The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-24
THE WHITE ROSE MISSION.
AN INSTITUTION FOR NEGRO MOTHERS
AND CHILDREN.
A Phiianthropio Movement TO Stimulate
the Negroes to Do the Best That IL In
Them-Juvenile Clubs Formed and In-
structions Given In Various Subjects.

Up In East Ninety seventh street there is a
mission that is little known 10 most New York
citizens, and it consists Of four small rooms on
the first floor Of tenement house and two ad
dtional rooms on the second floor. The mission is
known as the White Rose Mission, and Is especially
designed TO benefit negro mothers and their chill
dren- It's work is supcrintended by Mrs Victoria
Earle Matthews, Of S63 East Thirty fifth street,
Vanderveer Park, Brooklyn. She finds time to
make the long trip from Brooklyn TO Harlem every
day in the year no matter what the conditions Of
the weather are.
Some time ago Mrs Matthews decided that
the Afro Americans were In need Of the same sort
Of societies and missions that the Caucasians Of
every nationality in the city have. She exam
ined into the work Of tho Jewish trade schools
the German Housewives Society, and other phlan-
thropic institutions and then rented the ground
floor apartments in the tenement at 234 East
Ninety seventh street. She found that the rent
the wages Of matron. and the cost Of light and
fuel would amount TO about $3.50 a year and Mrs
Coils p Huntington promised to give this amount
every year. This made the scheme success,
but Mrs. Matthews was not satisfied. She went
to Mrs Morris X. Jesup and that lady promised
TO give sl4 month to pay for another room. So
did Mrs Lucy s. cambridge, the Superintendent
OF the Woman's Branch Of the New York City
Mission and Tract Society. The work Of fitting
up the rooms was then begun. Nothing fancy
was attempted. but the walls are covered with
pictures Of famous persons in the negro race, and
books telling Of their accomplishments and sue
ceases are TO be found on the tables. A stock Of
kitchen utensils and some sewing machines were
also bought, and Mrs A. NJ. Brooks was gagged
matron
Glasses were next formed, and now the mission
is conducting classes in kindergarten work,
.l.-l~s ID,
meetings lectures to young people on the laws OF
hygiene and health. Devotional exercises are
held regularly. A girls club and a boys club
were also started and regular officers were elected
THE Sun reporter had the pleasure of attending
the girls club regular meeting one day last week
None Of the members was over six years old yet
the twenty little girls in the room thoroughly
joyed themselves. Mira Matthews was on hand to
prompt them Hymns were sung, the minutes OF
the previous meeting was read. chapter from the
Bible was read by the president speech was made
by Mr. Matthews. and various other exercises were
gone through TO the great edihcaton Of the little
ones
The cooking classes meet every day and in the
scrupulousy clean kitchen the young girls and
the older ones, too, have a chance to learn how to
cook everyday meals Mrs Matthews does not
have Mrs Brooks teach them any fancy cooking
The dishes that selected are such as the aver
age workman wants 10 find on his table when he
comes home after a hard days toll. The food that
is so prepared is sold 10 the families by at low
prices and in some cases Is given away
The sewing classes are run ON the same principle
Only the plain sewing that the girls will need in
after life is taken up. Each pupil works on some
article of clothing for herself and Mrs, Matthews
personally takes charge Of this department which
meets twice week. SO much good has already
been accomplished that Mrs Matthews and her
helpers have become more ambitious and are think
ing OF enlarging the work.
Plans are now being devised for the for
nation of building fund by means Of which
a House Of Rest may be erected for the colured
working girls in this city. Many of them have
no proper family influence homes here and
they must shift for themselves A building fund
has already been started and one third OF all
the money that is made by the mission goes into
it Voluntary contributions are being solicited,
and Mrs. Matthews, Mrs cambridge and Mrs
Lydia Hitler Of So East Seventy ninth street
are the persons authorized TO collect the money.
The chief idea Of the House Of Rest in 10 have
place where worthy colorcd working girls and
women may be able 10 secure lodging for some
sue small sum as six or eight cents night A
simple but wholesome morning OF evening meal
will be provided for similar sum. instruction
x,
laundry work. as TO the way TO set table and 10
serve meal in system OF general housework.
Hints as to personal manners and dress are among
the things that will be considered in free classes
II enough money is raised other features will
be added-baths a gymnasium, class rooms.
reading rooms perors for the entertainment
Of friends, medical advisory department and
general assembly room for public meetings
and entertainments
The promoters Of this plan think. in view of
the fact that SO much money is spent every year
in charities in this city that the small amount
comparatively, that is needed should be easily
raised The colored race has not shared. as
yet, they believe, equally in the benefits Of the
large amount Of money that is devoted TO charity
in this city, and such mission building as is
contemplated would make the negroes more use
full " themselves as well as TO the general COM
munity. That il is needed will be admitted by
any after Ave minutes talk with Mrs.
Matthews.
why" she said to the Sun reporter you will
think this incredible; but have proved to the Po-
lice Department that there is a regular society in
this city tina makes business Of bringing colorcd
girls irony the South 10 this city to put them at
work in disreputable places. Their agents show
TO girl in the South card and offer 10 bring her
10 New York and get her situation a cook or a
maid without expense TO the girl, provided that
she sign this card. which reads to the effect that
the girl will pay out Of her wages from the first
situation the society gets for her the money II cost
to bring her TO this city, and little beside
This to be fair 10 the girl that she will in
variably sign the card and will then be brought to
this city She will be placed in low cafe on the
East Side as a servant, or in some worse place in
the Tenderoin. as people OF that class like coored
When the girls Pyea nnened IN