The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-11-26
ST0 HAVE A DOOR OF HOPE
-ACTIVE STEPS TAKEN FOR IT'S OR-
 GANIzATIoN YESTERDAY.

Two Largely Attended and Enthusiastic
 Meetings at Calvary Baptist Church.
 harnest Appeal by Mrs. E. M. Whitte-
 more-Contribution and Cooperation De-
 sired.
 The initial movement toward estab- fishing Door of Hope for fallen women in New Haven was made yesterday af- ternoon in Calvary Baptist church.
 For a long time ladies prominent in charitable work in the city have con- templated doing something for this class of unfortunates, and their pur- pose was still further strengthened by the convention of Christian Workers held here a shoEt time ago, at which Mrs. 10. M. Whittemore spoke feelingly of the work of the Door of Hope mis- sions.
 A meeting exclusively for ladies was called for yesterday afternoon at three o'clock in the lower room of the Cal vary Baptist church.
 In spite of the stormy weather the room was filled with ladies and the deepest interest and enthusiasm was shown in favor of establishing Door of Hope in New Haven.
 Mrs. Whittemore made an earnest ap- peal for this kind of work and gave H. illustrations of the character of work car ried on by the Door of Hope and its methods of operation.
 Mrs Whittemoreis remarks were fol- lowed by general discussion by those interested in the work, and steps were taken for forming a permanent organi- zation.
 The preliminary work was placed in kthe hands of a committee, the names of the members of which it is thought best not to publish at present. It has been thought best to enlarge this com \ mittee so as to include at feast one lady from each church in the city. This committee will meet in a day or two and decide upon suitable location for the Door of Hope, and the other mat ters necessary for the starting and the present maintenance of tn eorganiza- tion.
 At 7:45 another meeting was held, at which many gentlemen were also pres ent
 The Rev. Dr. Newman Smyth pre- sided The audience sang ''There is a Fountain,' and portion of scripture was read from the seventh chapter of Luke.
 Dr. Smyth said in introducing Mrs. Whittemore that in doing the work he had been called to do in the city he had i become more and more impressed with 1 the need of doing something along this line, and it was with the greatest pdeas- ure that he welcomed Mrs. Whittemore here for the purpose of organizing Door of Hope
 Mrs. Whittemore gave a very inter- eSting account of the work of the Door | of Hope in New York and gave several | touching accounts of the rescue of fall en women "We deceive ourselves" she said, 'if we think these poor, fallen wo men do not feel the weight of their sin. They know more about the weight of sin than we can ever tel lthem."
 "After they have been saved they are able to accomplish much more than any one else for the salvation of women of | the class 10 WHlCH they Aoi AiSiiy w . Ionged.
 What is the matter with us is that we do not go to the rescue of these needy ones
 'Let us come with open hands ready for this work.
 "As a practical suggestion I urge you not to try and make your Door of Hope self-supporting, for most of the wo- men who will enter it are physically unable to do anything but light work.
 "As to finances, we have rule never to say anything to each other on this subject except where we can aid. The Door of Hope is the only organization that relies explicitly on faith and pray CT.
 "We also have arrangements whereby we send girls from one city tn another as the best means of securing their ref ormation, though often it is best that they should live down their past lives in their own city"
 Mrs. Whittemore closed with an earn est appeal for contributions for the or ganization here All who had money or furniture or desirable house which they were willing to have used for this work were requested to communicate with the committee appointed for that purpose. It is especially desired that some one should donate a piano, as many of the rescued women are fond of music and are fine musicians them selves.
 The following ladies have kindly VOL unteered to receive contributions, and names of those who desire to join in the work: Mrs. G. B. Stevens of IS Trumbull street, Mrs. Charles H. Webb of 562 Orange street and Mrs, Morris | Tyler of 8 College street.
 After taking collection the meeting closed with the singing of the hymn ''To the Workc' and the benediction by Dr. Smyth.
 The Door of Hope which it is expect 1 ed will soon be in running order will be No. 19. The organization is strictly undenominational.