New-York tribune., 1907-01-12
Guild to Protect Sfeno6rapbers.
Mr. Geer. Vicar of ST. PauIs. Plans Downtown Clubho,
Rescue Girls from Unprincipled Employers


The dangers to which stenographers and type
writers are exposed in downtown business offices
are responsible for plan which has been matur-
ing for the last six months in the mind of the Rev
W Montague Geer vicar Of st. Paurs Chapel.
Broadway and Vesey street. his attention having
been called TO the matter by the number OF these
young who attend the services in st. Pauls
Chapel congregate In the churchyard to eat
their luncheons or pass the noon hour
Mr.. Geer has talked the matter over with men
of wealth and lawyers of eminence and found so
ready a recognition of its importance that he has
decided that the time is ripe for action He even
has basis for hope that when the day comes
for building guild house for these young women
the money will not he lacking Mr. Geer has
therefore, decided to begin work at once, and at
the noon service in 81. Paurs Chapel yesterday he
announced that meeting TO organize St PauTs
Chapel guild OF stenograp pliers and typewriters VIII
be called next Wednesday, at 2:1b o'clock. at St
Paurs parish house No. 2s Nescy street Then IN
stead Of preaching his usual sermon, Mr. Geer
went TO talk about his plan and the periious
positions young hold in business Offices
For several years past" he said. Il have spoken
ct intervals concerning the advisabtty OF organ
izing guild OF young women stenographers and
typewriters transactng business In the vicinity or
St. PauIs Chapel, but before this the time did not
ripe for making definite attempt to carry
the project through AS We are now about TO enter
upon the day of beginnings. small though they are
likely TO be, the chief reason for organizing such a
guild ought TO be stated
business life in this and other great cities and by
reason Of this radical change in business life the
character of the home life is also changed. How
il be otherwise when fathers and mothers are
obliged to trust their daughters at the most i'm
pressonab bic and perous time OF their lives to the
mercy OF a hard business world?
For the loveness seclusion and safety Of the
home life in the past, there must be substituted
the unloveness the publicity and the peril Of the
exposed life OF the market place and the exchange
the Office and the counting Girls to whom
under the former age-old order Of things no man
could have spoken without formal Introduction
without the approval OF their parents. are now
obliged 10 sustain relations of business intimacy
for eight hours Of every working day with men
wholly unworthy OF the confidence reposed in them
UNPRINCIPLED EMPLOYERS
There IS peril in abundance in this condition Of
affairs. and this peril ought. OF 10 be re-
duced TO the lowest possible term The Church.
society and the industrial world owe relief to these
young women. and the fathers and mothers and
families of these young
I'VE OF the clergy and many lay workers could
wiring your hearts with cases in which foul ad-
vantage has been taken Of young girls by men
deeply experienced in evil ways.
And the lighter shadings OF this distressing sub
Ject tell Us OF the wearing away of the bloom OF
moGesty and the involuntary submission for the
sake Of living TO the aggressive familiarities on
the part of unprtncipled irresponsible men, who
are entirely capable Of taking every possible ad-
vantage Of the girls and the young women intrlst-
ed 10 tEeir charge. All sense OF chivalry and
honor is dead IN the hearts of many employers
and in their clerks. They can be cruel as tho
grave TO the most ,eferceless class OF wage
ers the civilized world has ever known.
There is no need to o"erstate the Let It
be admitted that women can be. and often arc
tempt-esses. by OF irexcusable cerelessness
or set purpose. Let 1t be admitted that girls
safe from moestaton any undue faInl-
iarity in The great majority Of Offices they
in their own homes
of small minority hat
be slasl, Of Offices and stores where they net
What of the many places Of business where they
are Obliged TO associate on terms of intimacy with
coarse, careless and sometimes degraded women,
who ike themselves. are earning their living by
Il have had conversations with tanitors of our
large Office buildings whose opinions are well worth
ton are uneauaed have had With
Women acveig interested in % the WefaTe OF oa
wage earning girls, and as a result Of these
ferences I can assure you that the situation is
of class entitled to every item OF protection that
fathers and mothers, brothers and friends and by
protection Of the defenceess And we NAV " add
that many girls with poor home training need to
with those OF their own class whose home training
has been Of the best
PLANS FOR GUILD HOUSE.
'T love to think that the time may not be far
away when a large new building will be erected in
Fulton or Nesey street. looking down upon St.
Paus churchyard, which will be devoted exclusive
ly to the use Of st. Paurs Chapel Guild Of steno-
sraphers and Typewriters 1t will be -sectarian
In It's large membership, but its officers will be
communicants Of the church. II will be under the
spiritual care Of the vicar and other clergy of this
chapel.
. old St Paul's,' IN which are now held four
midday services every week for these young women
Of which the doors are open to them all day long
for prayer and meditation and its churchyard for
their convenience and comfort-this old St Paurs'
viii be the church home Of the members OF this
guild; although no proselytizing work win be en-
gagged in
There VIII be large. tastetully appointed rooms
IN the building where luncheons will be served at
the lowest possible rate where members NAV eat
their luncheons prepared at their own homes, with
the additions Of coffee. tea and the like provided
cheaply as possible by the guild, and every on
pcrtunity viii be given to the members TO provide
their own music.
DENSE MORAL ATMOSPHERE.
I'VE need not go into details points Of minor
importance. II is sufficient say that, given the
necessary endowment. perfectly equipped
Christian home, complete in every appointment
be provided for these young women, together