, 1876-11-05
Is 1T NEEDED?
L WoMAN's CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

To tAe Editor QJ The Tribune.
CHICAGO, Nov. 3.-Go to the Hospital aud see
the many suffering homeless women. Go to
the cheap boarding houses and hear the sad
tales OF fruit1css efforts to obtain even liyeli
hood. Go in to an intelligence office some
Monday morning, and see the many unemployed
women, intelligent and ignorant, all crowded to-
gether, almost like beggars waiting for their
turn to come, and waiting, perhrps, all day in
@Yes.s 'A A'A *'A'7" - 4'le '1''~~''''
Who are these womenl Are they the drudges
OF the citys Some Of them are, and some OF
them are not. Some Of them have had pleas
ant homes and kind friends. but the hour OF ad-
yersity has come unexpectedly, and they, alas!
unpreparcd, are driven, as it were, to do some
thing. Like most Of our american women, they
have no trade, their education has been neg
lccted flor what need of an education has wo
many, they can do no one thing we'll aud they
go out in quest OF anything they can get to do.
Others having superior talents, perhaps, and IN
education hardly earned, are obliged, for the
want Of some friendly hand to help them to
place or means to execute their own plans, to
accept situations unworthy Of them; while there
are still another class Of unprotected ones per-
haps without kind mother to encourage them,
or instruct them in anV department Of industry,
having almost grown up in the street, who
wander about from place to place, and yield to
LNE AiuuEuCES euIItuuulut7 LuEul LII LIE AUul VI
despair, and thus being driven to life Of
shame.
What mighty work for woman, and who else
but woman can do it! Not as it is often done,
alas, and therefore has inevitably proved to be
failure by treating the poor deludcd ones as
criminals, but with that1ove which more than in
any other work is needed there: the love OF
Christ as He spoke to the woman In the temple,
not as Judge, although who more than He
had a right to judge, but as one who, though
without sin, yet pardoned the sinner.
But, says some one, is the Wonan's Christian
Association meant to be reform club? would
answer, we mean it to be band Of praying
women, who are ready to reach ont helping
hand to whoever they can. and sharing some
comforts it need be to make others comfortable
for their sake and for the Masters.
There are thousand ways in which women
can help women If they are only willing to be
used, and make one united effort to accomplish
the work. We may do good By individual
effort but there are means so efficient as con-
centrated effort. ''ln unity is strength" says
have one here? Other cities have them. They,
too, have their church societies and temperance
clubs, vet they find work that can only be
accomplished IN this way. Over fifty Womcn's
different cities in the United States. Cinnot
Chicago sustain one, this great centre, the
Queen City Of the West, with oil her enterpris-
ing, intelligent, and praying pcoplea
have only to add, ask your missionaries and
pastors who visit among the neglected homes,
and hear the sad tales of discouraged ones, if
We do not need such an association which will
provide place for hcalthful social enjoyment,
clcvating associations, and at the same time ex-
crt religious influence over them, as has been
said OF the 7. N. c. 4.
Leaving the matter for your calm consfdera-
ton, I will hope for an expression from the
Christian workers OF this city favorable to this
movement, praying that God will impress US
al With its Importance, and that ne may have
The hearty cooperation Of both the clergy aud
laymen. CHRISTINE.