Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-09-13
TEE woMAN,s MIssIoN HonE.

Il
BY the Woman's Bible Mission Of Nash
vile, am instructed to say to the public,
through your excellent paper, that the en-
| tefprise Of providing house of refuge for
falien women is now so far matIfred that
We are ready to begin active operations.
| We propose to project it at first on a
Charity basis; but, by a wise cOuse of dis
eipline and instruction, in various branches
OF Industry, We hope soon to raise it to \
self sustaining position. We wish, at the
outset, TO collect cash enough to rent and
furnish house and employ a matron for
one year. Besides the commissaries and
furniture necessary for a beginning, we
VIII need all the labor-saving appliances we
can get in the different departments of in
dustry. We have already elected matron,
whose good practical sense, piety and cul-
ture snake assurance dOubly sure"
Meanwhile, we propose to take up sub
scrlptlon, to be paid by installments of six,
twelve and eighteen months, to purchase a
place IN some suburban locality, whittier
we may remove and establish the Home on
larger scale and more permanent basis.
We have been cheered on in this under
taking from all quarters One says ''there
Is no greater work, no nobler cause on
earth" Another: "You can get all the aid
you need" Indeed, time would fail to tell
OF all the stirring words of cheer at home
and from abroad, and our hearts respond
with gratitude; but, friends, we now need
something more substantial to carry for
ward the work, and we hereby call upon
the pubic to aid US with their money aswell
as their influence, sympathy and prayers.
In some respects, this is quite anOyel en-
terprise. Seldom has woman made de-
mand on the public purse or the public
heart. Revenue and dominion she konws
belongs to her maSter, man, and, with meek
fortitude, she accepts tbe situation. While
structure after structure has risen in grand
eur and lavish magnifcenee to administer
to his culture, his pride and comfort, and |
even his recovery from dissipation, no
heayenward-pOinting spire has ever lacked |
the yielding Of her smile, though Oft it |
sparkled through her tears. The only un- |
disputed rights she has ever held in peace
ful security are the right TO lore and the |
right TO suffer. And throughout her his |
tory, from barbarism through every grade /
Of civilization, she has borne herself with /
meekneSs, herOism and devotion. A very |
small proportion of the great sisterhOOd /
have resOrted to crime Without stopping TO |
analyze their motives and surroundings. |
which in nine cases out of ten entitle them /
to more of pity than blame, let us reflect /
that not one or them ever vet fell without |
the cooperation of man o, would God he
were equally ready to aid in reclaimlng
her II
Again, our civil laws are fearfully defec-
tive in this regard. They punish both
women and men for other crimes, but for
this. the deepest and darkeSt-the crime
that transforms the loveliest creature God
has made into demon inearnate-for this
our righteous statutes have no terrOTs. Ave-
do they not rather encourage, license,
patrOnize? Verify, in a legal aspect, hu-
man virtue is less priced than the pigs and !
poultry of the barIl-yard. These facts are
by the world, and society, act
ing from intuitiOns implanted by holy
and loving Creator, but rendered morbid by |
he eonniyance Of human legislation, tscit-
" dOOms the "unfOrtunate woman" to
utter, hopeless, eternal abandonment.
II is for the culprits under this direful
sentence that the WOmans Bible Mission
pleads. Several have been reclaimed
through the inStrumentality of this .ASsO-
iatiOn, and numbers more aie waiting in
Teat anxiety the result Of this enterprise.
The poor creature that asked permission to
i've in the Shelbyville jail rather than re-
lITn 20 her sins, is but one OF many. They
ire 'sinners with no where TO CO." s'Will
fOu come to our house of refuge as soon as
{ is ready?' asked the writer, of one the
)ther day. evil Gomez she answered.
why, my God, I'll run every step of the
way Yes, indeed, if l don't come, you
nav know / am shut up fast in hell -
How many shall he shut up there before
We get the Home ready ? The public
must answer. We appeal TO pulpit and
press, as well as to all classes Of communi-
", TO aid us in this matter by all means in
heir power. We trust the ministers of all
and everywhere will bring
he subject before their people as part Of
the whole counsel of God" which it Ger
ainly is, and that writers will WELD their
,ens with a skill and energy in this behalf,
lever before witnessed.
Mrs. L. ID. Fite. is treasurer of the
sWoman's Bible Mission and will receive
~ the hand Of her husband, Mr.. T. d.
9ite or Mr.. W. II. Evans, of the firm of
Evans, Fite x Co., Public Square, Nash
lille, any contribution, either by cash or
for this great and good work.
Come, one and all, with head, heart and
,urse, and let us make common cause in
his matter; and Il .riH repay, saith the
ord BIBLE WOMAN.