St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-05-06
A SPLENDID WORK.
Last of the Series Of Bethel Tea
for Mothers.

Last of the Series Of Bethel Teas
for Mothers.
The last of the mothers teas at the
Bethel boat for this season was given
yesterday. These social teas have been
the feature of the missionary work
among the poor mothers of our city for
the last two years. The institution is
unique as charitable work, and original
with st. Paul. OF mothers meetings all
of us know, and particularly those of US
who grew up under Congregational in
tluences in New England, or in those
colonies which were settled by church
loving descendants of the MayfoWer
stock, but these mothers meetings are
of altogether another sort, and for an
entirely different class of mothers.
Those were for the benefit of the moth
erS in the churches and their children,
spiritually. These are for the help of
mothers out of the churches, mostly,
and for their betterment bodily as well
as spiritually, in the modern idea of
lettering, which is that of reaching the
soul by helping the body.
Here in this big room for the last two
years, from a very few mothers. who
had been induced to come together every
Friday afternoon, by the efforts of the
Women's home missionary, Mrs. Peek,
who seems to have an especial adapta
bility to the work, the number mas
steadily increased, until now there are
between seYenty-fve and hundred
mothers who come each week. They
are expected at 2 o'clock, and come
bringing their babies, or children who
are too small to be left at home, and
who take care of themselves in the way
that the children Of the poor soon learn
to do. The big baskets of work are
brought out; each mother shows her
check, given the week before,
and receives her bundle of work.
These garments they can pur-
chase for few cents after
They seat themselves around the
tables furnished Them. and are soon
busy sewing. Many of them are for
eigners, and knew positively nothing
about sewing or needleWork OF any kind
when they first began to come to the
meetings. but now the most of them can
sew quite nicely, and their delight at
the approval Of the women who have
their teaching in charge is SO child-like
as to be pathetic. While the sewing is
going on some one gives them plain
ana simple talk on some subject of in
tereSt to mothers the world over. Some
times it is a doctor, who illustrates the
subject under discussion by an object
lesson, such as a little bed and a doll
to show how sick people should be cared
for, or minister, who talks to them of
the religious side of home life.
After the sewing hour is over a sub
stantial tea is served. There are sand
witches and bread and butter and good
sized cup of excellent tea. Only a
woman who understands Row delightful
it is to get away from home and eat
some one else's cooking occasionally
can appreciate what these pleasant,
orderly teas are to these Woodworking
women. 1t is the only glimpse some OF
them have of sociabillty. Mrs. Peek,
who is their friend, says that no one
could believe the changes these simple
meetings have wrought in the homes of
the attendants. When she began
her work as the agent of the
mothers society two years ago, surly
looks and angry words were her usual
greetings. When door was opened,
she might come in If she could, over
boxes, or buckets, or chairs, or anything
else that impeded the doorway; but now
those homes are clean, and smiling
faces and kind lips voice the broken
English that bids her welcome. And if
by any chance the floor is unsWept
quick apology is given for the seeming
carelessness. Even casual observer,
such as newspaper woman must be,
was surprised to see the wonderful i'm
proYement in the looks of the attend
ants at yesterdays tea compared to the
AlnN ,t,D EI,n1 - 0r ln,L
ber
The programme yesterday was little
longer as the tea was a little more
opened with the reading of the Goth
Rev. David Morgan made the opening
prayer and was followed by vocal solo
by Mrs. Earhotf. DR.. Heath, of Plym-
outh Congregational church, made a
very interesting address to mothers,
which was attentively listened to by the
audience. Miss Earhoff sang two pretty
songs that were we'll received. Miss
Farchild also sang during the after
noon. Then came the tea, with ice
cream and several other daintieS to close
the years meetings.
Looking at the congregation and
thinking of the first meetings one was
instinctiveIy driven to the Book for the
expression, ''Behold how great a matter
a little fire kindleth."
The women who have had these
mothers teas in charge are MeSdames
G. II. Skinner, DR.. Brisbane, R. NJ.
Newport, DR.. Higbee, McClellen and
Yapp. The First Swedish Baptist
church sent contribution yesterday by
Mesdames Erickson, Haskinson and
Logerman. The next tea will be given
Sept. l, 1898.
LAWYERS LAWYERS