The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-06-02
RESCUE WORK HIS SUBJECT.
Rev. j. A. Smith on the Need of the
Florence CrfttentOn Home.

Florence CrfttentOn Home.
Rev. ]. A. Smith, pastor of Epworth
Methodist Church, preached an inter-
esting sermon last night. dealing chiefly
with the proposed Florence Crittenton
Mission Home for rescue work. Rev.
Mr.. Smith said in part:
There is no shipwreck, no confa-
grafton, no railroad tragedy, no public
catastrophe that can be compared to
the sad, dismal wreck of a human
life. There is no spectacle this side
of eternity so awful as a young wo-
man, deceived, abandoned, destroyed
by vice and cast up a, wreck upon
the shores of time.
For a time she drifts as a derelict
"a constant menace to the safety and
welfare of others. The power of re-
straint having long since departed
with no power to control the helm,
she drifts with the tide-a victim to
every hellish, depraved temptation, I'M
til every holy, generous impulse dis
appears-and she stands before God
blasted thing, useless to herself and
disgrace to all who claim her as their
own. No tragedy in human life is
equal to this.
And yet there was a time when
this soul was as pure as the snow
before she fell, like a snowflake from
heaven to hell If in the hour of NOR
tification shame and despair, there
could have come to her relief the hand
of sympathy, the heart of love, she
might have been snatched as a brand
from the eternal burning. Too often
at this crucial period the eye becomes
stern, the look harsh, the hand cold,
and the heart turns to stone.
How unequal are the ways of the
world A man may fall-descend to
the lowest depths of degradation-and
yet after a time regain his place
among his fellows. But how different
with the woman who takes the first
wrong step-there are far more hands
to push her down than to
lift her up. Forgetful are
they that certain crowd
could not stand the presence of Christ
and were not present to accuse when
Jesus said, Woman, where are thine
accusers?' Go and sin no more
Says an eloquent writer whom
cannot forbear quoting, The great
things of this world have been accom-
plished by individuals. Vast social
reformations have originated in indi-
vidual souls. No warlike host deliver
ed the children of Israel from the bond
age of Egypt, but one man--Moses. NO
learned society discovered America,
but one man-Columbus. Think now
philanthropist like Howard has set the
world on a new track in the line of
penal and reformatory institutions.
And so in the providence of God,
Charles N. Crittenton has been raised
up to established and foster the rescue
work for fallen girls. Here and yonder
there have been a few homes of this
Il 10, rIN
gether too small to meet the de-
mands of this work. We have hospi-
tails for the sick-orphan homes for the
orphan-SanitariumS for the drunkard
-reformatories for the unmanageable
but alas, few open doors for the
weak, tempted, fallen woman.
Mr.. Crittenton's experience as a
business man and as an evangelist have
taught him the absolute necessity of
assisting those who are unfortunate;
in answering the prayer Lead us not
into temptation, but deliver us from
evil In his work he has seen thou
sands of human wrecks. This he says
has led him not only to be a soul saver
but a life saver, Already he has
opened over siXty-five saving stations
III the United States.
"Those who man these stations are
supposed to be ever on the alert-ever
looking out over the troubled waters
OF life. The first sign Of distress is
the signal for immediate action. TO
the rescue is the cry. This is the
work that will rob the angry deep of
its victim. Quick, loving, earnest en-
deavor and there need be no wreck.
MANY given over to despair drift
ing to their doom, have been saved
and conducted to a port of safety
Savannah ought to rejoice that the
day is not far distant when one of
these stations is to be opened here
Such a work ought to commend itself
to every father and mother We ought
to see to it that in size, equipment,
etc, it lacks for nothing. Here is an
opportunity for those who have been
blessed with this worlds goods to
save a soul and cover a multitude of
sins
Twill the work abide-are girls real
ly saved, is abundantly answered in
the annual report of a large home
where only eight per cent. of the in
mates went back to their former lives
Here is an institution much more to
be discussed than the Carnegie Lii
brary. Love never faileth, but wheth-
er there be prophecies, they shall fail;
whether there be tongues, they shall
cease; whether there be knowledge it
shall vanish away"
RIECTEIBrInN a