Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-07-08
THE SOJOURNERS HOME
A Practical Charity Begins Its Far-Reach-
ing Work.
The Addresses Delivered Last Night
Has Done Good Already.

| the dedicatlOn last evening or the So1ourn-
ers' Home No. 1924 10th street north
west, for their kindness in sending one of
their representatives to the meeting that
Is being held here tonight. 1t shows that
| The Star Is always on the alert to develop
what is intended to lift the people UP, and
to me it is especially gratifying that now.
when the attention of almost our entire
| population is taken up with the great
Christian Endeavor convention. The Star
| should remember this infant Institution and
| make its proposed benefits known"
| These remarks were Saade by Mr.. Lam
| kins in the course of =. eloquent and earnest
| address in the presence of a gathering
| Hhich comprised some of the foremost of
| the local humanitarians Of the colored race
| ard were heartily Endorsed by all who
heard them.
The Star last week published an account
| OF the opening of the doors of the So1ourn-
! ers' Home to the poor women who make
| their living at service in families and when
! their days work is done have in many In
stances been compelled to seek rest In an
uncomfortable room in some alley, many
times as much as a mile away from their
| place of employment but the building was
| not formally consecrated until, stated
last evening.
The interchangeable president of the insti-
tuition, Miss Matte r. Bowen, had within
| the past few days sent invitations to all
| the colored ministers of the city TO attend
| ception of Mr.. Lamkins and Rev. ID. f.
| Hisema.- of the Lutheran Church, Sth
street above Florida avenue, were so much
occupied with preparations for the enter
| tainment Of visiting Christian Endeavorers
that it was impossible for any of them TO
| be present, and it was only at much diff
| Guilty, on account of pressure of other
church duties, that Messrs. LamkinS and
| Wiseman were able to do SO.
The Addresses.
/ bv
| but was an eloquent presentation of the
| facts which led Miss Bowen, Mrs. Rosetta
| Lawson and other Christian women to
| found the "Sojourners' Home" and he pre-
| dicted that from the institution there
| would go out an influence for good that
| could not at this time even be estimated
| In concluding his remarks, Mr. Lamkins
| assured the president and managers OF the
home that they could command his services
| at any time and II would afford him the
greatest pleasure to obey.
| Miss Matte r. Bowen, as president OF the
| home, replied to Mr.. Lamkins' address,
! She thanked him for his words of encour-
agement, and outlined what the promoters
| of the home expected to accomplish. AL
| ready, she said, the institution had been
| the means of doing good. The notice of
| the opening of its doors, which was pup
! !ished in The Star few days ago, was
| read far and wide, and had caused many
people to talk about 1t and 10 express
| their sympathes for the home; In some
| instances in truly practical way.
Rev Mr.. Wiseman made the iInal ADDRESS
| of the evening. and, in part, said that the
| cpe ming of the home was in line with what
| the colored ministers Of Washington have
! felt for a long time was needed here, ana
| which has been much discussed IN thelr
| public and private meetings. Some of Their
abest men had, he said, written articles
! on the subject and others had consulted
| with their leading members TO put the ma
| chinery for such a place in motion, but ii
| inc !. "A
! Mrs. Brooks, Mrs. Hill. Mrs. Ellis, Mrs.
| Crumme!l and a few other good women TO
get matters into practical shape, and to start
| the institution. Similarly to Mr.. Lamkins,
! Mr. Wseman predicted that the establish
| ment of the Sojourners' Home would he
| productive of much good. and, like the
| former, he informed the lady managers and
| their president that he would be only too
| glad to serve them in aid of the enterprise
| whenever they should see proper to call up
on him.
One Case.
In conversation with a Star reporter, Miss
| Bowen last evening told how the Sojourn-
| ers' Home was the means of saving poor
| colored woman from going to the work
house. "The only offense of the woman
| whose name Sarah Wilson, was said
| Miss Bowen, that, unable to pay her rent,
| she was elected by her landlord from her
| humble lodgings, and for three days had sat,
| with her few articles of housekeeping, in
| the alley into which they were thrown, hav-
| ing place to go.
IAN officer came along, saw her sitting
| there and arrested her on the charge of
vagrancy. The woman was taken TO the
| Police Court and arraigned before Judge
| kimball, to whom the circumstances were
explained, and who at once took a most
| kindly interest in the case.
1T seemed as though there was no way
| to keep the woman from the work house,
| and to be separated from her eight-year-
| old boy, to whom she was devotedly at
4 1acnifn har NIB h..
| thought occurred to Judge Kimball that he
| had read in The Star something about
Sojourners' Home for colored people
| and he sent word to Messrs' f. NJ Hew-
| lett and NJ. NJ Holland to come to the
court and tell him something about the
| institution.
THE two lawyers did SO and after they
| had told him what they knew about the
| myself, the Judge meanwhile putting the
| case over until today to give us a chance
to do something for the woman and her
boy.
Mrs. Lawson and I called on the Judge
| and explained the objects Of our home.
| and also said that did not think il ad-
visable to take the mother and her child
| there. because 1t was not intended for
| children, but that we would try to get
| some money and put her back in rooms
| In the same neighborhood she had been
| living.
| Judge Kimball at once said he would
| Contribute toward our purpose. We found
| upon inquiry that the woman has an ex-
| cellent character, but that loss of work
| mad brought her into her present hard
condition, and after some further inquiry
| we succeeded In getting her place to live
| In house In the same locality from which
she was elected a few days ago
| Thus 1t will be seen that we have
! already been able to accomplish good
which we had not up to yesterday expect
| ed, ana We have great hopes that We will
be able to extend our benaticent work In
| many directions
Rev. Louis Albert Banks, DID,.