The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-14

"refuge" for erring and repentant women,
who would fain turn to purer and better
life. Strange TO say, the women who have
in charge this best and bravest Of all char
ities find great difficulty in maintaining II.
Several weeks ago ! was asked by the
Visiting Committee to present this subject
10 our citizens through the press, and gavo
my promise to do so. That | have not
sooner redeemed my pledge has been ow-
ing TO the fact that before doing so | have
been trying to find ont why this work is
SO unpopular, in order to answer the OBJ
jcclions made TO it.
find that on one point an erroneous
impression prevails in regard 10 IT, People
look upon Il as simply futile attempt 10
reclaim the irreclaimabe. Our women
amply to men OF ample means, and who
AIRS also protesting Christians, for help in
maintaining the Home, and are met with
the reply. 81 am willing 20 give literally
20 relieve worthy people who are destitute,
10 rear and educate orphans, TO any good
work that shows good results But this
work il so mcager in result, in proportion
10 the capital invested. II is 80 very sell
dom that woman who has led bad fife
IL ever really reclaimed. There is so much,
both of labor and capital, wasted ON the
irrcclaimable subject, that prefer spend
ing my money on something that will
show up better In results"
A very correct commercial argument;
good logic in trade; but, my friend, who
was Il that said: Neither do ! condemn
thee"2 Who oct the example OF trying 10
reclaim the apparently irreclnimable?
Shall we improve upon His teachings by
applying TO them Che principles OF trade,
OF shall We accept them rs they are, and
do what in MS lies to follow them3 True,
we accept whatever comes 10 Us, asking 10
be led up higher. That we regard ~ our
bounden duiy-to do what we can and
leave the rest with God But the work
neither begins nor ends here. Tho
reformation OF women thoroughly stepped
In sin is only an occasional chapter IN the
great volume Of reform recorded in homes
ike this. IAN ounce Of prevention IL
worth pound OF cure," aud ouB Is
preventive work in three-iold sense.
First, young girls often come in from the
country or from small towns in the yiciu-
ity, seeking work and finding none.
Meantime, money Is gone and temptation
meets them on every side But any kind
man or woman finding girl In such sore
peril can direct her TO the home. There
she is safely sheltered until she finds en-.
ploymenL la the winter Oi 1887 very
yOung girl who had been vainly seeking
work In several towns In Arkansas found
herself one bitter cold night ut the depot
al Little Rock without cent left. She
sat in the waiiing-room until closing timo,
when the iinilor told her lac had no au-
thority 10 let her stay longer, and ~
she was turned ont in the cold. A man
came up and kindly offered her shelter,
and help Ia finding work. She was taken
10 a house, fed, warmed, aud-as usual In
such placcs-drngecd. She awoko next
morning aud found out where she was
She WAS detained three weeks aud then
allowed TO 20, for she was ntaying manac.
She was found. aud taken boy a woman in
whose heart the Christ lived. Although
fhc bad large family o. support, she
kept her and cared for her until IL was de-
cidcd that she was incunble. That poor
child Is IN the State asylum now an
incnmbe maniac. Had she been here
our doors would have been open 10 her.
Gentlemen, do YOU think YOU could find
safer place Of deposit for your surplus
funds. "whefo thieves will not break
through, nor sleal2'
la the second place, VIC DO preventative
work among young girls, whose parents or
guardians hnd them hard to control, or
who, being Wago-workcn themselves, are
compelled 10 spend most Of their tmo
away from them. Many young girl IL
thus brought into constant companionship
with n swcct-hcaucd, apiritually.minlcd
woman, aud catching the inspiration OF
her daily lie is saved for a life Of useful.
meas and honor, who, without this timely
influence, wound have ended a degraded
lie In the hodso OF her whose ways 20
down 10 death, whose steps take hold on
hell" Could bcttorproyoniatiyc work be
done than thisg
lastly, for the young girl who, oycrtlkcn
by strong temptation. has taken the flint
false step. this Home j. doing IT, blessed
preventive work. Entering Ia ni its open
dlOr, she Is sheltered alike from the usim-
cisn that drives aud the temptation that
nllups 10 a further downward course. No
Ne telling me that because woman takes
one wong step, she must needs take two
have put that question Ia the test.
have taken young girls, with their chill.
urcn, into my own home, aud there cared
Cor them; and they have gone out aud lei
good, pure, clean lives. aud died tri'
un.phant deaths. That question has been
answered practically aud when | look
back forty ycam and remember how thg
gir Of that day, for one false step, wa,
os,raCisod, aud peuccutcd and houudcd
down 10 social degradation and death, and
then 10 out aud clasp hands with th,
sweet, brave women oi today who az,
.olding ont strong hands on which 10 boal
her up 10 higher life. ! thank God on
do for no other outpnufing OF His lUyini
spirit upon womanhood
Gentlemen, prosperous citizens Of Mem.
phis, you who live In luxurious homes
surrounded by happy families, ask IT YOU
own soul the question. "Do not. IN thiN
matter owe some rcparailun 10 oil woman
l0odY From generation b. generation
men have been leading lives that woul,
brand their mOthcru wives, sisiou, o
daughters with lifelong iniamy wcW thcl
ilDdlgcd IN ior a single dny What hay,
you done 10 prevent this2 Have yol
branded thcmf Have YOU o.tucisc,
thcml Have you refused them employ
mrnt, social recognition. or political az.
tiLciion aud cmolumcnD Have YOU eve
raised voice OF hand 10 stay this cyclon
Of impuriiy that h sweeping over ou
land2 And has u ever occurred 81 40
10 ask. GLOW shall Ne bribc nature /
Keep the blood OF the inihcrs odt of th
daughters yeinsl' MnQu an ouicl.
woman passes - - YOU ever think I
ak "llah this woman sinncd. of d,
laiher, that she should be- born blind 3
DO YOU not eve Il 10 crring Wumanhoo
10 extend her a helping handl
Christian women, living In sholicro
homes, whose lives have known no temp