Evening journal., 1895-03-14

Appalling Realities That That little
Tour notwithstanding of IN
Home Missionary Convention.
STAFF Correspondence Evening Journal.
NRw CASTLE. March Ia EARLY this
morning Methodist women from all
parts OF Delaware began to arrive here
to attend the all-dsy convention-the
ninth annual meeting Of the Woman's
Home Missionary Society Of the viii
miDgton Conference On the
early morning train there were
two special cars containing delegates
and visitors, the cars being sidetracked
here to be sent back after the evening
and concluding session. When the hour
foE opening the convention arrived the
M e. Church was well filed with
prominent women workers.
Lilies and decorations Of ivy and laurel
adorned the chancer and auditorium
where, at . 10 a. M, the convention was
called to order by Miss Sarah Weldin,
president OF the Wilmington dis
trict organization, who acted In the
place OF Mrs N. M. Browne.
Of Middletown whose husband died SO
suddenly last month Mrs J B Quigg
conducted the devotional exercises, and
Rev. V. s. Collins and Mrs. NJ p.
Challenger delivered words Of welcome.
Mrs, J. D, Q. Hanna responded In we'll
chosen and felicitous remarks
After the report OF conference officers,
Mrs r. l. Price OF Middletown, sang as
a solo Have You Sought2' The re-.
mainder Of the morning was spent In
hearing reports from various auxiliary
societies throughout the conferences.
Many Of the reports were decidedly
encouraging but some were not Snow
Hills society started with twelve mem
bers and still has twelve. while Eastons
society had not met for three years,
Mrs. Marks Makes Stirring Address.
But the feature Of the day was an able
address by Mrs. Lafayette Marks, Of
Wilmington, who spoke, by the courtesy
OF the chair, On the need OF missionary
work right around her own city.
She said in part During the past few
days | have been severely criticized for
little htour | took recently. Now, an
explanation. I'm a minister's wife aud
have a little license. When Mrs Ed
holm was in Wilmington. l attended
every meeting that she held noticed,
especially, that there we're very few
ministers But one day she addressed
the Ministerial Union and there invited
any ministers who had their heart In this
work to Investigate even II with her as
she went that day TO the Hlums Of
Wilmington TO show the people Of God
that there was missionary work to be
done At home. Mr. Short accepted her
invitation, saying that he haa been
wonder ully stirred by her revelations
Of the sinsand iniquity existing all about
us No man with impure motives could
have knelt on those floors and offered the
wonderful, soul.stirring prayers that he
did ! am glad that he went and know
that Goa will reward him.
"Oh, there Is a tremendous influence
lying back OF this audience to-day. Oh,
how is God going TO hold us responsible
for allowing these souls to die in the
blackest OF sin. blacker than that OF any
Indian or Chinese. Now, l am informed
that only one out OF q hundred OF
these fallen women can be saved Well,
my sisters, how is this; | ask you TO 60
to your homes and there search the
scriptures on this snbiect Read the
second and third chapters Of Ezekiel and
the seventh chipter of Luke.
"Wtll we visited seven Of these gilded
dens OF sin and saw therein and appealed
to twenty three beautiful girls Shouldn't
these be dearer to us than Indians, than
heRthens, who know no betteI2
Now | want to tell you we give the
fallen men some chances that we do not
give the fallen women. When q woman
falls she must shut herself up In one Of
these deDs Of iniquity and
there remain until she is
taken by the grim monster into more
awful eternity. But what do we do to
the men They are allowed to 60 about
as before, to enter our homes and even
to come into our churches. When will
we see that woman must have an equal
chance to save herself
To-day in the city of Wilmington there
are souls dying, outcssts from society,
and they must be taken In hand. These
women must be saved; they must
be offered a place TO come when
they leave their dens OF vice.
Will you take action at once2 May God
help you to awaken at once to the cause
far more vital than your work among the
Indians
Directly after the address the conven-
a-L