The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-02-14

One of the leading charity workers in
/ the slums of New York is Sister Agnes
I known TO the world as Miss Agnes
! Briggs. To look at her one would never
/ think her capable of doing the enormous
amount OF labor which she accom-
plishes- She is dainty. sweet-faced
little woman. so young looking that ono
would imagine her still in her teens
[ with deep blue eyes curling brown hair
allu q c3npIexlon ike milk and roses.
I Inc daughter OF Rev. DR.. Charles BRIGGS
OF Presbyterian fame a highly educafed
woman, and q social belle she gave mr.,
Ins world and entered the Grace church
schooi Tor deacOnesses- After a ty-o-
years training in this school she beqan
ner ne work in earnest.
mat was something ike two wears
seSoo, l3 Quay she IS az the head of the
schooi Tor cho-ister boys. attached TO
grace church. IS one of the most earnest
MOlAeIs IN the Sums. superintends the
SSeMl.ls class Tor women and children
saturday mornings. has charge of the
I continuation class, and is one of the
corps of deaconesses who decorate and
Keep IN order the numerous affairs and
V4 4IieS u grace church anu its chapels.
r, W hen asked about her work Miss
Briggs IS reticent of her own personal
enOrts. but only too anxious to talk of
the Deaconess school and order
Yes, she said. although | am a coI
Iege graduate and am considered quite
Il HISulSt. Tor You know 4 have Travelled
much abroad, l took the two years course
IN the school You see we are taught so
many practical useful things. We are
instructed in cooking. sewing nursing
besides studying the Bible. and many
other branches particularly useful to u
tedcher- In some Instances an aDpli-
cant IS allowed 10 take a special course
but that IS only done under an order
from the bishop I took the full course
because believed it would make me
more competent for the work
Dld l become a deacOness because
was tired Of the world? She has a little
trick OF repeating Questions as though
she wished TO make sure OF ones fun
meaning Just here she smiled and shook
her head. Not because 1 was tired of
the world. but because I had Just begun
10 love H. That question has never been
asked me in just that way before but
| am sure only love for the world would
make woman wish to become q dea-
coness- am very much attached to my
school. always having been all-fond OF
children | also ike my work among tle
poor of the Sums. for no one. unless
they have been there could ever realize
the good TO be done. especially among
the newly arrived immigrants. They
are 50 helpless and so grateful. I some
times wish the politicians and men who
control the emigration laws of this cOun-
try could make the rounds with me. I
think they would change their minds
as 10 the wisdom of their present policy.
1t is so hard TO set anything that these
people can do. OF course some Of them
are skilled workmen and can find sufi-
cient employment to keep treTn alive
But for the ayera ge immigrant il is al
most impossible 20 get them work. con-
uuently they become entirely dependent
on charity. and their suffering. especially
among the women and children; IS very
pitiable- OF course my knowledge Of
languages is great help to me in this
branch of my duties and nerhaps Il is
because can understand their speech
that 7 appreciate their sufferings-
Would | advise other women to take
W the work and become deacOnesses2
Here she shook her head again. Not
unless they We're in earnest. and eX-
pected to make it a life work. You know
we are not compelled by any vows to re-
main in the order. The vows we take on
entering are about the same as those
taken on joining the church There is no
pledge about poverty. ceiibacy. nor re-
garding the length of tine We must
stay. 1 could leave the order tomorrow
If 7 wished but I am fond of my wOri--
and expect TO continue it as long as 1
live EMILY M'LAWS.