The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-08
A NEW RESCUE HOME
Institution for Erring Women
Opened by Ladies of w. c. I. U.
Suggested that q Rescue Band Be Or.
ganized to Make Tours at Night
Scenes Described.

The members Of the Meridian Woman's
Christian Temperance Union have, as a
charity work, the Rescue Home for girls
and women. They nave labored long and
earnestly for this, and yesterday afternoon
there were many grateful expressions when
the members met at No. 81 East South
street, a very plain, two-story building.
The building rs in the midst of saloons.
near by are the railroad tracks with their
usual noise of trains. the street cars pass
the place, and to reach it yesterday the
women waded through three inches of mud
which had accumulated on the new brick
pavement. The gathering was in the read
ing room, and every available space was
filled. Mrs. o. l.. Neisler, temporary presi-
lent since the resignation of Mrs. NJ. IL.
Wells, presided. The services were opened
with devotions led by Mrs. Sims. Mrs.
Conkling reported for the m on
jails and prisons, and gave an account of
the good work done by a visit to the work
house. Mrs. Anna Buchanan, the police
matron, was present, but too hoarse TO give
her report. Mrs. l.. o. Robinson, the tenn
perance evangelist, made an affecting adj
dress. The president called on Mrs. Jo-
sephine Nichols to speak.
Mrs. Nichols said that the Rescue Home
was the fulfllment of one of her desires.
Mrs. Nichols organized the Meridian w. c.
L. u. Nothing stirred the members of the
local council as the discussion of the wine
rooms, and from these wine rooms come
so often the girls who are brought to the
police court and to the home. Some of the
girls who are arrested for the first time
are taken to the station and branded along
the girls who go to these wine rooms are
from the country or the small villages.
Mrs. Nichols described the life women lead
in the resorts, where they are slaves; how
they are kept in debt to the place, and often
cannot escape if they would; how they are
made to pay board, to pay for washing, to
pay for their clothes, and eXOrbitant prices
for all: The woman who keeps the house
takes their money, and they are not allowed
enough with which even to get away if
they want to. Mrs. Nichols is glad to now
say that there Is q place for them to go.
The Y. Nj. G.. A. has costly buildings, libra
ries, gymnasiums and, entertainments, she
said, while the only place for q girl TO go
Is to the cheap balls at Tomlinson and other
halls, where they pay nothing to get in.
where 1T costs but a quarter for any man
to go, and where every man who does go
feels at liberty to speak in any way to any
girl who is there. Mrs. Nichols believes that
If there were some place where women and
girls could go for an innocent entertainment
that they would be glad to go. In closing,
she said: God speed the day when women
will make the right effort to save women
and girls"
RESCUE BAND PROPOSED.
Mrs. Potter told the story of the begin
ming of the Rescue Home. She spoke Of
the beauty of the city, of its streets, its
homes, It's public institutions, but in it all,
she said, there had never been a place for
the women and girls who desired to lead
a better life. The line of work had been
brought TO the notice of the W. c. II. u. by
Mrs. Buchanan, the police matron, who saw
the women and girls in the Police Court.
Said Mrs. Potter: w want to see a
building for these girls. We wish there was
no need for it." Miss Celia Smock has been
secured as a matron for the Rescue Home.
She has had a wide experience in the work
In Chicago, and brings not only experience,
but a heart for it She made a short adj
dress. The first girl, she said, came to the
home before a bed was ready for her. Since
the place was opened to girls there have
been eleven inmates, and at present there
are six. 1t has already been a prevention
homo. 1T is appalling how Satan has his
taking a woman with her on one of her
trips through Pearl, Court and Market
streets, the friend was surprised to see the
names on the doors of the disreputable
houses. Miss Smock wants a rescue band
who will go through the places at night and
save the girls. One girl who came TO the
city has been taken in at the Rescue Home
and been returned to her parents. Every
woman at the meeting was interested In
what was said and shocked at the revela-
lions made. Mrs. Robinson said afterward
that a man had said that 1T would do we'll
enough to have a Rescue Home in Chicago
or others of the large cities, but there was
no need Of one here. What she had heard
convinced her that the home had not been
opened any too soon. A collection was
taken for the home. The present expenses,
including the table, amount to $50 a month.
This, of course, will increase If there are
more to be fed than at present. Much of
the money for the work has been secured
by subscriptions. Yesterday many dona-
tions were brought. but the home has need
of many of the neceSSaries and comforts of
life. Not only money to run the home is
needed, but q fund to supply clothes to the
girls taken in and money to send them
home is q necessity. IT is also necessary to
have places for the women and girls. Many
of them are able to do homework and
other work, and the members of the w. G..
T. u. ask that any one who will lend a
helping hand to these girls and will give
them shelter, notify a member or Miss
Smock at the home. At the close of the
meeting the ladies were escorted through
the home. 1t is small, there are only seven
beds and these are closely placed. The place
is neat and quite comfortable. a kitchen
had been built and it serves for kitchen and
dining room. a large house with accommo-
dations would be the thing for the women
to have. but the beginning, as Miss Smock
announced. was a cause for thankfulneSS.
The next meeting of the w. G. T. t.. will
be held with Mrs. Neisler, No. 429 Broad
way.