Omaha daily bee., 1894-02-11
MERCIFUL SAVIOUR MISSION
What it Has Done and is Doing for Unfor-
tunate Women in Omaha.
SEVERAL HAVE BEEN LED TO REFORM
Woman Doctor of Divinity Becomes Pastor
of the First Universalist-Y. NJ. g. A.
Services and work-Church Enter
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.

- NhbN nv othoOi u h<Nue NOihpSho uS
to give pause to the round of ~gayeties, we
have time to look over the years record of
philanthropic work which has been carried
on quietly, though earnestly.
When Father Crapsey was conducting the
mission here last year he inspired the mem
bers of the various parishes in Omaha to
undertake the work for the reformation of
fallen women aud for the help of young girls
who are in danger of being led astray. AS
the first fruits of this inspiration
the house at 251S Davenport street
was rented and furnished and n
sister of the Order of st. Monica was placed
in charge and the work inaugurated July2O
last.
With varying success the work progressed,
a number of girls being induced to enter the
home, which is known as the Mission of Our
Merciful Savior, although but few remained
for any length of time.
With the first of the year a change was
made in the management, and Mother Caro-
line is now in charge, assisted by Sister
Sarah, both OF the Order of st. Monica. To
aid in carrying on the work the women of
the various parishes have banded together
as the associates OF the mission, meeting the
first Monday in each month at Trinity to
plan ways and means OF helping the sisters
in their efforts. Mrs. Worthington is at the
head OF this organization, and committees
are appointed for inspection and for the in
struction of the inmates in needlecraft, etc.
At the last meeting of the associates
Mother Caroline gave a most interesting re-
port in which she said:
Fourteen have been admitted to the
home, two Of whom have been reformed.
One has married respectfully, one has been
hlDtIZpI into the church AnOthar WIS
greatly impressed by the kindness she had
received and wrote affectionately to the
sister in charge, and who can tell what
other seeds have been sown some day to
waBen into a purer life these unfortunate
souls9 One girl has of late changed from
being of a rather sullen disposition into a
faithful worker, so devoted that | shall not
hesitate to present her for confirmation.
I'm addition to these there nave been sew
eral who came Tor shelter, one q young girl
alone in the city, n stranger without funds.
who was given q home until she found a
place at service; another a widow with a
child who had been unable 10 find work. 1t
is thought that much good may result from
this preventive work and it should be under
stood that the mission is open for the re-
ception of women and girls who find them
selves homeless and friendless in the city.
The Mission house is comfortably, but
plainly furnished, one room being arranged
as an oratory, where service is held every
Thursday evening by some of the clergy,
and also early service three mornings in the
week, as well as the daily prayers.
"The inmates assist in the work of the
house and are being taught to sew, with the
hope of making them self-supporting.
SIN addition TO the work at the home the
sisters go about in the lower part of the
city seeking to aid the unfortunate women
there in escaping from the life of sin, and
they also visit the county house and the
various relief agencies" :
In closing her report Mother Caroline said,
LAS you may suppose, the work is a difficult
one, requiring almost superhuman patience
with great self-discipline and self-control.
l would beg all my friends and fellow
workers to give us their warmest sympathles
and most earnest prayers and above all we
ask for patience in looking for results, not
to expect that d few weeks or months will
change these wild, undisciplined. wiiful waits
into steady Christian women, but to feel en-
Outraged If at the end of one month we can
see any improvement, howeve feeble.'
Rev. Augusta L. Chaplin, ID. ID.
Rev. Augusta L. Chapln, the only woman
in the world holding the degree of doctor of
divinity, enters upon the pastorate of the
First Universallst church of this city today.
DIR. Chaplin is a descendant IN the eighth
generation of Deacon Samuel Chaplin, who
emigrated from Wales and settled in Spring
field, Mass, about the year 1885. She was
boih il iLdhCSillS, IlNiilSSJOu COuuUy, y. L.,
and was educated in Michigan, to which
state she removed with her family at an
early age. She was for several years a
student of Olivet college, and also of the Uni
versity Of Michigan, from which last named
institution she graduated, receiving the de-
gree of master of arts, She was ordained at
Lansing, Mich, and since her ordination has
been engaged exclusively in missionary and
pastoral work. Her principal settlements
have been in the order named; Portland,
Mich, Milwaukee, Wis, Iowa City, Ia,
Lansing, Mich, Pittsburg, Pa, Aurora, Ill,
and Oak Park, Chicago.
Miss Chaplin held the honorable position
of chairman of the woman's general COM
mittee on religious congresses in the con-
of 1893, and gave to this work
many months of devoted attention. Her
chief service consisted in securing compe-
tent women to take part in the great par
lament of religions in promoting the con-
OF the various Christian denomina-
tions, and of many important religious So
cieties OF women. She also oficlated as
of the woman's committee of her
own church. These services Miss Chaplin
justly considers as among the most import |
ant that she has been permitted to render
to the world. In recognition of her attain
ment and work Lombard university, In
June, 1898, conferred upon her the degree
of doctor of divinity, she being the first
woman IN the world TO receive this title.
Miss Chapin's services nave been much
sought for the lecture field, in which her
topics are chiefly English literature and arr.
She holds the appointment of extension lee
turer on English literature for the Uniyer-
sity of Chicago, and nonresident lecturer on
and art for Lombard university,
Galesburg, Ill. Sho is a member Of many |
or women, among which may be
the Sorosis of New York City, !
the Kings Daughters, the Chicago Woman's
club, the Women Christian Temperance
union, and the American Society for the Elk
of University Teaching. She is vice
president for Illinois of the National Associa-
tion for the Advancement of Women, and Is
the president Of the international Associa.
of Women Ministers.
To the Young Women Again.
At the First Presbyterian church tonight
Rev. ]. NJ. Patterson will conclude his talk