Evening journal., 1893-10-23
SUPPORTING DEACONESSES
REV. YATMAN'S NOVEL METHOD
TO RAISE MONEY.
He AuctiOned or Twenty-one of the
Methodist Women Workers in Very
Few Minutes Yesterday.

Methodist Women Workers In Very
Few Minutes Yesterday.
NEW YORK, Oct 90.
The Academy Of Music has given op-
portunity to many kinds Of entertainers,
but it had novel experience esterday
afternoon when Rev. Mr.. Yatman, leader
of the Forward" religious movement in
the city, appealed to the men present to
take care of twenty eight women for one
year. The twenty.eight women were
deacOnesses in the Methodist Church.
Many of the throng had come on, hear
ing that Mrs. Lucy Ryder Meyer, Of
Chicago, the founder of the Order of
Deaconesses in the Methodist Church in
this country, and Miss Stephenson,
known as Sister Dora, of London,
were to speak. Then there were Sunday
curiosity seekers.
On the stage, seated in two rows at
the left Of Rev. Mr.. Yatman, were a
dozen or more deaconesses. and among
them Mrs. Meyer and Sister Dora"
Miss Stephenson, or Sister Dora, was
soon introduced. She stepped to the
centre of the platform, and the men and
women looked curiously at her She is
slight woman, sweet-faced, and with
blond hair. She was dressed in the reg
ular uniform of the order. The dress
was entirely of black cloth, and consisted
of skirt cut rather full and a snug fit
ting jacket with big puff sleeves and
with small white cuffs rolling back at
the wrists. "A small, neat black bon
net settled closely on her light hair and
was tied on by white muslin bonnet
ribbons fastening under the chin, where
was also tied a fluffy white muslin neck
scarf.
Miss Stephenson spoke of the unself.
ish nature of the work. Her voice was
very soft, and yet so distinct that those
in the gallery under the roof could hear
her words
Sister Dora soon finished, and then Mr..
Yatmsn said he had great scheme. At
the Deaconess Home, No. 241 West
Fourteenth street there were twenty
eight desconesses, and it took 81, 600 or
| $3.50 for each dea cone s, to support the
home for year The deaconesses got
no pay, and lived the best way they
could. No appeal had ever been made
before to the public on their behalf
Now" he said, I've got twenty
eight deaconesses, and I'm going to ap.
portion them out among the men here
There are not enough to 81 round aud l
don't ask every man to be responsible for
whole deaconess. / will divide them
into fractions. Lock the doors, Mr..
Head Usher don't mean that you are
going to make love to them; I'll put you
out if you do that.
"Now there are seven deaconesses al.
ready taken, but the handsomest are still
left. If one man can't take a whole one
and gives us $3.50 you can form a syndi-
cate
I've got $50 for a fifth of one. Who will
give me the money to help take the rest
of her.
A man stood up in box and said: "Tl
take one.
! ''Bless my soul, cried Rev. Yatman
I che takes whole one Now. Who'll
. take two2 / don't know as / can allow
any man to take two Who'll give $5l
0 for part of a deacOness2"
d A man on the stage: 'I'll take two fo
| one Of my friends and one for myself.
h These subscriptions were noted anC
then Mr.. Yatman began again.
81 have got $l50-enough money fol
q three ffths of deaconess for one year
Now Ito the black-robed deaconesses VIII
/, had stood somewhat abashed durini
s the performance you take these sub
q scription papers and 60 down into tn
audience with them. Go up to tn
% men, s1ile and look pretty, and &c
IS their money"
IT A man escorted the young wome
y down among the audience.
"a Look right into their faces,
y shouted Mr.. Yatman, ''and sing on
when you get any papers signed.
The women began presently to ca
1t out amounts subscribed, and altogether
a enough to support sixteen deaconesse