Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-12-04
THE REFHEL.

The earnest attention Of all the chart
tsbly inclined and truly benevolent, is
called to the following communication,
certifying to a good and most benefcent
work, under charge Of Mr.. Speers, su-
perintendent OF the Bethel:
EDITORS APPEAL-As you have been
| foremost in defense OF our public schools,
and ever ready in defense Of reform, il
| is fair to presume, as you have ALWAYS
| taken a decided interest in the Memphis
1 Bethel, which now ranks at the head Of
! benevolent enterprises, that any subject
/ presented for the benefit of the poor
children Of our city, especially in a moral
and intellectual view, would by you be
| laid before the public judiciOusiy.
Through the benevOlence Of q very few
persons, who are unwilling to be public
/ ly known, the superintendent OF the
Bethel has established in the Exchange
| building, on Exchange and Front streets,
q night-school for the destitute. The
Offcast, the hard-fisted lRbOrer, the ap-
| prenticed mechanic, have all, in the
short time of one week, presented them
selves for learning. Arrangements for
/ fifty scholars have been made, with desk,
! slate, pencil, pen, ink, paper and books.
] The scenes in the night sessions are ill.,
| teTesting beyond description. Here you
will find the small boy and the young
man intently bent on getting knOwl-
edge; here you will ind the veritable
clown, and may say almost the nat
ural hog, and every character found
from humenity's tenderest ties to
the lowest depths Of human degrade /
ton. And yet in but one or two in /
q
tible Of reform; in most cases an eager /
ness to do better. In every character 4
native shrewdness and genius unequaled |
even in our better-tO-d0 children. The /
wonder is how such degradation can be 1
attained. Oh. Che -1rrOws presented in
one such scene, ana yet the JOY, the hap
piness, in the eii0I. 10 raise their stand
ard. Would to God thata all would come
and witness for themselves. II was only
intended 10 present the nightschOol that
you might more fully give it, to the pub
lie, as you thought best, and IL possible,
solicit such an interest as viii result in
permanent success. Already over one
hundred have asked for admission.
Without means they must be kept out
IN the path OF darkness and guilt. What
shall be dOne2 VIII our citizens come
and know for themselves what is and /
can be dOne2 VIII not one dollar spent
IN this direction save hundreds in our |
statiOnhOuses and jails? Many thanks TO /
Adams street station forsleepinga num- |
Der Of night scholars.
There are here, as everywhere through
out the christian world, ladies aud gen.
tlemen who expend a very wealth of
sympathy in efforts at good in the wrong |
direction. We submit 10 these that in |
the direction Of this Bethel night school |
lies one psth to duty. Teaching The
benighted boys and poor workers who |
have hitherto had no chance or Opportu-
nifty, is a work second TO no other, If it /
is not far superior 10 any other an active /
and Jealous christian can engage in. |
Even the Sunday-schOOl itself, the most /
glorious field of labor known TO the chris /
tian church, does not afford the scope /
for positive benefaction that this Bethel |
school does, and we trust it will be sus-
tanned by generous subscriptions OF
money, aud what is equally to the pur-
pose, by the presence and personal help /
Of all the good men and women OF our
city, regardless of sect. A great deal Of
christian zeal is dawdled away IN diet
tsnteism unworthy those who follow
Christ. The. Bethel offers an asylum of
refuge for all affected in that way; a re-
fuge where they can find work for all |
their faculties OF head and heart.