
Rich men. living at lightning speed, say they
have mt got time. This society has made inves-
tigation their business. Money is needed to
carry on the work, but not money alone. There
is sympathy that must first be extended, and
then after the wound is probed the medi-
cine must be administered. These are the real
sisters of charity doing their work tenderly,
lovingly, yet unobtrusvely, never coming to
the surface until they feel they must have the
means to go on with. This society is an abso-
lutte necessity here. These ladies constitute
themselves the feet, arms and hearts of those
who hav'n time to go around themselves. 1
know, said the speaker, that you have the
strongest confidence in their ability and wis
dom. There is something in their stea6fast-
ness that commends them to attention. They
have gone through storm and shine,. rain and
snow, for twenty-seven years, Without being
derelict hair. Fourteen meetings a week
have they held, and the president has held OF
fee for twelve years. And yet they had only
$417 to expeud last year, and the year before
between 800 aud $780, Now he thoughi the
best plan was to get $1,000 pledged in annual
subscriptions of SIS each. He then called for
twenty subscribers, at least from the ongre-
cation, and Judge Kingsoury went round and
took the names. 1t is hoped that this is only
the beginning, and that the gentlemen and
ladies in town may become annual subscribers
of S. each yearly, and if not of IS, at least of
81. .... ---a ~ I'd *. E .4-asJ 10 q.