The times., 1897-05-04
Friends of Destitute Girls Before
the Charity Committee.
APPEALS THAT WILL BE NET
Charitable Women Detail the Work
in the Institutions Under Their
Direct!on-Sist Love Motor
to Guide ErriBg Women Back
From Wayward Life.

room. yesterday afternoon. Charitable
work for young women was the special
subject TO which the session was devoted.
The direction which the discussion was to
take was set forth in the following topics,
as set forth in the schedule: Temporary
homes for young women; the need of sew
eral institutions; the work OF the House
of the Good Shepherd; how far this work
should be maintained by the pubic; and
If there is duplication in the work.
TIE hearing was conducted by Senators
Mcmillan and Faulkner and Representative
Northway of the committee.
1t began about 2:1o O'Clock and there
were present about twenty persons, repie-
seuting the following institutions:
The Woman's Christian Association, the
Woman's Christian Home, the Association
of Works of Mercy, the Hope and Heip Mis-
sion, the House of the Good Shepherd and
the Home for Friendless Colored Girls
Especially favorable impressions seemed
to have been made upon the committee by
the reports of the Hope and Help Mission
and the Home for FriendlesS Colored Girls.
The meGbers inquired specifically into the
work OF these institutions and upon dis
missing heJepresentatives remarked that
the reports they brought showed good work
done and was evidence of the need Of fur
ther Governmental assistance.
When the officers OF the Home for
FriendleSs Colored Girls expauated Oh the
large field 10 be covered by the Institution
and the small means at its command, the
Committee evineed particular interest, in-
stFucted the officers how to proceed to
secure tie needed money and gave them
assurance ef TIE committee's assistance
when the matter hall come up To be
voted upon.
The first institution heard when the
committee convened was the Womau's
Christian Association of Thirteenth street,
represented by Mrs. w T. Cliff and Mis-.
NJ E Freeman They said the home was
the first institution of the kind in the Dis
trict. 1t was founded in 1869. In
1870 it was Incorporated 1t is often
confoanded with the Y. NJ c. A, bat
Is an entirely different org ganization-
Several classes of women are benefited
by the home. Old women who have no
homes OF their own are given permanent
shelter. Some are given Temporary hornes
after being in hospitals. Women who come
acre from other cities trying to procure
pensicns Or offices often become stranded,
and these, too. are accommodated Work
ingwouieG whose earnings are not enough
for self support are supplied with board
ana rooms on the payment of nominal board
The institution is strictly non-sectarian.
Ne questions as to religion are asked the
applicants for help.
Restoration Of fallen women is another
part OF the work. There are usually from
eight 60 ten of these women in the home.
Last year 5,Ga2 lodgings were furnished
and G, ,67 4 meals given The home is sup
ported partly by the Government and
partly by private subscription. The an
nual appropris tion is $4,000. About S3.-
600 acCitional is raised by private sub
scription.
Out OF $50 persons who were given hoiO5.s
last year only so were residents Of the
District.
Mrs Gurley and Mrs W w. Herring
appeared for the Young Women's Christian
Home. They reported that the institution
was founded in 1887. For the past four
years the home has received a yearly
appropriation OF 81 900. Other sources
9l income are from private subscription.
The association owns its own building.
i makes an annual report TO the AssG-
.ciated Charities. The girls are received
between the ages Of sixteen and thirty
five, and then there are accommodations
for from thirty-fiye to forty women. En-
ployment is found for inmates who are
capable Of work.
The Association of Works Of Mercy Of
24nS K street, represented by Sisters Doro-
thea and Mary, was the next to present
report The association, they said, is Of
ths Episcopal denomination. The annual
appropriation from the government is
81 500. The annual expenses are So 900.
The association furnishes what is known as
long homes for fallen women; that is, no girl
is received for period less than one year.
They ale eventually found employment:
The report OF the Hope and Help Mission
of 3IS Third street was made by Mrs. Bar
rett and Mrs LaFetra The home, these
ladies said, confines its work wholly to
fallen women. These girls are taken with
out regard I o color, religion or age.
4 special study is made Of each GiTl, with
regard TO the particular failing which caused
her to fall, with the idea of strengthening
her at this point. No means of reformation
are employed other than that OF love. The
girls are told that tits their own home and
are assured Of the love and sympathy Of
the workers. The home accommodated last
year 3e7 girls, the vast majority of whom
were permanently reformed.
Father James T Mackin and Mrs Vance,
reporting for the House of the Good Shep-
herd, corner OF Thirty-sixth and T Streets
were next heard. The House is devoted to
the reclamation of fallen women and also
to caring for girls who are liable to go
astray The body which controls the House
has had eco years experience in this work
and is composed of Christian nurses, who
are specially trained for the work
Congress annually appropriates 2,70o
for the society. The expenses are 81, eco
and are made up by the pay for service
done by the inmates and by private sub
scriptions.
The house is controlled by a board of
directors, composed Of persons of different
denominations. No question of sect IS
asked inmates, but the regular services of
the Catholic Church are carried out. As
soon as the girls are able to work and
show signs Of reformation homes are found
for them. There are at present forty-six
inmates of the house. Girls who enter the
Institution of their own free will may
leave whenever they SO desire. Those
sent by the authorities are confined until
an order for their dismissal is received from
the same source. The Home for Friend
less Colered Girls of Mount Pleasant, rep
resented by Mrs. Sykes and Mrs Caroline
Taylor was next accorded hearing.
The home these ladies reported covers
O field entirely It's own. 1t is devoted
TO the reclamation of colored girls found
xvandcrinc I'm the alleys and hack streets