The Washington times., 1914-04-06
By MRS. ADELE FORBES BARRINGER

About two years ago the Bishop Of
Washington, Rt- Rev. Alfred Hard
ing, realizing the need of a mission
ary to take charge Of the city work.
appointed the Rev. Mr.. Murphy to
fill the office, a man with a lifelong
experience as missionary. Mr..
Murphy organized a Woman's Mis-
sionary Society to aid him
Our work very soon assumed enor-
nous proportions and we expert
enced great difficulty in obtaining
funds with which to carry on the
work. At no time have we had any,
thing like an adequate sum- Food.
fuel. clothing. medicine and medi-
cal attention have been supplied.
rents paid. positions obtained for
both men and women. Christian
homes found for children: drunkards
and men addicted to the use of
drugs have been cared for, and
many stray sheep returned to their
homes.
This work covers practically all
phases of missionary undertakings.
We believe there Is no case that
cannot be handled by the City Mis-
sionary Society. providing we have
anything like reasonable funds. We
want to make our funds correspond
with our willingness and earnest de-
sire to help every case sent to US by
the clergy. or others.
None Refused Help.
No worthy person is refused help.
Nc red tape in this society prevents
a man, woman, or child from being
fed or clothed. We relieve immedi-
ate distress. and investigate condi-
tons later; IL the applicants are
then found TO be unworthy, they
are disposed of according to the dis
cretion of the city missionary.
Examples have been brought to
Eotice through the press. illustrate
Ing work done. not by the churches.
bur by outside bodies, possessed Of
means The Missionary Society Is
Going the same work. covering the
same ground, but with less means
The secret Of this Is that our in
terests are purely sitruistic. there
being no paid workers in the So
c:ety. We have a decided advantage
over the outside bodies, because the
spiritual side of our work sup
pcrts the moral, the two forces go
lrS together.
Out Of our work grew the neces-
sity of providing xlace where
children could be- taken in on a
moments notice. Repeatedly cane
the cry Of mothers, left destitute
with families uf small children. So
persistent were the demands and SO
appalling the conditions that the
City Missionary was forced to pro-
vide a place for them. and so the
washington Receiving Home for
Children had its birth January ~.
1914, at 2f7I New York avenue north
west, in a very small building.
Had No Room.
OF course, We have splendid homes
for children already. but that they
have all they can handle is proved
by the fact that SOME Of our apph-
cants applied to them first. and
were informed that no room re-
Elained.
tut what would we de- without our
Emergency Hospital? Just so II Is
With our little emergency home.
The home is supported largely by
the poorer class: giving small DO
being too poor to give even small
sums from their own purses but
obligating themselves Cor sums o;
80 cents o. one dollar per month,
and collecting il from friends.
These are regular monthly con-
tributors: this plan makes it pos
sihle for those who have perhaps
been aided to reciprocate. and they
are all very happy in their new field
of endeavor.
Personally I believe that there are
none too poor to aid 4 good work
in some way. and strongly al
Vocate activity in this direction
Aiding does not always mean money
from ones own income. Of course,
We occasionally receive larger sums,
rs donations, which cannot oe
counte,, upon for current expenses
such sT;ns are used to supply needs
of the home.
Many Give Clothing.
Donations Of clothing and food are
being sent in most generous proper
tiong. for which We are riost crate
ful. Cots and mattresses were sup