The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-10-08
THE MAGDALEN ASYLUM.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT AND
BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

The annual meeting Of the stockholders of
the Spring. Street Home was held yesterday,
when the following report of the President
(Dr. w. ". Parker) and Board of Directors
was presented and read:
It would be very remarkable if the first
years operations of an institution alto.
setber unknowH heretofore in our. section
should disclose no defects in its manage.
ment. To correct evil habits Of long stand
iug in persons of good breeding and with
favorable surroundings is often most tedi-
Gus and difficult task but to reclaim the
most ignorant and most abandoned of all
classes in few months would seem almost
an impossibility. Time, patience, and much
of the love of Christ will, however, in some
cases, succeed. To save but one such in
year from life Of remorse and from tihal
and eternal misery would seem sufficient
compensation for the labors and cares Incl
dent to the undertaking. But we hope to
show better results for the first years history
of our institution.
The Magdalen Asylum was opened for
the reception Of patients Oh the 22d day oil
June. 1873. The first annual meeting was
held on the 1st day of October, 1874. The
report herewith submitted will, however,
embrace the operations of the Society from
the 22l of June, 1873, to the 1st OF October,
1875, being period Of two years and three
months. During this time we have received
into the asylum twenty five girls. Lett with
the consent of the Bolrd, four Two OF them
have married.; gone into service, one sent
to the city hospital, two; returned totrlend',
one; discharged for improper conduct, none ;
died, one; left without permission, nine. VI
this number seven are from Norfolk, ana
only remained few weeks. They entered
the Home together under sudden anu traii'
sient religious convictions. The number
now in the family is seven.
We did not expect, as before intlmateo,
that good home and kind treatment alone
would reclaim muny Masdalens. The degra-
dation is too deep and dark to be ef ,c1d by
such mild measures. To effect thorough
reformation, in large majority of clseS, we
must depend upon the grace of God operat.
ing through months and years of kind, reli'
gious instruction. About one half Of those
admitted into our asylum bad Ignorance
added to their vices-they could neither
read nor write. Twelve out of the twenty.
five were habitual drunkards and opium
eaters. To their in6rmIties and vices there
was added, in almost every case, the misfor.
tune of deep poverty. Quite number were
orphans. To bsgin life with these draw.
backs-poyerty, orphanage, and ignorance
it is not surprising that 80 many were
wrecked ere they were fairly launched upon
life's dark and troubled waters.
To the inquiry, What positive good has
been accomplished in the tifteen months of
our existence? we answer:
1st. On the 22d Of June. 1878, poor, mis-.
era ole, bloated girl entered the Home. She
had no clothing but what she then wore,
and that was ragged and filthy. She was the
daughter of poor, respectable widow. This
girl is now bright, cheerful, happy woman.
Her dress and appearance are good enough
TO eptitle her 10 respect in any mans parlor
in this city and what is better, she IS now
the lawful wife OF a citizen OF Richmond.
o. On a rainy Sabbath 10 d cember, 1874
little girl, weary and worn, stranger in
the city, was, under suspicion that "some,
stain was upon her," taken to the Home.
She was beyond the age TO be sent 10 an or.
pbau asylum, and this seemed tue only house
of refuge for her. To-day she Is the beloved
inmate OF one OF the best female colleges In
neighboring State.
81. An orphan girl from neighboring city
came to the Home year ago. She bad bean
shut up in her shame and degradation br
many months. fearing to appear upon tae
streets of her native city IN the daytime.
, For five months past she has been re-
spected inmate of an intelligent family ID TINS
city who know her history. -.
4th. To-day in the far West. upon tne
shores Of the Pacific, there Is happy so!fe