The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-02-12
ANNUAL MEETING
OF the Bethesda Door OF Hope-The
Secretary's Report

da Door of Hope recently held at the
| Home, No. II Warren street, the secre-
tarys report, read at that time, was in
part as follows:
1t is with hearts full of gratitude to
those who have helped us to carry on
for another year this rescue work for
girls that we present this, the second
annual report of the Bethesda Door of
Hope. 1t is now but little more than
| two years since this work in organized
form was first entered upon, and the
ladies who have had its interests most
at heart, and who have given most
largely of their time and thought to
further the work feel that they have
great reason for encouragement, and
that they are surely justified in going
forward, trusting to a renewal of help
from old friends, as we'll as to fresh aid
| from those newly interested.
For a year and half now the Be-
thesda Door of Hope has found most
comfortable and convenient home at
| No. II Warren street. AS was stated
last year, it is greatly desired that we
should own this house; the location is
most suitable to the work, and it would
be great satisfaction to feel that the
work had a home of it's very one; and
| the board Of managers still trusting
that friends will be provided, who will
| find it a pleasure to make it possible
for them to purchase this property
| Seventeen young women have been
| sheltered in this home during the past
| year. OF this number the majority
have remained with us several weeks;
a few have made the Door of Hope
| their home for some months. OF these
| at least three are now in honorable po-
| sitions as house-workers in homes out
side. At present there are four young
women in the family; the average
number at one time has been four, the
greatest five, this being all the house
will accommodate comfortably.
| The matrons, who come in direct
contact with these GIRLS, feel that they
have much cause for encouragement in
their personal work with them, some
| of them showing an honest intention
of living dierent lives. If only one
such is turned to a right way of living
/
the thought and money expended?
And in this connection the board of
managers wish to express their salts
lection at the personal work done in
the Home by the ladies in charge.
These positions are most difficult to
fill--requiring the greatest self-denial,
patience and God-given grace, and it is
| certainly a cause for thankfulness
that these consecrated women have
/ been sent to us. The home life of the
girls who have been with us has been
frightened and made of further help to
them through the generous aid of
friends of the work; one lady has
throughout the year given up one af-
ternoon of each week to us, coming to
the Home and giving Bible talk to
the girls. Other friends have helped
by leading in an hours singing, which
the girls always enjoy
The amount of money expended for
this work during the past year is $685.
81. OF this sum $113.71 has been re-
ceived of the girls for board $59166
has been given us by individuals, and
$232.24 by church societies, Christian
Endeavor societies or Kings Daugh-
ters' circles. And the ladies wish to
thank all these circles for their ready
and generous response to any call for
help. In several cases the ladies' So
cieties have pledged one months rent;
and it is the desire Of the board that
each Of twelve church organizations
might be responsible for one month s
rent. This would relieve the treasurer
of much anxiety as to meeting the
bills, and would make it comparatively
easy to pay the other expenses of the
Home
Up to this time there has been nc
systematic solicitation for help, and il
is the hope Of those in charge that the
work, as it becomes better known, will
make new friends unto itself, who will
be glad to do something to help the
girls and women for whom this Door OF
Hope is opened and sustained, to re-
gain their lost womanhood and to be-
come helpful members of our commu.
nity-helpful, in that it will be in Their
power to do more to turn others OF
their own class to the right way OF
living than any one else could do.
In addition to this rescue work tn,
ladies feel that there should be done Ii
New Haven more of the preventive
work-a work such as is carried on In
many Of our cities in connection with
the Young Women's Christian associa
tions. These associations employ 6
suitable person to be in attendance al
the railroad station and care for any
young girls who may be In need Of
help; young girls who perhaps have
been given unsuitable addresses, OF
who are without any knowledge of the
city they have entered as strangers
and who are In danger of seeking helr
from those who would not advise fol
the girls welfare. All such cases ant
many others are befriended by this
woman in charge, and no one can tel
how many young girls are thus pre-.
vented from going to ruin. If work
similar to this might be done in oul
city the Bethesda Door of Hope feel:
that the need for their work would bt
lessened and that great good would b.
done.
CATHOLIC SUMMER SCHOOL.