The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-14
FLORENCE CRITTENTON MISSION.

The purpose or intent of Florence
Crittenton work Is becoming pretty
well understood, through the efforts
Ofthe earnest workers who have found
ed homes for the escape OF fallen girls
and women. The object of the society
Is the establishment, support and man
agement Of an institution for the pur-
pose of receiving and encouraging fall
en- women of every creed. nationality
and color and elevating them to a pure
Christian wOmanhood: and for the fur
ther purpose of preventing unprotected
women from falling into the hands of
designing and unprincipled persons.
Any fallen woman who has a sincere
desire to leave her sinful life, or to es-
cape from such fate, when habits,
appetites and environments seem to be
dragging her to its awful precipice, can
find In a Florence Home a way of es-
cape. No person can be compelled to
enter Florence Home. 1t is not an
annex to the Jail. 1t has no legal con-
troll over the inmates and desires none.
The act must be voluntary and in the
spirit of the returning prodigal. There
are no bars or shackles except those
that sin has fastened upon the soul and
body.
The only force 1t seeks to exert is to
reach and hold them by the power of
Christ's love. This can be more easily
accomplished through the efforts of the
mission than through the churches.
There must be loving welcome into a
nome life as they present themselves,
sick In body and at heart. They realize
that they have separated themselves
from all that Is pure and good by a wall
that reaches as high as heaven, and
loathe themselves and the life which
they have been living. Oh! the heart
ache, the soul hunger, the desperation,
that drives them to US, disheartened,
discouraged, hopeless, embittered;
weak in will and body.
Any hour of the day or night, without
any other recommendation than a de-
sire to leave the old life, any fallen girl
can find tDtrance and loving welcome
awaiting her In Florence Crittenton
Home. If they desire, they can remain
until strengthened in body and will
guarded, guided and fitted for honor
able employment when 1t can be Sc
cured for them. A noted mission work.
er has truly said that mo higher SER
vice can be rendered to humanity than
to open to redeemed women opportuni-
ties for virtuous and honorable self
support" Too often among so-called
Christian women are noted the con-
while the skirts are drawn aside for
fear Of contamination.
Some mothers girl! Not yours. Why?
Simply because. through the grace of
God, her environments were different.
Human nature 1t Is to err. but not ia
forgive. and In Gods sight the sin of the
fallen woman may be no greater than
other sins which are committed aud
condoned by humanity at large. 1t was
the Saviour Of mankind that wrote In
letters large and bold "He that ia with
out sin among you, let him first cast
stone at her." It Is because the better
nature can be cultivated. the law of
heredity overcome hv education a~d
the baser tendencies destroyed that the
work Of reclaiming the fallen goes on.
Earnest Christian workers from shore
to shore are being impressed with tine
needs Of this class and today there re
thirty-one Florence Crittenton Homes
In as many different cities. The mother
mission was established In New York
thirteen years ago by Mr.. Charles N
Crittenton as O memorial to his little
daughter Florence. BY her death the
biblical truth was verlfied--"A little
child shall lead them" In his sorrow
s he was led to work in the slums, and
while urging young woman, late one