The Penn's Grove record., 1906-03-09
Home Missionary Work.

Very few persons take interest in mis-
sionary work. The Woman's Home Mis-
sionary Society of st. Paul's Church sent
a barrel OF clothing to the Immigrants
Home in New York City on January LIST
and recently received an interesting let
ter telling OF the work done in that home.
We publish it with the hopes that it may
inform many OF the work done by the
Home and create interest in others to
take part in missionary work.
My DEAR Miss LEAP.
The barrel came one day last week and
l assure you the contents were thankful
ly received as the need for clothing was
great, indeed. There have been so many
poorly clad ones coming lately. Many
are to be deported and we are glad to be
able to make them more comfortable.
The other day the DIR. sent and asked us
for a coat for a Greek who was to be dis
charged from the hospital. Then one OF
the officials sent and asked for under
clothing for a poor fellow, who was to be
sent back.
We have been kept busy looking after
the poor unfortunate ones. So many
children needing warm wraps of some
kind. | am glad to sey that as the other
Missionaries have clothing sent in we are
kept pretty well supplied. Thank you
Tor the help you give us in our work.
May the Lord bless each one that had a
hand in making up the barrel.
| often think when we are working
among the Immigrants, giving out the
garments to the needy ones, as their eyes
ill with tears and l imagine their hearts
swell with gratitude, that those who sent
us the clothing feel blessed, and they
perhaps wonder why they feel SO happy.
You have helped us to make these poor
ones glad.
One poor oma Ca widow with four
little ones, the youngest a nursing baby
bound Tor New Orleans, hadn't much
money and the friends i'll New Orleans
were not i'll a position to care for such a
family, so they were liable to become a
public charge. They were barred from
landing. 1t was a sad case. We did all
we could to comfort the mother. She
hadn't much, so We gave her things for
herself and little ones. She went ON her
knees. Then she got up and threw her
arms about my neck and kissed me. This
is but II case.
We had a Christmas entertainment on
Ellis Island ior the detained Immigrants.
We had a large Christmas tree, then we
trimmed the main floor very prettily.
There were speeches in the different Ian
guages, music and singing. Each child
received a toy, box of candy, orange and
apple. Every man and woman a present
OF some kind, box of candy, oraLge and
apple. There were between five and six
hundred Immigrants there. 1t was a
urandnpfpl fitnn fnr fhonn Tha nroconfc
candy, oranges and apples were bought
ligious societies, four of the S. s. Com
panies, and the Commissioner of Immi-
grafton.
We had a Christmas tree in our Home
for the gills. You know we keep in
Xmas tide we send them a Xmas card.
1t means so much to many OF them. Our
Home is a great blessing to the girls.
This afternoon just as | commenced
this letter there was a knock at my door.
| opened it, and there stood one of our
girls, whom we met nine years ago.. She
came to tell me OF another girl who was
sick and was to be taken to the hospital
this afternoon, Bella said ooh! Miss Mat
thews won't you go see her now? She
will be operated on tomorrow" L said,
all right. | will get ready. Poor Bella
cried and said, "What would we girls do
if we hadn't this Home to come to-" |
said, that is just what we want you to do.
these girls know and feel that We are in
terested in them for their good.
Last Friday afternoon | went up town
with one of the girls to help her buy her
wedding outfit. She is to be married to
a young man of Newport, r. |. We met
Elizabeth seven years ago, a young mex
perienced girl. This Home has been a
blessing to her. For the year ending
Nov. Both, 1905 we brought from Ellis
Island to our Home 855 girls represent
ing 16 countries. Some OF them remain
ed with us, only a few hours, others a
few days, then others a week or more.
Some were waiting for friends to call for
them, others were waiting for money to
take them on their journey.
Girls went out from our Home into 10
States, Canada, Cuba and the West Indies.
So you see the influence of our work is
far reaching. It's a great work and etern-
ity alone will reveal the good that has
been done here in this our department
OF the Woman's Home Missionary Socie-
ty work.
My heart goes out to these girls. In
fact to these strangers in a strange land.
Pray for us and the work. Again thank
ing YOU for the barrel OF clothing and
praying the Lord to bless you all l re-
main yours in the work for the love of it.
ALMA f.. MATTHEW'S.