Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1908-01-24
Bible Class Report

Resort OF the Atlas House ComMitsee ol
The Rockville uaioa Bible Class, Com1it-
see-Mss II l., Wells, Mrs, Ioha 3, Brewer
and Mrs, Il, J, Finley,
To the frieads Interested Ia The hetteVneat
Of conditions At the Montgomery Coany
Alms House, we, the Bible Class, wish 70
render the following report;
First, we would call stteation to the No
Vemhes report Of the Grand jury, since they
make public some Of the conditions we have
been seeking to rsSedys
GRAND JURY REroSr,
To the Honorable the judges q the Circuit
Court Of Montgomery County;
The Grand Jury Tor the November Term,
1901, respectfully beg leave to report as fol'
lows
A COMMITTEES Of our body visited the Aims
House on November 18th. We found 10 in
msles-S white females, white males.
eelored females aud eOloged males,
We 6Rd the Aims House b0ildIng in bad
condition the plaster On eeiliag in several
ROOMS is broken badly, yards Of ii being miss,
ing endrely, exposing the lalhs,
The sanitary conditions are disgraeete,,
There IL one bathroom with no means o. heat-
Tag same. This is built Out on q porch, aud
very much exposed to the elements, eoase-
Q0ealy the bathing, as Acknowledged by the
keeper, Is LETT entirely with the individual in
his room, with no appliances tor same, The
closet is disconnected from the main build
ing, aud the females aud helpless are at the
mercy Of the assistance afforded by decid-
edly idiotie iAnitor. The walls were cleanly
whitewashed at time OF inspection, with the
exception OF one room, which Was In an tui-
possible condition, the odors being unoear-
able, aud the Incumbent of the room was an
aged, helpless imbecile, The door Of this
room connects directly with the dining room,
We urgently recommend q new building.
lf this Is not advisable, Ii is absolutely neees-
sary to make radical changes in the matters
above spoken Of
Having finished all the duties brought be-
fore US, We respectfully ask 70 be discharged.
WILSON b, TsCuIFrELY,
Foreman.
These conditions and others have been
known to immediate citizens for years. How
to correct them has been q question,
The need for Matron's care, one who re-
eeives the PHYSICIANS medicines and admin
listers them, and personally sees the feeble
the sick aud the dying had their humble
needs supplied, this we felt to be the first aud
greatest need, knowing that with such intel
hgent care, many unsanitary conditions
would vanish or at least be improved.
officials aud for their courtesy and thought
fal consideration, we are very grateful, still
hoptng great good may come from Il,
They aeeeded to our wish to place there =
helper, Miss Martha L. Spencer, We called
our helper y MAtron, but owing TO the fact
that the Matron's salary is provided by the
county, and Is drawn by an Incumbent, we
changed the name of her office to Missionary,
This Missionary's work has been not alone in
spiritual lines, but in directing the cleaning
OF rooms aud beds, aud in sewing Industries,
sonal cleanliness aud sanitary conditions,
The inmates responded gratefully. With
the help Of clothing donated, following little
talks on personal oleanline1s, marked i'm
provement Is observed.
AT no time have any public funds been
contributed TO the support of the Missionary,
further than the supply OF midday meal,
during the three days of her service.
The Bible Class greatly appreciate the in-
teress, prayers and support OF co-workers
Throughout the county, who have made this
worS possible, to munster to the "least OF
these"
That there has been some improvement,
that the general conditions of the building
are tar better than a year ago, We are glad to
STATE, But the care OF the feeble Inmates in
sickness, aud that which makes tor their ne
eessary cleanliness aud comfort, In all this,
we cannot say there is permanent better
meat,
la June our Committee appeared before the
County Commissioners aud Trustees, in their
annual meeting held at the Aims House, We
reported TO them that serious needs existed
everywhere tor want Of Matron's care, re-
S0lung In sickness aud disease, This brought
no changes, aud three months later, August
10th, We appealed to the Trustees to tnst-
tase a suitable system requiring the appoint
ment OF Malron, who gave attention to the
work, requiring among other needs that the
sexes be separated; that all Intoxicating Ii
quors, drunkenness aud profAne aud violen,
language be prohibited; that the sick aud
dying have proper care, urging that to ae-
oomPlIsh these changes reqairsd the care OF
q Matron.
Six Inmates have died since our work be-
gan last March. Five Of them we're very old
people, their last days hungry for spiritual
ministries aud deeply grateful for every touch
of kindness, All these received Christian
burial, What stronger evidence Of the timely
entrance Of the Missionary.
Tho inmates were made glad last Christ
mas by som> small gifts, aud also on Thanks
giving Day, aud We are now arranging a
christmas tree for them
We respectfully submit that we have laid
these facts, and many Others, before the O1m-
mlssioners aud TcusIees, hopiug they wo1ld
speedily meet the more pressing needs, such
as should be met, before buildings can be
erected.
Respectfully submitted by the Aims House
COMMITTEES Of
TITS RocKyittE UNION BRtR Class
December, 1907,