Evening journal., 1892-08-24
THE SHUT-IN SOCIETY
a UNIQUE AND HELPFUL ORGAN
lzATlON FOR lNVALlDS.

IilttM years ago MISS Jennie M. DflNk-
water, now Mrs. Conklin, of Madison,
n. j., was shut in her room by long and
serious illness. Time hung heavily ON her
hands, and she conceived an idea so sim
pie, and yet so obviously full Of common
sense, that the wonder is that some one
had not thought of it long before. She en-
tered into a correspondence with another
invalid personally unknown to her in order
that they might be mutually cheered and
entertained. This was the origin of that
remarkable organization of invalids known
as the Shut-ln society, which has
membership of many thousands in every
country of the civilized world.
The correspondence 50 modestly begun
proved so pleasant that it was extended &c
other invalids, until in 1884 the correspond.
ents organized themselves into the Shut.
In society, and the next year the society
was incorporated under the laws of the
state of New York, with Mrs Conllin as
president. OF course the primary qualih.
cation for admission is illness. "Io be
sufferer shut in from the outside world
constitutes one proper candidate for
membership in this society,"" says the con
stitution But there is q character quail
fication Also and all applicants for mem
bership must "send with their application,
If possible, the name Of their pastor OF
their physician, or of some associate mem
Der Of the society, rs an introduction"
The associate members are not invalids
but "being in tender sympathy with the
suffering, volunteer in this ministry OF
love" Each associate member volunteers
TO correspond with members in a certain
assigned district and is expected to sub
scribe at least one dollar year.
So lrr ,.I.rts.
board composed Of associate members. AS
might naturally be expected the society is
| largely composed of women. There is a
mans department, however, under the
direction of Mr.. viii S. Mather, of Chi
cago. There is a fourishing children's de-
partment, the members of which are pop
ularly known as the sunshine makers. -
It is under the direction of Miss q. L.
Lewis, of Boston, and Miss Josie A. Jones
and Miss Abbie A. Miller, Of Dorchester,
Mass.
There is also a department of children
associate members, which have formed
themselves into a band called the Little
Cup Bearers to the King. Ii is composed
of boys and girls from six tOnineteen years
of age, who pledge themselves TO carry
sympathy and comfort to some little suf-
ferer. It is found that children enter into
this work with great enthusiasm, and the
little cup bearers have helped many poor
and weary sufferer to become a sunshine
maker.
Another department of the society is the
wheelchair committee Of which Miss G
o. Ross, of Newark, n j., is the active
manager. Its object is toalleviate the con
dition of the shut in members by furnish
ing them, when possible, with wheel,
chair. When a wheelchair invalid diea. a
little silver plate is fastened on the back
of the chair inscribed, TO the memory Of
- -," and it is sent back to the
committee, TO be used by some other mem.
Der. The Kings Daughters are interested
In the wheechair work, and in fact mum.
Der of circles of Kings Daughters have
been formed among members of the Shut
In society. Many of the members them.
selves work for the wheelchair committee
The library Of the society is one Of its
important features. Books, magazines
and papers are freely sent to invalids in
every state in the Union, as well as to many
foreign countries. In Philadelphia a Pass
It-Along club has been formed, which
circuiates periodicals among invalds
The Open Window is the name of the
excellent monthly publication issued los
the society.
IL is an interesting fact that a mission
airy spirit has been developed in this so
ciety, although its members might well b,
excused If they thought only Of them
selves. There is an "Invalid's auxiliary ,
which is now supporting a native nurse n
the Margaret Williamson hospital al
Shanghai China, and is also raising a FUND
to endow a bed in the same hospital, TO b,
known as the "Shut-ln society's bed
Another branch of missionary work don,
by the society is the writing of letters L,
prisoners. About 200 letters have beer
sent TO Sing Sing alone. They are sent un
addressed to the chaplain, who addresses
them personally to the convicts The nam,
and address of the writer are not, however
given TO the convict. tits the testimonl
of the chaplain that these letters havr
done much good.
The letters written by invalids to othe
invalids have resulted in many warn
friendships, and the term "letter friend
has become a recognized phrase in TN
society. The organization of the societ,
has brought out the fact that surpris
ingly large number Of invalids have beer
] shut in" for a long term of years, man,
for twenty-five or thirty years. One mem
Der of the society, who died last year. ha,
/ blfA NNlAuNA 70 iltI utu AoE Sixty years.
The condition Of such long term patient
is apt to become very desolate, as thei
5 early friends die or drop away and the,
, are made TO feel that they are burden OF
e those who are charged with their care
To such invalids the society comes as
/ blessed boon, for il not only puts them Ii
direct communication with many fellow
sufferers and sympathetic friends. but tn
various interests Of the society give then
S something TO think Of, and thus break tn
e dreary monotony Of their lives.
s One of the best known members Of tn
D ( society is Miss Jennie Casseday, of I;bui.
Vile, who has been confined to her room
S Tor twenty-five years. She has acquired
widespread reputation rs the founder an,
4 national president of the Flower mission
S New York Tribune.
Mothers Debts TO Their Daughters.