The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-03-14
RESCUE WORK begun.
Woman's Christian League
Formally Organized Yes
terday Afternoon.
MRS. GUINDON'S ADDRESS.
A Constitution Adopted, but the
official Board Yet to Bo
Chosen.

of Hudson county Was formally organized
yesterday afternoon at a mass meeting of
women held in the Tabernacle. A con-
stitution has been adopted, a number of
received, and an interest in
the subject aroused SO thoroughly thas
the work may be said to be fairly under
way.
The plan OF establishing a home for
homeless and destitute women is by no
means new to Jersey City. The New
man Rescue Home was no sooner in
apparent. 1t is no new story how night
after night hor less women have applied
there for e. ser, which they could find
only in The precinct station hon ed. The
state Of affairs had been put before The
women of the churchesl so many times
that IL seemed hopeless task to continue.
Yet this t1naI effort on the part of a num-
ber OF prominent phila nthropists has re-
suited in definite organization for the
establishment and maintenance of SQch q
home for women.
The meeting began at half past three
D. m. by the singing of the hymn,
w. Clerihew, Chairman pro TEN called
upon Mrs. Banta. President of the down.
town w. G. Il. U to lead in prayer, and
afterward laid the question fer discussion
before the meeting, saying that in all
Hudson County there was no home whera
destituse woman could go for the night,
no refuge from the streets except the
station house. Mrs. Clerihew then pre-
sented Mrs. NJ. NJ. Guindon, saying that
she, from her wide experience In s1milag
tnissien-work in New YORK, could snow
the assemblnge how much of a necessity
the work was, and how best it could ba
undertaken.
MRS. GUINDoN SPEAKS.
Mrs. Guindon, who Is already well
known in this city, told the work of the
Door of Hope, the Florence Mission and
its home, the Cremorne and similar
missions, and the numbers of women
who had been turned in the direction OF
of selt-respeot and self-support by their
work. What was most to the poiut, she
cited several cases of women who had
stayed converted" and become powers
for good in many ways. She spoke OF
Nellie Braoy, whose reformation was one
of the greatest feats of the Florence Mis-
sion. and her subsequent work for women
in the Tombs, telling how she wrote let
ters for this one, stamped envelopes tor
that, sang for all, or said q few kindly
words to one, born of the sympathy OF
experience. One day as she passed
through the ''pen," where among the
sodden wrecks that once were woInens
There was fifteen year old girl with d
new born baby in her arms, she turned
to Mrs. Guindon and cried:-"Oh If
could only have room somewh ere where
l could take these poor creatures for %
home!' This feeling was strong in the
hearts OF all those whe saw s<ch scenes
or heard the story of them.
At this point, the 1 Aandkerchiefs that
had been furtlvely lifted every now and
then, came oub openly and unavoidably.
Even the women who weren't sure
whether it were quite proper TO syi2pas
thize with the women of the Tombsa
couldn't resist the baby.
ln the course of her remarks, Mrs
Guindon told several anecdotes that un.
consciously showed the secret of her suc-
cess. The most characteristic was of "a
Young girl who sat almost by her side at
the Florence Mission last Wednesday,
so that when she was talking TO some
one else. Mrs. Gulndonis hand rested
near hers. the girl who did not know
her by name even, took the hand and
kissed it. The best of her nature had
been touched-she was capable of loving.
''And after ALL" said Mrs. Guindonp
What is there in this world that we wanS
so much us love"
CONSTITUTION ADOPTED.
At the conclusion of her address,
Mrs. Clerihew resumed the chair and
called for rising vote on the question OF
the formation of league of women for
rescue work. Carried unanimously.
Mrs. Guindon then read the following
constitution, which was by an unanimous
vote. adopted for temporary use.-
l. This Association shall be known as the
Woman's Christian Rescue League OF Hudson
:. The object of this League shall be, by
concerted effort on the part of Christian womens
members of the church or societies connected
with the Christian church, to rescue and restore
to self respect and self support homeless and
destitute females of this county, and to meet in
convention at least once year to deliberate
upon matters relative to such work,
g. All Christian women, members or tho
church or societies connected with a Christian
church, shall De conSluereu meHlpefS oA lu~
4. The officers Of the League shall be Presi.
dent, three Vice Presidents, Recording and Cor.
responding Secretary and treasurer, all o&
whom shall be ladies'.
s. The officers, together with five ladies to be
chosen by the League, shall constitute an
Executive Committee. They shall make their
own bylaws transact all business in the interim
of the League, hold public services and devise
ways and means of elevating the spiritual, moral
and physical condition of the homeless and
destitute females of this county, and report to
the League at its annual meeting
& The annual meeting shall be held in the
month of March, at such time and place as may
be decided upon by the Executive COMMITTEES.
AT said meetings officers and members or the
Fxectiye Committee shall be elected. A reporS
of the Executive COMMITTEES shall be received,
together with such other information as may be
brought before it.
: QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Mrs. Scudder asked whether 1t would
not be difficult to find woman to take
charge of the work. Mrs. Guindon was
not OF this opinion, and said that there
never had been similar difficulty in her
experience. In reply to query whether
there were training schools for this pur-
pose, Mrs. Guindon replied that so Tar al
she knew, there were not.
Cards were distrisuted bearing blank
pledges for annual subscription. These
were the same as those used by the New
man Industrial Homes, although pledge
received upon them will be devoted TO the
new rescue home, when 1t opens. Sub
criptions are not payable until that time.
After singing "BIest be the Tie," and
prayer by Mrs. Guindon, the assembly
dispersed.
After the meeting a number remained
to discuss the matter. Mrs. j. l.. Scud-
der, In calling attention to the constleu.
tion. remarked that several verbal
changes would probably be made, before
its final RAJ aIification. Mrs. Clerihew said
that the League would confer with all the
pastors of the city. perhaps hold pas
tors meeting, before settling upon
anorher meeting or nominating officers.
AS the League was to be county affair,
it should have for its president " woman
who could fairly stand as the choice OF the
county. As the organization was TO pc
nut Oh lasting basis, nothing must DC
done without careful deliberation.
wben Won sneak or even think of spring