The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-06-07
NOBLE RESCUE WORK
Keeping and Redeeming Girls
From Lives of Shame.
The Rescue Circle Of Raleigh and the Grand
Work That its Noble Members are
Doing.

i lC lOJOMl ms NAAkGCA ~ q AAACiAADNA
of the Rescue Circle of Raleigh and sent
us for publication, tells of a noble work
being done here by noble womanhood.
1t is worthy of being read and Of being
earnestly considered.
1t is with much pleasure and gratifca-
ton we report that during the past year
the Rescue Circle has returned to the
Order OF the Kings Daughters, and is
again numbered among the North Caro-
lima circles.
The object we have in view, as is well
known to many of you, is rescuing re-
pentent fallen women from lives of shame
and saving from such life girls whose
position and circumstances render them
liable 60 be led into danger.
In making up the record of the year,
we find that the work has gone on regu-
larly, even in the summer, for although
some of the members were absent, those
remaining here found work 20 be done.
The forces of evil against which we
strive know no time nor season. AS
usual we have had both encouragement
and encouragement, both failure and sue
cesses, some of those with whom we have
labored earnestly have refused all offers
OF help; others who have seemed to begin
better life, have relapsed into evil, some
for whom all arrangements were made,
and who were to be placed amid pure
surroundings leaving all the old life be-
bind have faltered on the very thresh-
hold, and gone back to lives of sin. Such
cases we must expect, each year makes
up the sad record, but they are far more
than counterbalanced by the list of those
saved from the wrecks of womanhood
(which are daily going down into hope
less graves, friendless and forsaken by
all except the few faithful ones who are
willing to go down into the depths, and
extend to these fallen, erring sisters a
helping hand.
We have expended in this work dur
ing the past year about $500 Seventy
ive) dollars, part of this being donations
to use In specified cases. Perhaps a short
description of some of tie cases brought
to US may be Of interest.
Among these was a young girl dying Of
consumption far from home and friends
Lured away from her home in another
State, which had been made unpleasant
to her by her fathers second marriage,
she had drifted from place to place, sink
ing lower and lower till at last money
and health both gone, she was thrust out
of den of shame in-this city, to find
refuge in low brothel kept by a negro
Here she was found, removed to a re
spectacle boarding place until her family
could be communicated with and was then
sent to her friends to spend her remain
ing days in peace.
Only a few months elapsed, and the
weary storm-tossed soul had entered into
rest. Repentant for the sinful past, trust
ing in Him, who said, to just such as she
Neither do ! condemn thee. Go and
sin no more
Our pleasantest and in all respects most
satisfactory work is The branch known as
preventive work That is saving children
and young girls who would in their pres
ent circumstances be lost.
One interesting case OF this is girl
about twelve years of age born IN SIN
and reared in shame. Her inhuman moth
er driven from another town through fear
of arrest, piled her vile trade in this city,
while her children lived out of doors half
clad and almost starved Some neighpors
seeing their helpless plight, took the two
boys, and found homes for them, and the
other place that would receive the repul-
sive creature we We're compelled to place
her in the county home for short time,
while we corresponded through our ever
faithful and untiring Corresponding Sec
rotary with, Industrial Homes both North
and South After a few weeks. all ar
rangements were made, and she was sent
to Alexandria, Va, where she will be
taught and trained we trust into a self
respecting womanhood. Even a few weeks
of cleanliness, purity and kindness had
wrought a great change, and the bright
faced neatly dressed little girl, who start
ed her journey was a striking contrast to
the hopeless, repulsive little outcast, more
animal than human, who was first brought
to US. But of all the years work, there
has been none more cheering and encour-
aging US to still more faithful and per-
sistent effort than communication with
those we have aided in the past, showing
that this Labor was not in vain, in the
Lord" One of them is a young woman
who several years ago was betrayed by
one who afterwards refused to marry her.
Her entire life. except this one grievous
error, has been pure, but still this hand
OF shame has followed her wherever she
has tried to obtain honest work-some-
times she has been on the verge of de
spair, but a faithful member of the Circle
has cheered and led her on-and through
her efforts mainly the girl has at last Her
hearts desire, and is preparing in a train
ing school in another State to become
hospital nurse.
Another girl, one of three beautiful
sisters, motherless and unprotected, living
in one of the lowest quarters Of the city,
was found by member of this Circle
ten years ago and sent to an orphanage in
another town. She was soon after placed
in a good family as servant. For ten
years she has lived with members Of this
family, as nurse or house servant, receiv-
ing unusual kindness The faithful
Christian woman who first took her has
gone to her reward in a better world. and
the girl who is now about nineteen years