, 1876-11-18


CHICAGO, Nov. 17.-So.nc " cll-mcnnlng women
l,avo recently published In TIE TRIBUNE nrt!rlps
considering tllu establishment Of "Chrt6tian
llunen 1ur woFkfnKwonletI. aud lmplurinR ton
tributiuns to "pr1ytdc shelter fur tho poor,
homeless wumcR," etc. The undersigned, as n
workinswonlAn would briefly reply to tho
authors and In1orBcrs OF the aforesaid articles:
Chnsity IL most cstlmabtc grace, but is tus-
ccptlblu of mlsappiicaton.
II you would build "I1omo" for helpless
women, your object Is pratseworthy; but We
who work and pay otlr expenses do mol wish To
be clasacd With the hclplcss,-pcrhaps hy those
whu coNducc nothing but prayers and gossip to
tso productive industry Of tic land.
We woFklngwomen pity, and condemn not,
NenhB permit We would extend charity to them,
but we would not 6s p!accd Il. tue san'e cate
gory With them, md by those whom We do uut
acknowledge our s1perorR.
We hare Ills to complain of, but It Is Justice
! NC require; charity shog bc reserved for pail
equal li.tr!blttuu Of labor-a condition Of
nifaIrs for Which nGt1lcr We nor you nra to
| blanc. ]: you wish to benutt us. We suggest
| tat yon move Tor the payment to us Of Just
wnses, 80 that It, we ean pasronize better board;
| from thc world. to liye in "Clrlstlan Elonc,"
where We pay our 1noncy and yet arc objc4ts of
clialiLy. .
| IL Ia paih1lIly True tte1t moro cleAnlIHces
| anil comfort In cheap boar1lng.huuses Is NEEDED
| Dy working women a'a men In all large cities !
blu. along witt! our poverty gocs full shnrc Of
American pride, anu We prefer to maintain our
| independence III gurrets Un bread ami water,
rather tl,afi be we-fcd IN Institutions where We
1rtt acccpt char!ty, must bc governed, md bo
| prayed ior.
Furthrrunsc, any boart]!ng-llouso or other
establishment for either sex exclusively Ia not
| fit for md uucs nut deserve the ratrnnnHc ot
anybody. Something Ia said about :. sllcltcrlng
the puor Etrf from tcsnptatloh.'' We answer
thlt babes must be protected from flre ansl
water; but az c'lildrcn lcco1to Intelligent and
responsible, they must lcarn 70 know mud a79!l
this conditions which render fire md water de-
atructve.
We do no. wish to be prccludetl from .thr so
ciety Of all incn, good as well ns bad, IN urtst:
either Ut thu scxcs, wtthuut ascuriatIon with the
other would b. aii untnitEatcd hrnltuk,-. :. :.
wuraH. nh iMtDlernble nuisance. II yuu Will
teach your so.ls tD 70 forth confident III their
pure manhood, thcre will be lever seductive
tcmptcrs to lure ls or you from lhe pure and
good.
Az to tho prayers 40 laylsh1y offerc:. II onr
material Interests ure III the cate u . God who
IL wont 10 neglect Ills bnAineEs, It %Ll. he 0nc o
our liglltest tasks to prompt flts Eicmory ns
orcasi0n may require. Spiritually II ..tht
prayers Of tic righteous avat'cth mucls,' w
regard It nuttc As pertinent TINT We pray for yot
H. you for us.
fills il written In no rctala:fvc or bitter spir
It. We arc glad to know that you have charity
We ourselves haye. So far 1s Gas1. other Is cnI
ecrued, VIC need yours and you 0urs,-the tr!It
lu,nau and social charity Of thy ,lcurt for tht
Of 1uatice please distinguish between Relt-Fnp
porting worksngwomcn aud the "helpless,'
aAh reserve yDnr pecuutly clnsty for thu lut
tcr-we DO nut want 1t. ALICE REED.