The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-01
SOCIAL EVIL In LONDON.
How the Great Problem Is Treated
in EngIand's Capital.
The Midnight Meeting Movement and Its
Methods of Work-Scenes at the Rooms
of the Association.
correspondence OF the indianapolis journal

Correspondence of the indianapolis Journal
LONDON, Nov 1.-THE gravest problem
with which civilization has to deal is the
social evil; and for the study of this evil,
whether in its causes, its developments or
in the means used for its suppression no
city in the world, perhaps, affords so good
basis of observation the capital of the
British empire You see it here at its very
worst. You do not have to search it out;
it obtrudes upon your gaze everywhere In
its fairest and fonlest aspects you can see it
lin silks and in rags driving in the stately
equipage and trudging the gutter, in bril-
liant mansion and in dismal attic with the
blush of freshly departed innocence still
lingering on its beautiful cheeks and in all
the hideousness of feature and form which Il
long life of sin can impart. The very mag
nitude of the city fosters it. The girl who
has lost her virtue, and thinks only of hid
ing from the sight of loved ones, can come
here and bury herself In the small town,
or quiet hamlet, where the tempter found
her, life of sin would bring added misery
to those she loves. Here she can bear the
daily burden single-handed. There every
thing would speak OF childhood's purity
and would prick her conscience
to remorse; here she has a
chance to forget So she comes to
London, cold and cruel London. Many of
this class come every day, and in the endless
mazes of this great city's courts and streets
they find living grave.
An old adage says that where the carcass
is the vultures will be- And what a place
1.OndOn iS for al xuol1 fam Ia dam
ityl Pity the wife that has a stray husband
here and the mother whose sons are mixing
in London society," Plenty of patronage for
the fallen sisterhood-plenty at hand to
push them deeper into the mire! But there
is another adage-more than an adage-which
presents to us beautiful picture of the
shepherds concern for the lost sheep, and OF
how he goes out in the dark night and over
the rugged mountains in search of it, So,
happily, there are those here who seek out
the lost Magdalenes; and as London is a sort
OF national rendezvous for this class, so it is
also, most appropriately the center of sys-
tenn of philanthTopic agencies constantly at
work for their reclamation.
THE MIDNIGHT MEETING MOVEMENT.
Prominent among these societies for the
rescue of the fallen is the Midnight Meeting
Movement 1t operates in all parts of the
city and pushes into the provinces. In Lon
don last year 2, 100 poor girls were brought
under its ministrations of love,
and about an equal number
were gathered together in other towns.
Many of these were prevailed upon to enter
homes; many more were restored to their
friends; and in some deeply interesting cases
the happiest results have been attained. An
expression Of sympathy for this movement
brought me ticket of admission to one of its
meetings. With the addition of an indorse-
ment to suit my case, the face of the card read
as follows
'.For young women only. This free invitation
card will admit one or more young women to
a conversaZiOne to be held at ST. Johns Mission
House. Church street, Waterloo road, on Thurs
day, Nov. 8, to commence at p. NJ. Refresh
1nents will be provided"
On the back 1 found the following:
"should you at any time desire counsel and
nelp from those who simply desire to aid the
Miss Hothway, Adj Brixton road, or by Mr..
John H. L. Christeu, Red Lion square, HOl-
born, or letters to the same will receive prompt
attention"
1t was nearly oclock when I reached the
place. Some ladies were there and two gem
tlemen, but none of the class specially in
vited. The room had very cheerful look
frightened with flowers, and the clean-look-
ing tables were stocked with all the requi-
sites for a substantial meal The
youngest of the ladies, whose face
and manner indicated the utmost re-
finement, was seated at d small organ
and passed the time in playing snatches
from favorite hymns, which the others
Joined her occasionally in singing. At in
= tervals conversation was INDUCED on the
work in hand and the particular prospects of
that evening The whole proceedings were
marked by perfect modesty. Nothing was
said that could make the presence of gentle
men embarrassing to the ladies, or vice versa.
OF the poor wanderers sought to be gathered
in, all spoke in the most tenderly, compass
sionate tones-so different from the common
way of this hard world The object of so
early meeting was, l learned, to catch the
girls as they started out for the nights
ramble, while their hearts might be still
tender from the sober reflections of the day.
and ere liquor and gay company had the
chance to make them hard again. The mid
night meetings are the most numerously at
tended, but they are frequently noisy and
hard to manage whereas these early gath
erings are decorous and though slimly at
tended, yield in the end greater good than
the others. Like old soldiers these workers
in the noblest OF causes talked of former
scenes and struggles. Ameeting in Leicester
square was spoken of. 1t was very large,
the women well-dressed, but unusually de-
PRAYED, as might be expected in that neigh
borhood and, as it occurred during the
Jumbo and Alise craze, nothing could be
done, for the girls monopolized the time
with the singing of the popular refrains of
that exciting period. Another was held at
the Grand Cafe, just off Regent street.
The business of the night over the
Midnight Movement people took possession,
and where for years before only the chink
of glasses and the laugh of wanton pleasure
had been heard, the voice of sacred song
was raised. The novelty of the affair proved
attractive. This locality is frequented
almost exclusively by what are called the
''swelr' women many of whom live in ele-
CANT villas in the neighborhood of St. Johns
Wood Usually the very hardest class to
reach. But they attended in large num-
bers, and after a few boisterous ones had