Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-04-09

Annual Report OF the Secretary OF the
CITY Society

,
Soeely tl.s folloviug interesting annual re-
port ,as read oy Nr-. Henry spring
inns tne thirl annual meeting o. the
Gmna Rapids Cay Missionary society
proves tlst. wlib lis constantly Increasing
Interests. ID hzs heoonle one u the Iernia-
l.ti.t institutions u1 DLf elty-
b. looang over the record II IL work for
TIE ua-t sear. Ii j. surprising that - much
has f.s.n aeellu uli-iled Wlth 80 feW workers,
ana among 3 class who have seemed 10 be
most IA need ~ tie minlstratlous - this
-ocieig.
0ur city missionary has been true and
faithful Iu DOING har -hsre ~ thv WORK, and
l8 ber iulrf itl gable sglFlt se owe our sue
cess Ia meeting ie4g lei. need Her re-
sorts show THsf she has made Der presenc6
known lu nearly ekes3 portion Of The eats
and t-necIaly iu places %here sympathy and
Ain iuess were most needed. there We ind
her administering eelleacies and comforts
- tia z.ca. au encouraging word 10 the dis
hearted aise aua discreet counsel t0 all, n
theg uiH bar listen. ~ 10 how they may i'm
prove their physical, meatiA and moral con
dluon Nt fad her n the lowest depths Of
oar cils. saith extended hands nlied 10 the
hn-ef-UIs with necessities, sympathIes and
tandeIue-s fer aA WhO come within her
reach whether they desire her assistance or
ARE indifferent 10 TIER presence, she ~ there
t1 help them aud they must receive, There
are cas-s. and many OF them, that are IN 80
dun snd sluggish condition that they are
perfectly Indifferent a. any change, either
for better or worse. and they must be forced
ont of il. This statement may seem eXag-
gerat1d 20 the unlnitiated IN missionary
work. but il Is nevertheless true, right here
in our own town, and that with all the effort
there /. made 10 better the condition of the
poorer classes. such people 90 exist, and
they must aeeds be forced out OF their IN
aeliye aud t0pid state that they may be made
10 realize that an improved physical as we'll
as mental and moral condition, l. neces-
-arv 10 their well being. To do this is one
OF the accepted works and ambitions Of tins
society aud it, missionaries. All that may
he said or written would but feebly express
the ideal work OF this organization.
Our missionary has found children. both
boys and girls IN SO called homes that really
we're only nests % filth and pollution. where
ID has taken weeks of effort and much coax
ing and importantly 10 get the parents ID
understand that hey might be made more
comfortable and she has found homes ia
rood families for all that she has been able
tO per-uade into a trial of "A new kind of life.
She finds 80 many mothers with large fanIl-
ies Of children who have need u learn the
most c3mlnou things in domestic life, TO sew.
10 darn stock ug- 10 wash faces, etc. etc; III
short lae necessity of doing the best with
what .hey have Is what the mothers IN many
of our poorest families need 10 be taught.
Is IL auy wonder that there l. so much suffer
ing wh We realize that there are so many
ul- killed huzerS and untaucht brains III the
simplest thing - hfe,
Here we found % line Of work mapped ont
T THAT for the good of humanity mn-t oe taken
no: -clOOl where mothers may be taught TO
+ cut and make their chlldren'- clothes. and TO
k-er them in repair: q school VIE re ideas Of
+ thrill and cleanliness may be given 10 these
( mothers whose early education has been 80
sadly neglected.
To partially meet this nee .ssity au indus
trial school was begun in june last. with
/ tirea pupils girls. Sessions have been held
every Saturday morning with steadily IN
/ crossing numbers, until now II has assumed
/ large proportions, there being II names on
( tia list. with ara average attendance Of hify-
five. requiring ten teachers, large room.
( many chairs. and material and implements
I for work. The school Is now open every
+ Saturday morning at $50 in the klndergar-
ten ro0m IS Summit street, where the man
ager. Mrs. Watson, viii be glad 10 receive
+ donations of prints. cotton, needles. thread,
thim5l4-. pins and scissors, and viii also
I gladly accept assistance IN teaching from
amy lady who viii volunteer.
We are daily assured that permanent
GOOD j. being accomplished here.
Onr missionary does not find her work
confined wholly to the poorest classes. for
+ often ahe assists seamstresses. dressmakers
and-laborer- in many trades 10 secure work
and patronage. 1t Is well known that such
help IS best for the recipient retains his man
hood and his self respect. and Is strengthened
in fhe pride of salf-suppOrt by giving value
received a channel Is opened also. through
which the benefactiOns of the rich may
righlfully How. becoming mutual benefit tc
ALL
Cottage prayer meetings. and gathering.
Co. Isf1.t.. r..Frrfr- bav. kgau azfahlIchgt IL
many places. temperance lunch room OF
Summit street near the hay and Woo
market was opened the last of January. anC
has mrt with marked success. Our mIssi n
arg says ghat the free kindergarten was th'
( entering wedge for missionary work OF
Summit street. We drop this word for tn
encouragement Of those who projected an'
I carried out the scheme 10 it, present stand
4 ing. ne kinderrartcn room Is used for th
+ industrial school every Saturday morning
sunday school at 10 o'clock Sunday morn
inr and at n o'clock religions services wit
preaching. A temperance lunch room mex
door rifh it, reading room, Is good place 4
dispose Of accumulated newspapers an
books.
A.Band of Hope" has been organized
rr1 meets in these roOms every Saturda
afternoon. Assistants, either ladies or gen
. t.ameu. ARE much needed 20 carry ont thi
, work. Au effort was made e. ft up chea
loIrin.-- near she reading room. but VA
: abandoned for lack Of funds.
J To riye ans detailed account Of what ha
been and il being accomplished by our cit
missionary. wouid require more space tha
b 4 can De- given for this report. although "
f fully realize faan IN justice "a this 4Ocietl
more of tri- work should be made public.
The question Of finance has been the onl
= clrtacia o. larger results Narious ways au
. in. ana hsre beer devised 20 raise the r.
, quirei funds for carrying ont this work. an
to teer a miss lgnsry in the field. which hav
. been responded g. very generally. II
p hofel fhaf the coming year our benev0ler
r r.aor.Ia wiil express redouhied interest IN or
3 weH doing. rrd also that the hearts of n
I indifferent nsy become awakened and 7
lel CD respond iu such q manner that th
-oeia-g mag not be hadge3 about with snai
rirf a-.r As frat cripple and retarl the be
z, sd niaus ID + rith -adness. and mn,
r ssnrafhg for Der family. that ve rememh
n shea noe af one ~ our number who h'
f-i-het I.er vefs here vlth ~ in the bod
ard whose rresance and cognsei zee shall
-af rni-- iu years 20 come.
; hoo. her Fierce Fire in Stanton.
e sr&vrax NIcb.. Agii s-Fir- broke O
Z. ia Tsor-as & oo r bakery la-f night sho