The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-13
THE MIDNIGHT MISSION.
4 Noble Work and How 1t Was Begun
How it is Supported, Its Success and
its Good Results-SnOw Flakes Sui.
lied by the Mire Of the Great
City Interesting Facts.

For many years past great deal has been written
IN the newspapers and great deal has been said by
our lawmakers concerning the ravages which the
Social EVIL is making In the metropolis the horrors
Il entails upon the community which tolerates its
existence and the tendency 1t has to add to the In
crease OF the worst crimes annually paraded the
criminal calendar. IL has been time and again de-
nounced in the pulpit as o something too frightful
in itself to contemplate, even for the sake Of
exciting the antpathy or the virtuous against it,
<he great canker OF metropolitan society," which
AZ slowly eating into Its very vltals as monster
which is daily gaming new strength ana vigorous
life from the utter indifference OF the people to Its
baneful results. But Notwithstanding the combined
influence OF the pulpit and the press thus brought
dear upon the question to the best OF getting
rid OF the evil, 1t was but two years
ago that the first practical step was taken
An this city to- win from their lives OF shame
the unfortunate persons whom circumstances had
dhrown into the revolving business of prosttut
Indeed 1t has ever been found very easy thing TO
den0unce prostitution and to call down the ven
geance Of Heaven upon the heads OF those who
encourage 1t directly indirectly. but it has also
been found that neither the finely rounded periods
OF the eloquent divlnes composed for the deectaon
Of "respectable' congregations, nor the savage
editorials OF virtuous editors on the subject nave
ward sister from er sad life or OF making her look
back upon her innocent childhood with the slightest
feeling OF regret. Experience teaches, however.
and those who have at heart the welfare OF the poor
girls, between whom and society there seems-and
only seems-tO be an impossible gulf, finally
became convinced that denuDciation Of what
could not be helped had no other effect
shan to harden the frall ones against their
well wishers and to regard them as SO many tor
menters who desired II possible to make their lives
more miserable. They perceived, did these good
people, that to do battle successfully with the dread
horror 1t was necessary to night 1t on the 'compro-
mse plannot only to 80 address the mselves to the
better Feelings Of the fallen to cause them
to repent of their past lives but also TO extend to
them helping hand, to place them in such posi-
tion as would absolutely prevent their being obliged
ever TO return to their former calling to earn their
daily bread; and above all to hold out to them the
hope that society is not a Garden Of Eden out OF
which they were driven by an inevitable fate, and
she entrance to which, defended by an angel, not
. naming sword Is 1orevermore shut against them.
One Of the first practical methods instituted for the
reformation Of these fallen ones IN this city was
THE MIDNIGHT MISSION.
This society had Its origin in informal CONVEX
eation held on the LIST OF November, 1856, between
the Rev. s. IL. billiard, chaplain OF st. Barnabas mis-
sion, and Mr.. Gustavus Stern, now missionary OF
the Diocesan Board Of the American Church Mission
nry Society. Mr.. Stern had then Just arrived from
England, where he had had an opportunity OF Cd
serving the operation OF a mission among fallen
women, inaugurated ten years before IN London by
BsSEmore lieutenant IN the royal navy ana since
midnight meeting movement. The subject was not
pew to the missonary's mlnd 1t had engaged his
ready had some personal experience in tine
work. HIS interest," however being newly
this nversaton he brought the subject before the
members OF the st. Barnabas Missionary Assocla-
lion. at one OF its regular meetings, Tor their CON
6ideratlon. At this meeting he rehearsed Mr.
storms account OF the methods and results OF the
London work, and also read to the association some
extract .om the biography OF Lieutenant Black
inspired by this favorable presentation Of the SUBJ
Suntinston and Mr.. Philip B. HenryMat once came
FORWARD and offered to operate with Mr. Hiard
IN tnaugurating similar effort In New York, py
direct personal appeals 10 this class OF women in
bur streets. Other gentlemen soon came to their
subject was brought before the Christian pub
1c through printed circulars reaa ana distributed IN
same day the Rev. DR.. Peters rector Of st. MichaeIs
church, New York, preached In Trinity chapel be-
Tore the Protestant Episcopal CITY Mission Society
q memorial sermon OF the late Mrs. Richmond, who,
to ali her many works and labors of love added self
sacrificing efforts IN behalf OF fallen women. At
the close OF the sermon collection was taken,
which was appropriated to the new enterprise. At
= public meeting held in benaf of the mission IN
the Trinity chapel on the 2lst OF January following
ladies volunteered their services as coworkers IN the
good cause. Being thus encouraged by official sane
lion and public approval and stimulated by pecu-
MARY contributions another step was taken Rooms
were hired for three months, on the corner Of
Twelfth street and Broadway, and comfortably fur
THE FIRST "RRCEPTIoN'
was held on the 1st OF February, printed cards OF
tnvitatlon having been distributed by the members,
who went out two and two into the streets two
evenings in the week for that purpose. Not only
were the cards accompanied by short appropriate
tract handed to those willing to receive them bat
Kind words Of importantly were sometimes added,
by which many who at first declined were com
PEELED to come In. They were not merely thus
Invited to the receptions held every Friday night,
but the cards also contained an invitation to come
e o snoeR q re
might come, and to render pecuniary assistance
ansst assTs sBand suon sns 'n0q e
1pf shame. Many there were who, after resolving
AZ thew sss a. acc Would due
tlmes falter; and they would shrink back from the
4h0ught OF encountering the eye of purity; their
Friendly hands were there, however, to open the
door, and to encourage them to so in. AS they en-
TO greet them and make them welcome; first
pnertng them refreshments, then drawing them
into relating 70 their temporal
caption. seventeen guests were present. And after
Ill had been cordially welcomed BY the noble
women who had left their pure. light homes IN the
lnclement weather to mlnge with and minister to
the poor lost ones OF their sex, hymn was given
put in the singing Of which most OF those present
1oned. There were no permadent accommodations
Tor them at the time, and SO, with heavy hearts at
the close OF this reception the good hosts were forced
TO let them 60 their way.
SUCCESS ASSURED.
On the 10Th OF February another reception was
held, when twenty-six girls were present, and one
Of them, despite the circumstances and ridicule OF
nor companions, resolved to 90 TO the St. Barnabas
Home. II was discovered at the start that the girls
objected TO going to places that could be looked
upon in the light Of public institutions, partly be.
OF their publicity and partly because they re-
formerly given to Magdaen asylums IN England;
and the managers OF the mission at once determined
N possible TO make their home more like that or
private Christian family, but little known any but
themselves and the class whom they were desrous
OF directly bene1tlng, where the girls could enter
without observation and be under no needless re-