Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-13
THESE PCL.ACH GIRLS

actions must not be subjected to unof-
fetal influences
The zeal of missionaries in behalf of
cases in which they have become spe-
cially interested doubtless evoked those
last words. There was the Greek prizes
IN his imposing robes and ponderous
pendant cross to whose skirts chung
boy and girl; doubtless he would do any
thing in his power to save them from
the terror of deportation. And that clus-
ter of Irish peasants who were following
to the barge with beam.ng faces,
Roman Catholic p-iest, had evidently
been eXtricated from some difficulty by
him. Fifteen minutes later | saw a Jew
ISL rabbi with a company of solemn and
cadaVeTous men who might have been
exiIes from some kishinev: evidently he
was their protector, if not their deliverer.
Ellis Island is Kaleidoscope Of such
pictures. Every immigrant is in need
of the friendly word of assurance, If
nothing more. But the tragedies which
are daily enacted there give the wa m
hearted missionary abundant Opportunty
to be an angel of mercy. These are pic
lures for a masters brush. Take that
blg-eyed. sweet-faced Swedish mother,
whom l saw standing at the entrance to
the womans apartment. Her children
slung about her dress, but her husband
was not near Perhaps he had been
sent to the detention pen, for deportation:
perhaps he had failed to arrive; prob
atty, | judged it was that the great hour
of motherhood had come to her again in
this time and place of tumult and I'M
certainty. Whatever the reason terror
filled her eyes, and her gentle face was
drawn in agony, as she leaned upon the
little Baptist woman who spoke her own
tongue, and was to her Gods own angel.
In that busy spot, there was one with
leisure and skill to befriend the friend
less.
Services such as these fill the days OF
the Ellis Island missionaries. They speak
most of the tongues in this modern Ba bel
Often they have opportunity for nothing
but the giving of a greeting. a tract or a
Bible, in the speech of the fatherland.
Frequently, though, they can introduce
the stranger TO the friendly offices of
some minister or churchworker at the des-
tination to which she is bound. The aim
is not only to show kindness to the immi-
grant and to give him Christian well
come. but also. so far as possible to keep
the shaping. guiding hand of religion and
If possible, of his own church, upon him
in the new home which he is entering
Aside from the ministry to the I'M
fortunates in the detention pen-the place
into which there is crowded. doubtless.
more tragedy than in any other one spot in
the world. for more than l per cent of all
immigrants are sent back-who await fur
Their examination or deportation, some of
the missionaries are connected with tenn
porary homes for immigrants on the Bat
terry. The Lutheran Church has been
especially jealous in caring for its immi-
grants. The Methodists and Roman Cath
olics likewise have been alert to meet
these special conditions. Another body
whose activity Is marked at Ellis Island is
the Italian Society for the Aid of I'm
migrants, which is supported in part by
the Italian government. as we'll as by
Italians In this country. This is not
avowedly religious, but it is a powerful
barrier between the untaught alien and
the powers that prey.
The smashing of immigration records
the year ending in June, 1907, brought
nearly a million and a half-is in good
part responsible for the awakening of the
churches of North America to a serious
consideration of their part in the national
assimilation of the immigrant. The theme
is now TO the fore in various religious
gatherings and in all the church papers.
1t has been made special subject of
study with new text books by tens of
thousands of members of young peoples
societies and Sunday schools ana mission
airy organizations. This fall all the rally
day" services held in at least one great
denomination. the Presbyterian, were di-
rected to devote their collections to the