The morning times., 1896-01-20
PROTECT YOUNG GIRLS
Crittendan Mission Begins a
Series of Meetings.
ADDRESS OF MRS. EDHOLM
National Superint endent Makes an
Earnest Plea for II Changed Life.
History of the Home ana Help,
Which Is Doing an Unique Work
In Washington

The first of series OF evaDgelistic
meetings, unuer the auspices OF the board
Of directors OF the IBsulutlon, was held
yesterday afternoon at the Florence
CrIttenuen Home ana Help Mission, No.
2io Third street northwest.
The service was led by Mrs Charlton
Edhoirn, The evangelist missionary OF the
Florence CriIIenden Home, with head
quarters at No. 81 Bleeker street New
York city.
besiacs the inmates OF the home there
We're present number or the board or
directors anu many friends Interested
IN the WORK OF reoiainiing laiien women.
The service was opened with Scripture
reading by Mrs. L. ". Mckay, fonowed
by u short talk by Airs. kaue W. Jarrett,
tiic national superintendent OF the Crit
tenden Mission.
Airs. Barretl spoke OF the coming of
Christ and all he nad done Tor the women
or the world. Before His coming women
were not considered the equals OF men,
but since tlen there was no distinction.
Sne reminded her hearers that our bodies
were temples for the Holy Spirit, which
should ever he kept clean, and not defiled
either with drink or profanity.
MRS. EDHOLM's Address.
Mrs. Edhoim, who spoke next, is an in
teresting talker- She has had sad
experience, and carried the force of her
Convictions 10 her hesfers.
Her husband Was 4 yIcsim of strong
drink, winch finally deprived him al his
reason. To the appetite for strong drink
she attributed the run of all OF the women
and nearly all of the men in this country
who had fallcu-
Many young girls, she said, who leave
their homes in the morning, pure and
virjuous, Ecver return. They are over
come by this appetite for strong drink,
AID having fallen and not having power
"a retrace their steps, lose hope aud turn
To a life OF shame.
The quesiiun that rises in every Christian
mind is, Who is responsible for all this?
/ is-rot really the wca kings, she said,
but those who put She temptation in their
g.ds. The roo, OF all this evil and those
vino give their sanction 10 the licensing OF
them are as directly responsible as the
tempter.
In concluding, Mrs. Edholm told the
story of Mary Magdalen going to Christ
on the morning OF his resurrection and
what prompted her to do so. She was
in need of belp ard strength and knew
that was where to find il. Ard then, turn
ing to the inmates OF the mission, she said:
SO il should be with you. Turn TO Christ
ami ne VIII neip you.
Mrs. Ednolm's talk had a telling effect
on her hearprs.~Tears welled up in every
rye in the room. and many were SO over
come as 10 sob aloud.
MANY PLEDGES GIVEN.
After the talk many of those present
pledged themselves TO Christ and TO follow
where he leads.
Since the establishment of the Home
and lasting work has been done. Many a
wanderer from a life of purity has been
reclaimed and there has been rejoicing
In many n home ON the return OF the
long lost, wayward child.
The first headquarters of the Home ard
Help Mission was on Fourteenth street
northwest. From there il was moved to
No. 604 ii street northwest. where the
work was carried on for many years. Find
ing. however. that there was need for
greater accomm odation on the first OF
the year. the headquarters were again
removed. to the spacious building at No.
21S Third street northwest. The buid-
ing is admirably suited for the work and
containing. as il does. twenty-siN large,
airy rooms. affords ample and comfort
able accommodations both for the managers
and wards.
The inmates of the mission are not, as Is
generally supposed, girls from houses OF
prostitution. They are young women who
have been betrayed by friends in whom, in
an uneuaried moment, on promise OF mar
riage, they trusted their honor
EXTENT OF THE WORK.
There are thirty-two OF these unfortu-
nate women cared for at the mission. Four
teen have children varying in age from
few months to nearly three years.
The home is under the supervision of
board of directors, consisting of Mrs s. ID.
La Fetra. president: Mesdames May Rector,
Belle Luckett, NJ. E. CatliD, Letitia Knowles,
Miss E. NJ. Brewer, j. II. Luckett, DR.. G. n.
Perry and Dr. Custis.
Mrs. E. X. Fleck is the matron. She has
had long experience and is deeply Interested
in this work. The girls are, as a rule. sin
cere in their repentance and it is seldom
that they ever turp back OF those whe are
brought TO the home many have been re-
turned at the request of their parents to
their homes, while Others, who will not
divulgc their identity. are found employ
ment with respectable families.
very efficient assistant to the matron
is Mrs. f. l.. Mckay, who came TO the home
from the Dawn Of Hope Mission, New York
city, where she had many years training
NJ ~ hat