Delaware gazette and state journal., 1895-12-26


The corner stone of the Door Of Hope
Society of Wilmington was securely
cemented at the celebration of the first
anniversary on Saturday last. For the
year that the society has been in ex-
istence the members have had cause to
feel encouraged, but they have been
more or less handicapped in the work
by lack OF material assistance. With
view to placing the society on
firm foundation this ladies in charge
decided to make an impression at the
celebration of the first anniversary, and
they did the very best thing that could
have been done. They engaged Mrs.
Il. M. Whittemore of New York, one
OF the most enthusiastic workers in
the country, and who was largely In,
strumental in starting the movement
here year ago, to deliver two ad-
dresses. The ladies' made no mistake,
for Mrs. Whittemore was very interest
ing, instructive and entertaining.
The celebration was held in the Sun
day school building of Grace NJ. E.
Church, and was decided Huccess
Mrs. Whittemore made her first APP
pearance Saturday at 8 O'Clock in the
afternoon, when she delivered an ad-
dress to the women of Wilmington.
The room in which the afternoon lec-
ture was delivered was filled and Mrs.
Whittemore held tho undivided atten-
tion of the audience for nearly two
hours The lecturer spoke in a narra-
tive strain. She described what she
aud her co-workers in the cause in
New York City and found in some Of
the questionable resorts of the city and
what good had been dono by making
personal visits and pleading with the
inmates. Many Of her hearers had no
idea Of the ini4uity that is carried on
in these dens of vice, and tho story
they heard was revelation. The i'm
preston was deep and it will no doubt
be productive of great good. The good
accomplished by the personal efforts Of
the members Of the society was also
vividly detailed and showed plainly
that where there is a will there is a
way. She told of one case where a
young Norwegian girl was entrapped
and imprisoned in one of these dens for
six months She was finally rescued
and taken to the Door of Hope, which
saved her from the ruin which would
undoubtedly have followed had not
kind Providence intcrferred through
the instrumentality of the society.
Other cases were also spoken of where
girls were made unwilling subjects by
the evil women of the metropolis and
other cities, and how they were turned
into good Christians by the society.
She described in detail the methods
pursued and told how the prayers were
answered and the good work facilitated
by faith in the Good Father.
Mrs. Whittemore appeared again in
the evening in the Sunday school room
for the purpose Of talking to the gem
erai public, and, Notwithstanding the
inclemency of the weather there was a
good attendance. The best class of our
q citizens--men and women-was repre-
senteel, and as at the afternoon meet
ing those in the audience were deeply
touched by what they heard. Mrs.
Whittemore prefaced her remarks 10y
making a request that those in attend
ance lend their assistance to the SUCCESS
of the cause in Wilmington. She stated
that while the active members of the
society are women-the work being ex-
clusively women's work-men could be-
come contributing members and would
be Of as much assistance in that direc-
tion as the women are as active work.
ers. She said she believed in asking for
just what is wanted, and, by the grace
of God, she always gets what is asked
for. She made the request that some
one in the audience would give house,
free of rent, for the use of the home in
Wilmington. She also asked that some
body give either piano or an organ,
as musical instrument is absolutely
necessary in home OF this kind An
appeal was also made for furniture,
crockery and in fact everything that
goes toward furnishing the house for
housekeeping, There were no verbal
replies, but Mrs. Whittemore felt very
T., Al.uA aaI.A -
would undoubtedly be given. She had
: made similar appeals in other ciTies
and her prayers were always answered.
Mrs. Whittemore impressed upon her
n hearers the Importance OF looking to
Jesus for assistance. She said it was
not the right thing to continually look
at His work, but to look at Him Him
self, and by looking to Him and trust
ing in Him everything can be accom-
plished. She has always conducted
herself in that way and the result has
been gratifying in the extreme. In her
talk she gave interesting illustrations
of how her prayers had been answered
in times of apparent distress.
Mrs. Whittemore spoke at length on
the subject of giving to the good cause.
been enabled to do good in foreign
countries, Ono of the girls who was
recently saved from notorious den in
New York City has been sent-or,
rather, went at her own solicitation
to far away Africa. She has conse-
Grated her life to m visionary work there.
The method of caring for fallen
women was also discussed. Many of
them, the speaker said, think that no.
body cares for them after they are dis
graced, but when they are shown that
1t is just such people that arc interest
ing the society and for whose welfare
there is such an organization, it is
usually en- easy matter to reclaim them.
She stated that she has kissed many Il
girl who was disgraced and wretched
and in many cases it was the kiss that
opened the door to magic change and
new life.
The lecturer also warned mothers
about the care of their daughters She
advised the most careful supervision
over young girls. 1t may not seem to
do any harm to allow the girls to go
out in the evenings for u walk, but it
is these little walks which have been
the ruination OF many young lives. She
gave an instance of where a young girl,
the daughter of well-to do Christian
parents, was led away to the depths OF
vice, the result of going out in the even
ings. The girl one stormy winter night
found her way TO the home in New
York City. She was an outcast and
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