The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-24
The Flower Mission.

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
AS the time for the annual Flower Mission fair ap-
proaehes it not amiss to give some account of
the society," its methods and work. It established
in 1876 this being its decennial During that time
it's membership has increased from ten to nearly a
hundred In its first printed report the fourth year
of it's work. I find the following summary for the
year:
Places visited Surgical Institute City Hospital,
Women's Reformatory, Old Peoples Home, Orphan
| Asylum, Boys Lodging house. railroad reading
| room, city JAIL 13S private families.
In the last report ind o M9mSer visits no3l;
uted $685. papers, 1928; books and magazines, 400.
Among the articles furnished by the members of
the F. NJ. L will enumerate few culled from their
| 400 pounds; crackers. opt pounds; sugar. 261
pounds; soup meat. % pounds; canned fruit SO
| dozen cans; milk, 1877 gallons; chickens, 60.
The only charge have ever heard made against the
f. NJ was that their work merely aesthetic, only
sentiment but this seems to me very practical sent
ment. Among the items of expenditure find: Fruit,
| $685. flannel. $64; clutches, pair; bread, $2s;
comforts, $l3; groceries, -S199. These are
only very few of the many wants supplied by this
charity Besides, they have been busy in other dree-
tons. They established newsboys lodging house
and maintained it for two years and then. feeling it
nterfered with their legitimate work they gave it into
the hands OF competent managers and again confined
| their ministry TO the suffering.
In order to do this more successfully and systemat-
cal1v thew have established training school for
nurses with the City Hospital for their school where
under a superintendent from Beleview and full
| course of lectures from city physicians. they
are thoroughly and carefully trained for their work.
! Already one class of five has gone out from
this school and the class, which will hold their
commencement this month, will be much larger. Fiji
teen nurses remain in charge of the hospital The
penses of this school, with the home for its nurses
has been supplied by the F. NJ, the city only paying
for the services of the nurses while on duty in the
| hospital.
Besides all this the Flower Mission patients each
year spend one happy day in the country. where
| games swings and above all, good dinner, with
plenty of ice and cake make for many of them,
the happiest day of all the year. They have brought
| Thanksgiving and Christmas cheer into very many
homes where hitherto they had been but to the
poor inmates. If this is sentiment is it not kind
| that should be cherished, and which will make the
young hearts engaged in its work grow into higher,
nobler womanhood. with nobleY idea of life and its
responsibilities Let quote from the last secretary
| report: ut is stage with changed scenery
We ask you to look upon. We roll up the curtain and
| display the same old drama, Life Among the Sick
| Poor In week have every nation
aity and minister alike 70 black and white Disease
| of every kind holds sway among the molly group.
Two days of this year have been devoted to sewing.
the f. NJ ladies' and their friends meeting Plymouth
| Church 10 sew for the hospital One hundred and
sixty-seven garments. besides number OF infants
shirts and skirts, the result Is not this very
good sentiment Winter is near the Flower Mission
treasury is empty WIN you not make THE decennial
one long to be remembered by them because OF your
geHeTosityt NJ R.