The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-24
MINISTER PLEADS
FOR YOUNG GIRLS
DIR. Mcdaniel Shows Need Of
Providing Home for Way
ward Ones.
CONDITIONS DEMAND IT
Quotes Record to Prove That
State Owes Duty to Its
Unfortunates.

In his sermon at the First Baptist
Church last night. DR.. George w. Nc
Daniel made an earnest plea for tho
establishment of a home for hayward ]
girls. showing the great need for such
an institution. Dealing directly with
the subject, DR.. Mcdaniel said:
1t is pleasant to think about heaven
and to indulge the hope of sharing
the sinless company of the best. II
is profitable to think about the world
and to feel our responsibility to REM
edy. conditions. here. Christ's religion
Is Il h is COED f % the r ite
of life are for the healing of the ma
lions. / venture therefore to speak
to you upon sociological rather than
vide an Industrial home and training
school for delinquent girls.
Why such an institution has not been
needy or incorrigible young Is of recent
origin In virginia. The Oldest insti-
tuition of similar character is the
orphanage at Salem. founded twenty |
years ago. All other orphanages and
reformatories are of more recent date.
The War Between the States lett I
this Commonwealth poor, ana itnas
were lacking for many deserving op-
jccts In that conflict Virginia, the
most innocent. was the greatest sur
fercr. Virginia gentlemen hold women
slow to believe any appreciable num-
Der OF girls need a home OF correction.
some Ieensonx Why.
Why this institution should be es.
tablished Immediately The only pace
white girl can be committed Is a COM
mon jail. There are few. If any, jails
fit receptacles for girls. Reports from
have no separate provision for young
offenders. When thrown into COM
pany with older offenders, girls are
taught the most devious ways of crime.
ing girls to jail. Consequently they
are generally left to run at large, TO
the Generalization of others Changed
thrown girls upon their own resources
and into manifold. temptations which
never confronted them in their homes,
evil-minded men in offices and facto-
ries. Be it said that some men are
their protectors, but II must be re-
tate hours compel them to go from
their places of employment after dark.
Boarding houses, without convenient
parlors for the entertainment OF COM
pany. greatly aggravate conditions;
Unsuspecting country girls. coming TO
the city for employment, are trapped
in the beginning or sought Out by
begun a maynard course could be res
cued by this institution and saved to
society.
Virginia is now practically public
beggar from other States, asking them
to care for her girls. Since have
been in Virgin!a-tive years--not less
sent TO Maryland and New York. This
State should not allow itselt to be de-
pendent upon the charity or to impose
upon the kindness of other states.
Can't Go to Prison.
There are now 500 white girls, ac-
cording to the estimate OF the secre.
tary Of the State Board of Charities
and Correction, who should be in
nit the judges to imprison them; there
is no reformatory; therefore they are
left without restraint, to the incalcu-
Chief Of Police in Norfolk says there
are twenty girls in his city that should
be in this house. and there are M eng
country is dependent upon its women;
When women became corrupt the flood
followed. Saleeby, the authority on
eugenics, forcefully. says: Woman is
natures supreme instrument of the
future" If we neglect our girls we
mortgage the future.
Virginia, let us say ii in love, has
never. done enough for her girls. She
provides reformatories for white and
colored boys, but neglects her delin-
auent girls a vicious girl can r, 40
movement tt is hsar'ily irdorsed by the
Governor. the state Board of Charities
and Correction the Mayors of our
cities. judges of the courts. chiefs Of
Eious conventions and the public press,
Jew and Gentle, Catholic and Protest.
ant, all say: Let us rise up and build"
If there Is person in Virginia who
opposes the movement, he has not been
heard from.
How the institution is to be founded
and maintained. 1t is to be free from
politics and sectarianism. The board
represents every class in creed and
politics, II is cosmopolitan and for
Humanitarian purposes, The men who
are seeking to establish the home and
school are public spirited citizens, who
give their time and means and receive
no remuneration whatsoever, directly
or indirectly. Thirty thousand dollars
is asked for in private subscriptions
TO pay for a site and buildings. Only
$4,000 has been secured. Richmond is
asked to give $4,000 To help this
worthy object appeals to some as a
privilege Those wishing to have a
part in this noble undertaking may give
their subscriptions 10 any member OF
the board or mail their checks to II
L. Baskerville, treasurer.
Other Cities Help.
The other cities and sections ae thu
State arc asked TO subscribe $4,000
A generous citizen from Norfolk vol
unfairly sent $500. That city will Civ,
more. Danville citizens are undertak
been presented elsewhere. but will b
in the Immediate future. There ar
three classes of members: Founders
who become such upon payment o
$500 or more; life members, who be
come such upon the payment of $40
or more, and annual members, who be
come such upon the payment of SIS o
more.
The Legislature has been asked t
appropriate 50 cents per diem for eac
inmate, in order TO maintain the insti
tuition. Some thought the State Shout
be asked for the entire amount t
found and support the home but tn
view prevailed that on account OF III
financial condition OF the State indi
viduals should give literally, and the
the State should be asked to hell
The state gave over $4,000 last yea
to care for delinquent boys, and Ii
firmly believed 1t win make any nee
essary appropriation for girls. II
generally admitted that ii require
more to support girl than boy, an
that her moral welfare concerns III
Commonwealth most vitality. Yet
this present hour not one dollar hi
been expended by the state for the ca
and correction of delinquent girls
is sound public policy and busine
economy to help them
In the middle ages chlyalrous knigh
bucklcd on their spurs, mounted the
chargers, and with sword and Ian
rode forth to rescue helpless damsf