The morning call., 1892-02-29
W0MEN'S HELPERS.
Work of the Young WOmen's
Christian Association.
An Eloquent Address by Or. Webb at the First
Congregational Church-Facts From
the Annual Report.

The Rev. DIR. Webb of Boston delivered
al address last night at the First Congre-
gational Church. Post and Mason streets, in
aid of the funds Of the Young NOmen's
Christian Association.
In the course of his remarks, which were
based on the allegory of the woman and the
dragon in Revelations, the preacher said !:
I'VE are fast becoming a nation Of cities.
The vast problem is now presented how to
succeed, how to win in the strife. Why
should young women, unprotected and
ignorant of the trials and pitfalls, come to
large city instead of abiding at homer
Several answers may be given. One is the
desire of young woman to better her con-
dition. Her brothers have preceded her,
and though they have found the work hard
and business exacting they have shown no
disposition to return.
WHY WOMEN LEAVE HOME.
"There is another reason. the barriers
of other DAYS are fast being removed.
Women can attend colleges and compete
with her brothers. The field at home is
barren, narrow, without hope OF reward,
and now that the boys are gone, she asks,
Is this life ALP She concludes that to ac-
cept such conclusions without trial IS weak
aud cOwardlY, and so the girl quits her
home for the roar of the city.
"A stranger in strange place! DO you
know what that means? No one to contide
in, no one to look to for advice, everything
strange, unknown
"Others come 10 the city from sheer ne
cessity, For years at home father has been
the bread-winner. His lips have uttered
no complaint, but the girls could not but
See that he was weary and disheartened
He had given them an education, but there
was nothing in the DelghbOThOOd TO do.
Gradually Tie father wastes away disease
Saps his strength and finally pr0tfates him
on kbed in a daIkPned room. Neigh
bors do little kind of acts, but at last the
poor man dies and one Of the girls must
come to town.
THE BATTLE OF LIFE.
"She finds every situation bespoken. Do
what she will, turn where she will, she
finds nothing, and meanwhile her little
stock Of money is GWlndliDg away. Where
is there a resting place-where IS there
sister with a kind, sympathetic word?
Numbers Of girls come to the city from
spirit IF adventure. Look at the case cited
in the associations report, where young
girl owed TO n humane policeman and the
open door Of tie Christian Association the
protection and preservation Of her innocent
life. Thousands OF Others fare not so we'll;
they are deceived, overcome, carried away.
corrupted, seduced-tO endure misery
compared with which the manacles Of the
slave are easy by comparison"
BEASTS OF PREY.
The preacher spoke Of the way in which
a certain class OF men and women watch
the arrivals Of steamboats, aud trains and
weave their snarps around cOntiding girls 10
deliver them over TO a career OF anguish
and degradation. Women sell themselves
to procure the ruin Of weaker women.
Clothed in silks, the procuresS plies her
trade with the art and ingenuity OF mend
TO make victims for her black and bloody
employers. The sweetest vine makes the
sourCst vinegar, anu it takes an angel to
make a demon. God save our young men
as we'll as our young women from such COM
panioushlp.
NOBLE WORK,
"a blessing beyond computation is the
work which the blessed women who COM
pose this association are doing, not for girls
only, but for US all II Is a grand thing TO
preserve girls from falling and TO shelter
them in the beautiful home on O'Farrell
street. Thousands Of them Will give thanks
10 God as long as they live for what this
home has done for them. Their sweet in
nocence will never know the trials aud
temptations from which they have been
saved.
"Whateyer the claims Of young men for
advice, shelter, books, friendship, all OF us
agree that these are far more urgently
little OF any young man who, sheltered IN
the Y NJ. CA, would not give something
to the Young WOmen'S Christian ASsOcia-
ton. Let them remember that tile young
women are to have their part IN making the
homes Of the next generation.
1.-The home on O'Farrell street not only
shelters young women, but 1t educate5 them
10 support them selves educates them TO be
independent, educates them In habits OF
economy and thrift and i'll all those things
which make home the attraction Of the
heart and the spring OF true ana noble
life"
THE ANNUAL REPORT.
Ira p. Rankin read a few extracts from
the annual report, showing the good work
done by the 0'Farrell-sIreet institution
during the past year Since 1877 over 1900
Young women have been Defliended and
sheltered. Last year 40l girls were regis
tered as boarders. Through the Employ
ment Bureau $50 women have Ueen pro-
yided with positions. Over 1000 garments
have been given to needy applicants There
are 49, pupils IN the sewing aud training
class, aud Geo girls have attended the classes
In DrlSaTte, elUcutlOu and cooking. The
Relief and Travellers Aid Committee as
sisted 1412 persons, made 5l9 pecuniary do
nations, procured 10 passes and tickets
sent women to the Old Ladies' Home, 80
to the AlmshoUse 60 to the City and County
Hospi;aL. Z to the Children's Protection and
ItGllCl tDuNitl1s - ~ AtiO ADU1o ahQ NlliS
Aid Society, to the California WOmen's
Hospital. to st. Luke's Hospital. 8 to the
Children's Hospital, 8 to Agnews Asylum,
and furnished ass with employment.
The special mission OF the association is
to seek out young women residing in the
city, or arriving friendess and homeless,
and to give them advice, sympathy, aid and
employment.
During the past year a branch has been
opened at 5l4 Howard street, where work
ing girls can take their lunch with them, or
obtain hot soup, beans, tca coffee and cold
meat for 1 cent each. Since April last 9245
lunches have been provided. There are
registered at this branch 479 names. 234 at
the lunch-roOms. 145 at the sewing school,
50 in the dressmaklng class and 45 in the
millinery class.