New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-11-09
CITY MISSIONARY WORK.
WORTHY PHILANTHROPY MOVEMENT
IN WHICH WOMEN ARE ENGAGED.

A DAY SPENT WITH MISS MATHEWS AND MI0o
ORR FOREMOST MISSIONARIES OF THE
METHODIST CHURcH-THE IMMI-
GRANT HOME FOR GIRLS.
The New-York City missionaries Of the various
religious denominations are constantly engaged IN
one of the most worthy phanthropies Of the day.
1t Is the caring for and sheltering Of the girl ana
women immigrants they land at Ellis Island.
Hundreds Of thousands Of aliens find their way
every year to the shores Of the New World. and TINS
restless stream of eager humanity divides ana SUD
divides and flows throughout the length and breadth
OF the land. Drifting on this mighty stream. often
times like bits OF wreckage Or clinging seawced are
thousands Of girls and women Of the lower classes.
with little of the grace and charm OF womanhood
left In their work-fed lives to appeal to mans
Of chivary Possibly no other class OF
women in the world stands quite much In need
of help and sympathy from their more fortunate
sisters and recognizing this few strong. brave
and devoted Christian women banded together
in this work.
The great frame structure on Ellis Island looks
more like an exposition building than an immigrant
bureau but the thousands Of people who land there
during the week and who must stay within Ito
kindly shelter until the Government permits them
to enter the country present anything but an ex.
position appearance they are put into the dners
ent apartments pens" as they are more appro-
priately called One hundred and forty-five Ital-
ians had just been taken OF the ship on the morn.
ing The Tribune reporter found Mrs. Mary Clark
and Mss Mathews and asked them to tell her OF
the scope and plan OF the daily missionary work.
we have had many sixteen nationahties
represented in home. No. % Safest. at one
time" said Miss Mathews. who rarely misses day
at Ellis Island She is Of the foremost mis-
sonarles OF the Methodist Church, and she holds
out not helping hand but two.
I'VE have sheltered AZ girls and women during the
last year. and have aided them In securing homes
and employment. Many pathetic Incidents happen
in connection with our work. and the world IN gen.
ora-so bright. happy and prosperous-knows absc-
lutely nothing of the actual need and suffering OF
these new arrivals Some Of the poor women ana
young girls land here with not more than 30 cents or
81 in their pockets. and. for time. they we're an
easy prey Of unprinciped men and women. who.
under pretence OF caring for them until they could
secure situations led them into the worst OF evils.
What does your Home do for these poor wom-
en- >" asked the reporter.
I'VE take especial care to prevent them from
falling into the hands OF men and women who wish
TO work them HARM" answered Miss Mathews.
las soon as they land they are brought over here
and examined by physician TO see II they are In
good health Sometimes they greatly upset oy
the sea voyage and the discomforts OF the SNIP
but these troubles remedied. II there ID
nothing serious the matter they receive certificate
10 that effect and unless they have friends or rea-
tives TO whom they going we take them up TO
the Immigrant Girls Home and care for them ana
try to secure work for them"
Suppose you are not successful in that" said
the reporter. IF you cannot place them, DO you
keep them at the Home?
I'VE have never had like that yet was
the answer I'VE never have any trouble In secur.
ing homes for respectable women who are willing
10 work There is always demand for good do
nestle help. and people from the different New.
England and adjoining States frequently write u
for trained and unframed workers. expressing
preference for immigrants newly landed"
do the girls assist in the work OF the Home
while they with you?"
Not unless they wish. We do not require 1t. On
urgent occasions sometimes call on them, but
not often They usually willing and are uni
formly appreciative of what We try 10 do for them
do you keep in touch with them after they have
secured work and homes elsewhere?
They write TO very often. and they frequently
come 10 us when they want to change places and
get other work. Sometimes they want rest. and
then they come and stay with u.s. paying 80 cents Q
day for room and board. II they are VI We care
for them. see that they are taken TO the proper
place for nursing and attention.
DO they seem fully TO realize how much you DO
for them. and do you ever come across that rare
and curious virtue known as gratitudeT
THE majority of the women seem really grate'
full Occa sionay. of course. We find a girl who ap-
pears Indifferent and is disposed TO take whatever
do for her matter OF course. but
most of them respond sincerely 10 kindness. ana
We keep up with them and give them counsel when
they ask for it. even though they have found
homes as far away as Texas-even though they are
married.
ION. of our girls came to the Home the other
day and was married there. She said she wanted
10 be married from the first home she had known
In this country. and wanted her husband 10 see and
meet us. She is doing well. and has much In her
that is strong and good.
How many girls and women have you shetereo
since the Home opened?'
I'VE have cared for thousands. Sometimes me
house Is filed. and then again We have only a rev
two steamers are coming in tomorrow win 'W
immigrants on board. and we snail very prooaoS
Are there other missionaries at work here, IN
other denominations INQUIRED me rePo, us ac,,v.
workers. The various desks you see around tne
belong to he different churches ana bavs
temporary Immigrant home az No. ~ MooIe-st
Mr. shusk is in charge q M TSey ess
for only Catholic girls and women me ,sn,css o, ,b.
Methodist Church. do you confne yourself TO de-
nominational, work? ,o.a ,,o.a vno ara q,
need-whether they are Methodst, Catholics s,S or
Of sp they Ss
How is your Home supported by voluntary
mo The Woman's Board of Missions keeps Il
takes ABOUT o ysar ovs ana I'm noy sni1d yoa
though. comparatively there are few mmigrants
here to-day. But the Board Room OF Inquiry will
interest you: there IS always something going on
there" ~
Down In the boardroom woman, mddle-age
and black -robed standing In front OF the In.
ouiry desk within the railing. assuring the potent
grave and reverend sgniors who constitute the In
Guiry Board that her husband would not become .
public charge. even though he was already blind
In one eye and cataract was growing rapidly
the other.
The poor fellow stood by her while she spoke
for him and 1t was a pathetic sight-the eager
and earnestness. Swallowed now and then by
a momentary fear that perhaps she was pleading
In vain for the sghtess. dependent figure that
chung pitifully to the railing.
A stout strong young fellow. OF twenty-five or
thirty n nephew Of the blind man. who had
landed only that morning was also exhibited in
evidence that the uncle would not become pau