The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-02-21

Inc Seconu session OF the lbtn annual
convention OF the Rhode Island Christian
Endeavor opened at lO:l5 o'clock this
morning i'm the audience room OF the
Benefcent Congregational church, with
good-sized congregation in attendance.
The session was preceded by a Quiet
Hour Service" from 9:15 to 9:45 conducted
by Rev. r. f. Hollenbeck of New York.
after which an intermission was held for
the purpose of registration and greet
ing.
The session proper opened with a SER
vice OF song led by Mr.. Jacobs, after
which a devotional service was conducted
by Rev. G.. f.. Cate. pastor of the Roger
Williams Free Baptist church of this
city.
Following the devotional service shorl
talks on Missionary Opportunities i'm
this state" We're given as follows:
Among the Prisoners by Rev. b. IT.
Livingstone, pastor of Jefferson Street
Baptist church of this city.
Among the Street Roys," by Mr..
Percy l.. Smith, president of the Boys
club of Providence.
Among the Settlement Districts. as
Reached through the Day Nurseries,"
by Miss Ellen A. c. Hunt, house mother
of the Hope Day Nursery" at 167 Chest
nut street
Among the Sick Babies as Reached
Through the Summer Fresh Air Work"
by Miss Elizabeth Olney, secretary OF
Humane society i'm Providence and its
environs.
AMONG THE PRISONERS.
Mr.. Livingstone, I'm dwelling briefly upon
missionary work among the prisoners.
said that this unorganized department
of Christian service had gradually en-
larged itself so that in 1898 100 prisoners
were enrolled i'm Christian Endeavor
societies i'm many states of the Union.
Some of these had done excellent mis-
sionary work, he said.
Christian Endeavor among these out
casts, the speaker believed. had passed
the experimental stage years ago. but OF
700 members OF the Christian tEndeavor
society In the New York state prison at
Albany only three had been returned,
he said.
Mr. Livingstone dwelt at some length
upon this work in a general way, urging
its furtherance in this state
WHO ARE THE PRISONERS?
Mr.. Percy l.. Smith followed Mr. Liv-
ingstone in a talk OF the opportunities
OF street boys. who are the prisoners?"
he said.
More than 30 per cent OF the prisoners
of the land are graduates OF the reform
school and the reform school boys are
mainly the street boys.
Now, who are the street boys? Few
know, but most persons believe they are
the ncwsboys and the bootbacks, but
this is not so. The worst boy is the idle
boy.
II the Christian Endeavorers' societies
would work among the street boys, IL they
would call OF the Boys club, ] could give
them opportunities TO work among these
boys for n year.
IA tad hat Of
those street boys I'm Providence. Last
night at our club we had an attendance
of 200 of ages ranging from TO 20
"The Boys club stands between the
boy and the state institutions many
times. and " the Christian people OF this
city could reach these boys first the re-
form school could be escaped In most
instances and the boy saved.
"In all my experience | have yet 10
reach ten per cent OF boys who have
graduated from the reform school. re-
formed-or in other words 90 per cent go
on I'm criminal life while I am told by
the probation officer that not more than
ten per cent OF the boys that have been
put on probation I'm Providence have ever
been returned 90 the courts.
In closing. Mr.. Smith told specifically
of the work which Is being done for tho
good Of the street boys al the Boys club. !
HOPE DAY NURSERY.
Miss Hunt Of the Hope Day nursery fol- |
lowed and told of the excellent work OF |
that institution, which Is familiar TO most |
persons. She tod. moreover what u
being done for the mothers Of the little |
ones 81 the nursery. in Frightening their |
homes and hettering their condition The |
Sunshine Work was also referred 60. /
as well as tn lessons iR morals industry /
and thrift. which are there engendercd In /
the heart and lives of the little ones.
Miss Olnoy was the next speak r. telling 1
about the sick babies and the fresh air |
work IN this connection she told " this i
work IN other states and fnstanced. IN /
this state. the excellent WORK which was 4
done at ButtonwOOds last summer under |