The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-02-03
FIRST ANNUAL MEETING.


On Friday, January 30, the Bethesda
Door of Hope held it's first annual
meeting, at which time reports were
heard from the officers of the manag
ing board This new organization for
helping fallen women would seem to
have been doing successful work
along it's own lines, with a very small
outlay of money, the treasurers report
showing that the expense of carrying
on the work for the entire year has
been but $S14 54-the receipts having
been $77S.35.
This of course does not include the
very many donations from friends of
household supplies of every deScrip-
ton.
The secretary's report is, in part, as
follows;
EARLY in May, 1896, the house No. IL
Warren street was secured for our use,
and the Bethesda Door of Hope took
possession of it at once, and has found
it to be a comfortable and convenient
home, we'll suited to the needs of the
work, 1t is the hope of the board that
at some time in the future, through the
help of generous friends, it may be in
their power to become owners of the
house. On Sunday, June s, a simple
dedicatory service was held at the new
home. at which several of the city pas
| tors made remarks, expressing their
sympathy with the work and the hope
| that it might be productive of great
good. Miss Barker and Miss Chilcott
have continued their services as mat
| rons of the home, and have shown
| themselves untirng in energy and in
| the performance of the duties devolv-
| ing upon them, as well as skillful in
the use of the very small funds COM
mitted to them for household purposes
They are consecrated women, doing
their work, without money remunera-
ton, as unto the Lord
Assisting them in their work we
have in the home Miss Scott, who has
divided her time between the Door of
Hope and the City Missionary society
Her presence is very helpful to us, al
ways bright and CHEEKY, loved by the
girls, and leader in their singing
Seventeen young girls have been
| sheltered in the Door of Hope during
! the year, remaining from one night to
| several months.
Some few weeks since one of our
natrons signified her willingness, ii 1t
| should be thought best. to give a re-
| port of the work at week-night service
in the various churches of the city.
She has already given several of these
| talks, from one of which we quote:
Nearly all nationalities have been
represented among those we have tried
to help-German Irish, colored, Italian
and American They are brought to us
by workers who are out in rescue work
visiting the JAIL the almshouse and the
Sums Several of our girls have been
taken from the street and brought to
the home. the thought of the work be-
ing to protect and care for those girls
who are not generally cared for. They
have been taken in, regardless of creed
ard condition, so long as it has been
felt that they could be really helped
Out of those who have remained with
us for any length of time there are al
least seven whom we believe are living
different lives, most of them giving
every evidence of a change of heart
| The aim of the work is to give these
girls a real Christian home--a home
where every influence shall be SUCH as
to lift them above the effects of the
past. and to direct their thoughts ir
every possible way to better things
There are at present five girls in the
home-all that can be accommodated
with the furnishings now on hand
During the forenoon of each day they
are kept busy with the household du
ties, learning to do their work thor
oughly and well--a lesson much needed
by most of them. In the Afternoon
they are taught plain sewing. A elias:
in the common school branches has
also recently been started, and it i:
hoped soon to form class in calls
themes
Among events of the year worth,
of special notice is the reception hell
on the afternoon of June IL under thu
auspices of the w. c. 7. u, at which
time the Christian Endeavor societies
of the Calvary Baptist and Dwigh
Place churches rendered us donations
of household necessities and dainties
which were all welcome and most time
w. And Just here we should like t.
express our thanks for the very gener
Gus manner in which so many friends
have met our needs, sending gifts o
furnishings for our new rooms, as wei
as gifts of money and table necessi
ties
IN closing this, our first years work
we wish to thank all those who hav
SO literally contributed in any way t.
aid us-the various circles of King
Daughters in town, who have from tn
beginning of our work shown an inter
est and have helped us in many ways
the daily papers of the city, which
have gratuitously published any no
tees we from time to time have sen
them: and DR. Adelaide Lambert, WIFI
has so freely given her services when
ever required. The cases of illness il
the family have not been frequent, bu
in each emergency DR.. Lambert ha
been most prompt and kind.
1--WE look forward TO the new yea
with courage, confident that the worl
is a needed one, and having faith tina
the means for carrying it on will b.
furnished in sufficient measure"