National Republican., 1875-09-14
w0MANps CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.
A Plea for Aid to Garry On Their Work


1T fact, not go generally known as 1t ought
to be- that there is at work 10 this city band Of
Christian womer, toiling and sper ding their
strength and substances in following the Divine
instructions TO care Tor the sicx and needy, the
aged and the orphan. Tie WomeL's Christian
Association Is Pew in ths sixth year OF It's exist
enee and has become q perm snent Institution,
and, with the generous help of the citizens OF
Washington, will become one Of the greatest
chsrita BILE organizations 10 the country hitherto
the ladies have relied mainly their own efforts
in carrying on their work, but they have reached
q point at which, in order to leave no part OF the
work undone, It becomes necessary to look for aid
outside Of their own circles. The demands made
iPDossbSe npDn Shs for he ladies' TO care for all
The working portion Of the association is an ex-
ecutive board, composed Of the officers and the
several committees. Their work takes several
FORMS Poor girls and
WOMEN WITHOUT EMPLOYMENT
girls who have csme to this city in search Of work
andwomen who are seeking pensions-are taken
in and cared for by the employment committee.
The women are furnished with whatever Kind Of
work they may understand, and are paid fair
prices for 1t; but in most instances the work,
which is generally sewing, is 30 coarse that the
ladies Of the association nd dfculty in realizing
upon It the cost Of the original material. Since
the laoies abandoned the old barracks In Judi.
ciary Square they have occupied room In Market
Space, at the corner Of Eighth street, as an en-
pioymept ROOM Women who do not understand
any Kind OF work are instructed in that for which
they are best Qualitled, and as soon as they be-
come capable situations are procured for them.
The last annual report Of the employment COM
mittee says, in reference to these wemsn: .In
almost every case they have given satisfaction,
thus lessening BY 30 many the great army of in
capables who hang on all forms of charity for
support, import thar. ia ,,s .Homsn and tns uFo.,.-
Home" The buildings In which these have been
located situated on Thirteenth street, between
To the "Home" are brought, to the care Of
kind matron and gentle attendants, aged and in
nrm old women who are unable TO make any ex-
inal price for their accommodations, while others
solely dependent upon the charity of the asso-
citation. The Poster Home" is for children. Or.
phaDs have been excluded, as the means Of the
association have been limited, and as ample pro-
vision has been made for this class of INDECENT
children in the orphan ssylums. 1t is for the
benefit OF the
CHILDREN OF INDECENT WIDOWS
that the Home" was established. Here the
children are received and taught. In some in
stances the mothers contribute TO their support.
OCCASIONALLY children have been received who
had fathers, but whose parents were in needy cir
cumstances. Whenever the parents are able to
take them out or whenever the children become
away to make room for others Of the numerous
applicants who are always at the doors of the
Home" In all these institutions the occupants
are under the influence of Christian teachings
and many q hardened woman has left the doors OF
the "Home" regenersted In body and In spirit.
There is also q visiting committee, who penetrate
and dispensing the charities OF the association.
In all this great work, picking up the unfortu-
nate caring for the decrepid, relieving the widow
to the abandoned, the ladies have hitherto been
entirely unaided. They have been unable to &C
conmodste half Of those who have applied to
them for aid as their means have been limited.
At the first session or the Forty-third Congress
an appropriation Of s25 600 was made for the pur-
pose Of constructing building for the use Of the
Women's Christian Association, but in order to
enjoy the benefit Of this appropriation the ground
upon which 1t was to be built was TO be free from
all incum brance. The association already at that
time owned large piece of ground on Thirteenth
street, near S, admirably adapted to the purpose,
but unfortunately IL was not free from incum-
utmost to clear the title, in order to be permitted
to draw the appropriation money, and finally
succeeded. Plans for q building were drawn BY
commenced last May May was vas put in the hands Of Mr..
]. 6. Nailor. The proposed building Is to front
on Thirteenth street, with length OF over q hun
the main building, forming q T.shaped structure.
The building as proposed would require far
larger amount Of money than the sum sppro-
priated SO the ladies are at present satisfied to
complete the rear wing, and wait until
CONGRESS OR PROVIDENCE
provides means for completing the main building
The work on the wing which was commenced In
May has been rapidly pushed forward, and the
for occupancy by the first of November. The
building lie 60 feet by no. and is three stories high
wi Q large basement. On each floor are twelve
large rooms, which will be fitted with all modern
conveniences. There will be eight bathrooms IN
the building, two on each floor and in the base
ment. The first floor will be devoted to the en-
ployment department and TO the old ladies, while
one Of the front rooms will be used an sssocia-
tion room. The upper floors, which contain to-
rooms, will be appropriated to dormitorfes. The
basement will be given up TO play-rooms, suitable
aceomm odations for the culinary department and
dinfn G rooms, and the heating apparatus as the
building will be heated throughout with steam.
By the time the building is completed the ap-
preparation money Will be expended, and large
part of the workwill undone as the building
will have to furnished, and the winter fuel will
have to be supplied. There will be an excellent
opportunity for people to shsw their appreciation
Of the enterprise Of
THESE INDoMITABLE WOMEN
by lending q helping hand. If each Of the Eysn-
gelical churches Of the city would undertake to
furnish one room, has been done in other cities
TO aid similar enterprises, the burden would be
light, but great anxiety would be taken from
the hearts Of the members Of the association. If
each OF the coal merchants Of the city would con-
tribute a ton, or half ton, or even Q bushel OF
coal, the cellars Of the building would soon be
filled, and the little foster children could toast
their toes this winter with great satisfaction.
Any one who has an old set OF furniture lying idle
in the lumber-room could devote It no more
purpose than that Of furnishing or
helping to furnish one Of the rooms OF the new
building. The association is sadly in need OF
them as soon as their building Is ready to be oc-
cunfed now IA the time thew need an