The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-29
A HOME FOR COLORED WOMEN
Mrs. Paulina T. Merritt's Generous Gift
to the Colored People of Indianapolis.
The Institution To Be for the Shelter and Care
of Sick and Disabled Colored Women
The Terms of the Gift.


a benevolent interest in the advancement of the
colored race in letter. which was read at
meeting of the members of the association. held
in the Vermont-strcet Baptist Church, last even
ing, announced the gift of homo which she has
founded ia this city for helpless colored women.
The letter was as follows:
Mrs. President and members Of the Alpha
Home Association-In considering tho causes
which have led up to this meeting to night, my
memory takes nie back almost fifty years, when,
ms little child, played with my caby brothers
On the green before the door of my dear old VIr-
ginia home. A rumhling OF Wheels snatches OF
sad melodies mingled with groans and tho brutal
csies Of a coarse man, called our attention to q
sight which, thank God. can never again be wit
messed anywhere in this broad land. wagon
containing maager camp equipage with
wrctched colored women and children crowded
among tho primitive cooking utensils. a long
gang of celored men and women, chained to-
gether. two and two, Fastening before driver
bn horseback, fourisning a cracking whip.
we called our mother to see, but we did not
look long. and the terrible sight was forgotten
70 the childish wonder with which we viewed the
changed face of our gentle, loving mother, as,
with ore glance, she hurriedly caught US, ex-
claiming, .sOh, this is dreadful. / cannot have
my children such sichts! She was flushed
with indignation, and there were angry tears in
her eyes. Our establishment hushed US into
silence as she left US alone and
soom, saying II am ready to CO. / will not
bring up these children whore such things are
allowed" And so. before I was FIVE years old,
our parents gathered up their little family in
preparation for the two weeks journey in
wagons to the then far distant West-Ohio-that
we might not be brought up among slaves
Thus early did / learn of the magnitude OF
slavery; thus early was l taught sympathy for
the colored race. / was not too young to
feel deeply the change in our manner of
1fuin0 or m nd hat dou
tions suffered by my parents were because
Of their horror OF this great evil Equally
with other honored and dear friends did
regret the cheerful ministers to the wants of
my childhood. ! have never once forgotten their
wrongs, and when q dear brother and near rea
tives and friends went into the terrible war, and
never came back. did not murmur, for I knew
they died that you might be free. And now you
have reached the full majority of your freedom.
For over twenty one years no slave has been
born in this country, and for seventeen years
your males have enjoyed ell the privileges
of citizens. Much should be accomplished
in that length OF time Much has been
accomplished. l need not speak of the difficult
ties overcome, of the great advance made. One
thing we have remarked in times past-the want
of respect manifested by the colored people for
each other. In their anxiety for themselves
they have cared little for the feelings or condi-
ton of others of their race. have often heard
coiored people say, "Our folks have no pityfor
each other That time is going by, and colored
people are beginning to realize that they, in COM
mon with all races. must seek within themselves
for the elements of power aud success
Among the plans for selfhelp ], for some
time, noticed the efforts of the women's mutual
aid societies, of this city They have seemed to
me to be of great use in the advancement Of
your people. They are educational You learn
to work together in harmony, to manage your at
fairs in business like way. You have by this
means profitable investment for your savings.
and those who arc needy are sustained and en-
couraged You are demonstrating the theory
that in order to help yourself You must help each
other. As early as 1881 il came to my kaowl-
edge that il was the desire Of certain
members Of the different societies for women
that home should be established in order that
those of their members who could not otherwise
be suitably cared for might not be obliged to 60
to the hospital or poor-house if sick, disabled or
aged.
This struck me Immediately as an object
worthy OF encouragement, and through all your
efforts you have had my sympathy. Soon a
meeting was called and a. committee was ap
pointed to find a suitable location for such q
home. Many of you know of the difficulties en-
countered. / will not enumerate them; suffice
1t to say that after many trials and tribulations
beautiful selection was made of a portion of
Fletchers OAR Hill addition, and lots 9, 10 and
ii were secured by me to be used for this pur-
pose. Finding that you were liable to encroach-
nents from improvements on the Belt railroad,
purchased all the ground between these lots and
the railroad. the use of which ground | donate
to you for an indifnite time. | have caused to
be built on these lots house capable of accom-
modating some five or six persons. 1t is now
my great pleasure to present to you deed
OF this property with the following conditions:
For the purpose and in consideration of your as
ISOLATION founding and maintaining home for
widowed, aged and destitute women belonging
Go the diftereat wcmen's aid societies of Indian
apolis, and for such other women of respectable
character as the rules and regulations of your
association may provide for admitting to the
benefits of the home, to have and to hold the
premises to the Use of your association forever
You will find. in connection with this deed, an
abstract of title complete. Here, also, are the
keys OF the house which have received from the
builders. Messrs. Register & Baptist, to whom /
am under obligations for the very gentlemanly
and workmanlike manner in which they have
fulfilled their contract
So now, my friends. after many years of pa
tient waiting, you are in possession of your
Alpha, the beginning of what, trust, will grow
sion of which, l hope, will be continual
pleasure to you all. May it stand as your
Ebenezer, with this inscription-"Hi Hitherto
hath the Lord helped u.s. and may it
ultimate success. The seal provided for your
society has been executed to embody these sem
timents My friends. the purpose for which you
are associated is most worthy one. / an glad
to be interested with you, and when you have
proven to the world that you are really in earn
est and have the ability to carry out your de.
signs, others, doubt not, will be glad to assist
you. But ii is upon your own efforts that you
must chiefly depend You now have facilities
for carrying on your work in a small way, but it
is no small thing to relieve wants and anxieties
of even few. beg of You to be wise and faith
full You have chosen from among you this
board of managers If necessary, stimulate
them by honest criticism, but remember they
VIII have difficulties to encounter which you can
not know. Encourage them in every wise effort
and sustain them by your confidence and esteem
q The Alpha Home, all homes should be, is
ander the control of women. But as it is not
good for man to be alone, neither is it good for
women to be without the counsel of men. Three
men, therefore, have been placed on your advs
increased by my personal knowledge of the wis
dom of your selection. To your president, who
nas long been my friend, and to the board of
managers, would say. You have my confidence
and sympathy The duties you have assumed