The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-07-25
CHRISTIAN NEGLECT.
A Long Roll of the Destitute in
Topeka
WHO ARE NEEDING CHRISTIAN HELP

But Who Don't Get 1t On account OF
the Constant stream OF Money the
Churches Pour Into China and
Japan.
No person knows better the condition
of the poor people of Topeka than does
Police Matron Mrs. Thorpe who is among
them every day in the year and she said
today:
81 know of more than sixty families
now very destitute, or just at the point
of restitution, for want of work. There
is actually no work to be had. Some of
them are almost desperate. -Four of
them in the past week have used abusive
and threatening language to me, because
l have not been able to secure them en-
ployment."
s.Are all these cases able and willing
to work?" was asked.
"All that try to help are, you may be
sure, but number are too old or too
sickly to do much"
"What do you intend to do for them?"
81 think Topeka sends too much money
away from home"
"You think. then, we ought not to send
aid to Oklahoma and Scranton"
mo. do not say that, but we should
not neglect the misery at our own doors.
This l do think, Topeka sends too much
money out on foreign and so-called
home MISSIONS
You do not believe, then, in foreign
missions?"
so yes, 1 do; but we have been pour
ing our money into China and Japan
about a century. They ought to begin to
be self-supporting."
How much does Topeka pay out
YEARLY to missions ?"
IF all the churches pay in proportion
to mine, about 5000 year." Less than
one-half of that would relieve all Tope
ka's restitution and thereby would in
large measure suppress crime"
''If this money could be secured, what
plans have you for its use?'
II would think best to place it in the
hands of some worthy man, and have it
so arranged the poor could earn it at fair
wages"
"What do you mean by a worthy
MANI"
"I mean one with good judgment,
honesty and conscience l am a church
member myself and have been for over
twenty years, and l believe many of Us
shut our eyes to the mind
crime breeding want at hume, and give
to missions simply because Others do,
and because our pastors are DESTROYS of
giving a good report at conference. If
pastors were asked to report on local
missions it would be different"
"Then you would withhold money from
foreign felds?"
Il would withhold ne-half if l could;
that's all l would ask"
Mrs. Thorpe here produced book in
which she keeps record of families in
need of work and aid, and indicated by
reading aloud the names and addresses
of many of her most needy clients.
MANY of these" she said, "are nearer
starvation in a Christian city than you
would think. of
The names of the listed are not print
ed Many of them are sensitive, though
poor Here is the bare list:
1882 Lawrence, widow and five chill
dren.
Near corner Eighth and Lime, widow
and five children.
116 West Curtis, parents and four chill
dren.
Near corner bridge, Quinton Heights,
parents and six children.
Near Twenty third and Fillmore, moth
er and five children.
girl.
Thirteenth and Adams, parents and
four children.
South of city limits, on Adams. parents
and three children. father and five chill
dren.
500 East Tenth. q feeble old soldier
with wife and five children.
521 East First, parents and five child
rem.
523 East First, parents and thr
children.
Other families near, also.
ZIG West First, mother and seven boys.
Mar hri6 Eaaf Einhfh naro0rQ and
six children.
South Adams, parents and six children.
Near Twenty-third street
Near Tenth and Locust, parents and
six children.
Near Fifteenth street. on Lake and
Chandler, several families.
3J7 West Thirteenth, widow and two
children.
Highland Park, son paralyzed, aged
mother and two children.
Ala Lawrence, mother and four child
rem.
216 west Sixth, aged lady.
512 Van Buren,, aged mau.
Northwest corner Eighteenth and Van
Buren,, parents and five children.
709 Stella street, mother and two child
rem.
Others on Stella street.
420 Taylor, mother and six children.
Near 600 east Eleventh, mother and
seven children.
6O9 east Eighth, blind man wife, and
little girl. Good broom maker.
$50 Madison, invalid man and wife.
Near Second and Adams, parents and
two children.
1419 east Eighth, parents and three
children.
416 Lawrence. mother, daughter and
child.
Lawrence, parents and six children.
children.
Near Quincy and Twenty first streets
three or four families.
Tenth and Monroe, mother and daugh-
ter.