The National tribune., 1892-09-15
IN PHILADELPHIA.
Patience and Perseverance I'm Good Work
Bring Forth Rich Fruits.

| IN PHILADELPHI
| Patience and Perseverance I'm Good Works
| Bring Forth Rich Fruits.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The Deacon
ess work-what is its object, and how Is it
| being accomplished?
| While the wise and learned have been busily
| agtating the question, How to reach the
| masses" an agency as silent as 1t is etiicacious
has been quietly and unobtrusively working
toward the solution of the problem. Here and
| there few women, hearing tho Masters call,
Go ye into all the world and preach the Cos.
pei to every creature, beginning first at Jerusa-
| lem" have given up homo and social pleasures,
and in some cases lucrative positions, to 60
forth "to carry the light Of life" to "those
who sit in darkness" in the great cities of our
own land. DAY by day, relinqushing
wholly all other pursuits they minister to the
poor, visit the sick, pray with the dying care
| for the orphan, seek the wandering, comfort the
sorrowing. and save the SHINING"
In and out the narrow courts and alleys, upand
down dark s.airways into attcs and cellars they
60, gathering the little ones into schools, finding
homes for such as need them, helping the older
ones to find work, and inviting them 10 church.
With sympathy 30 sweet to the human heart
they listen to the stories of sorrow and woe,
giving word of counsel or comfort, and Offering
the sovereign balm for any wound, i" "the re-
ligiou of the Lord Jesus Christ, who bore our
griefs, carried sorrows"
Slow work it is, and often most dscouraging,
ss many rescued relapse again and again into
sin, but, on the other hand, most happy and
satisfying work, carrying with it the sense of
the Masters presence and assurance, "Inas-
much rs ye did it unto one of the least of these,
ye did il unto Me-"
In no other way can one get such view Of
the exceeding sinfulness of sin," or realize its
terrible consequences as by going right into
the want the squalor, sickness sorrow, and
wretchedness that exist in every form-trace-
able mostly to Satan and his powerful ally,
strong drink
1t is the privilege of tho Deaconesses to min
lister to many of the Lords dear children, whom
He has counted worthy TO suffer with Him,
whose faith shines as beacon-light amid their
dark surroundings and whose faces iliumined
with the heavenly graces are an inspiration to
tho beholdcr. Many worthy, struggling poor,
who braveiy hide their poverty. and almost
starvo rather than ask aid open their hearts to
these sympathetic listeners, and are cheered,
comfortcd, and helped over their hard places.
When it is possible they are put in the way of
helping themselves. The only effectual way of
helping the poor is to help them to help them
selves; financial aid, except in rare cases, or as
9 means to such al end, having a tendency to
destroy true pride and self-respect, aud pauper-
ize tie recipient
There is great need, however, for such tenn
porary aid, and the relieving of it involves
greater expenditure of time. money, and labor
than would indiscriminate giving.
Then, too, there arc many sick, aged or in
firm ones, who cannot help them
selves, as well as women who are widows or
have sick husbands, with families of little
ones. During the past year We have dis
tributed to such 1896 pounds of groceries
aud flour, 1876 cups of jelly, 100 cans Of fruit
and vegetables and 1,7S1 garments. sum-
mary of the work donc in the Home during the
year, shows 5,932 visits made, IL, 432 tracts and
papers distributed, s55 hours spent with the
sick, 70 persons helped to find situations 70
children put in Sabbath school, 36 Bibles and
Testaments given out, 1,059 opportunities for
prayer and Bible reading in the Homes.
The Deaconess work in Philadelphia under
the auspices of w. II. M. S. of the NJ. E.
Church was started Jan. 16, 1890, with Super
intendent one Deaconess, aud one Associate,
occupying rented house on North Sixteenth
street In 1892 the Society having come into
possession of a dwelling, the Deaconesses
moved into their new Home, at Gil Vine
street. a commodious house with accommoda-
tions for Is or 60 The w. III. NJ. S. of Phila-
delphia have also an Immigrant Home at OCT
Otsego street, under the supervision of ono of
their Deaconesses, who meets the incoming
steamers, inviting women and girls, who are
where they are sheltered and cared for till
satisfactory arrangements can be made for
them. Homeless women and girls found by
the Deaconesses in their work, are also sent
there till places can be found for them. A
Mothers Meeting is held there weekly, and an
earnest effort made to bring the unCOnyerted
to Christ.
During the year this Home has sheltered 1923
women and girls and 90 children, representing
10 different Natonaitics; 1,9lS paid and 263
free meals 7O9 paid and 124 free lodgings were
furnished; So mothers meetings were held.
and 81 steamers met; $50 tracts and papers
distributed, and So persons helped to find stu
atoms.
The work among tho children gives the
most promising outlook. There are day
nurseries, Sabbath schools, and temperance
classes for them. In the industrial schools little
girls are taught to sew neatly upon simple gar
ments, which are given them when finished.
ligious instruction and careful training. The
children are divided into classes and the Dea-
conesses assisted by the young ladies of the
church. In the temperance schools, OF which
there are three per week, the subject Is treated
from the different standpoints, with practical
and blackboard illustrations of the nature and
danger of the use of alcohol as beverage.
These schools are also accompanied with prayer
and religious instruction, and careful training
in morals and manners. Four Of the Deacon
esscs also have classes in Sabbath school.
Our location is admirably adapted to the
work, though as yet we have but six In the
Home, and greatly need many more earnest,
consecrated workers for :" the fields truly arc
white unto the harvest, but the laborers are
few" As we have no endowments, our work
is entirely dependent upon voluntary contribu.
tions. All cannot personally respond to tho
call 60 ye," but sll can help little" In the
great work of bringing the world to Christ and
Fastening the coming Of His Kingdom.
Many who for various reasons cannot share
in tho practical work can yet be represented In
1t by contributing of their means toward the
support Of those who can, and all can give their
interest and sympathy and their pray ers.-E.
Y. PRICE, Deaconess Homo, GIL Vine street,