Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-26
THE HELPING HAN D
PROMINENT WORKERS PARTICI-
PATE IN CONFERENCE.
Influence of Sympathy on Those Who
Are Benefciaries of Florence
Crittenton Movement.

Dig city OF New 1OrK, according 10 tHe
statement of Mrs. Flora NJ. Freeman. su-
perintendent of the Florence Crittenton
Home of the great metropolis. Mrs. Free
man made this assertion this morning in
the Wesley M. E. Church in a paper read
before the delegates to the national con-
ference of the Crittenton missions. in prog
ress In this city. ''Who is Eligible to the
Florence Crittenton Homes was the sub
ject of her paper. and she answered the
question by saying that any of her sisters in
who in trouble welcome and
will be taken into the families of
the homes Be they old or young, we'll
bred ignorant, in the wrong or
merely helpless-let them but say they
are in need of any kind of help or of
sympathy and 1t Is theirs for the asking,
according to those persons who conduct the
institutions
This Is the second day since the confer
ence began its regular sessions in Wesley
Church. corner of 9Th and streets north
west. The meeting this morning opened as
1t did yesterday at 10 o'clock with short
devotional service. This was conducted to-
day by Lawrence Greenwood of Massachu-
setts. Following this brief memorial serv-
Ice for departed workers was held Rev.
Mr.. Deming of Boston, Mass, being in the
chair. Among those who took part were
Mrs. Kate Waller Barrett, general super
intendent of the Crittenton Missions Chas
as well as its founder; Mrs. L. H. yelling
of Trenton, N. j., and s. H. Hadley
Mrs yelling told of the sad death in an
accident Sunday last of Steven Holcomb, a
reporter on the State Gazette of Trenton,
N j.. who for some time had been the chief
support of the Crittenton Home work in
that section. She said he had become inter-
ested in the work at meeting that he was
sent to report and had since raised thou
sand dollars to aid the cause.
The next part of the program included
the reading of several papers of which
Mrs. Freeman's, already referred to- was
one. Those who read or spoke were intro
duced by Mrs. Barrett, who occupied the
chair. Beside bringing out the points mem
tened in the foregoing, Mrs. Freeman
dwelt upon the Importance of the respons-
fbility of motherhood In saving fallen
woman or girl. She said a mother should
be taught that there was great dignity in
fulfilling her duties to her child, whether
the child be legitimate or illegitimate.
The Local Work.
A paper on What the National Associ-
alton Has Done for Local Work was next
read by Mrs 1. H. yelling of Trenton,
n. ]. Much was said in this about the in
spiration and general bond of sympathy en-
joyed through the general organization, but
the Importance of each homes striving to
support itself was emphasized. In a short
talk c. A. LETTERS, treasurer of the Los An
geles (Cal.) home, said that the greatest
X.
There were two musical numbers at the
morning session. Miss Patske sang
prano solo, and distinct touch of good
humor was given to the meeting by James
r. JohnSton-'the only original Johnston,
as his intimate friends call him-who sang,
at Mrs. Barrett's request, little hymn of
his own composition. That 1t was parody
on well-known Sunday school song
rather added to the humor of the occasion.
Mr.. Johnstons hymn was entitled Dare
To Be a Florence Crittentonite." and was
play on the song, Dare To Be Daniel"
the tune of which is popular with Sunday
school singer. The production was en-
tirely without meter, and indeed the au-
thor did not pretend to have been guilty of
putting any in 1t. Its principal feature was
its rhyming, which often did not appear till
the lines were stretched out almost to
breaking. The sincerity of the theme was
also notable.
Mr.. Johnston is not young man. and his
voice this morning in some respects was
wonder. He said he preferred not to have
an accompaniment to his rendition, for fear
he would stick on some note longer than
the accompanist would be able to stay
there. He used to sing 'wobbley," he de-
clared. but had given that up for the
straight" method.
Mr.. Johnston is native of Philadelphia,
but for some time has had charge of the
chapel and night work of the New York
city home. His singing is standing joke.
Lunch was served the delegates again to-
day at the local home. DIS Sd street north
west, after which practical demonstration
OF the work In the homes was given by the
girls.
The afternoon session began shortly after
hGlf-past o'clock. The usual evening ses-
sion will be held in Wesley Church tonight.
The conference it is expected, will come to
close Friday of this week
Letter From the President.
Among the letters that have been received
by Mrs. Barrett is one from President
Roosevelt, saying: E. =.
Il wish you all possible success with your
work i have long felt that there was a
peculiar claim for philanthropic work on
behalf of the very people whom you are
striving to aid. Under our social system
they pay so heavy penalty for wrong
doing. and the road to reform and reha-
bilitation Is made so difficult. that 1 can con-
ceive of no more worthy work than that of
institutions such as the one under your
management"
practical demonstration of ward. nur-
sery, dining room, cooking and bed room
work, such as was given in the Florence
Crittenton Home, at 21S Sd street north
west, yesterday afternoon, was repeated
today at the same time-between 80 and
80 p.m.-and this will also be q feature of
tomorrows program. Those who visited
the home in this city yesterday afternoon
were highly pleased with the way the girls
are entertained there. They were shown
private apartments better furnished and
house occupied by a family of moderate
means. In the building there are twenty
one of these rooms. There are also gem
eral dormitories for the inmates
The visitors also saw the girls at work
In the house doing all that was necessary
for their comfort and a neat appearance
of things, and even learning needlework
and typography. A room full of frolicking
babies attracted much attention.
The exercises In Wesley Church yester-
day afternoon were under the auspices of
the Woman's Christian Temperance Union
with Mrs Clayton Emig in the chair. Mu-
sic was furnished during the meeting by
Miss Grace de Reimer and Miss Callahan
and Mrs s. A. Jones read paper on the
relation of intemperance to immortality
From to pm a reception was rendered
the delegates by Dr. and Mrs La Fetra at
18th and G streets northwest
The Evening Session.
The evening session was held in Wesley
Church also. The chief feature was the
reading of the poem. The Man With the
Hoe. by Its author, Edwin Markham.
There was music and a devotional service,
and addresses were made by Charles N.
Crittenton and S. III. Hadley
In explaining the meaning of his poem
taf Mr. Ma rk ha sal hs had