Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1915-02-24
Correspondents.


BROOkLhNs ~. ~ Ecps - Isl1.
-. Edi,or Of The American:
!, occurs to me that there may be some
a,,,s in Maine, even, who are not well
ns,nted with the work being done for
snm.nity along the coast by the Maine
a. Toast mission.
Think what IL bound to be the result
:, small island, for instance, where the
ssonle for generations back have been cut
- from the outside woridf Only last
ali read OF an island the first settlers
:, which were members Of Plymouth
.o,ony. and their direct descendants are
.s,;ll TO be found there. Until the Maine
~ Coast mission sought them out, there
IA never been any church there, any
s,.,e school, or any postofiice. The mis-
.,or was instrumental In obtaining 4
,oa,ofiice, in procuring = State super
r,.ion for the day school, and last sum-
nor an undenominationai church was
aedicated. We ere told, however, that
The people have no government and do not
vote.
Instances OF other islands might be
ci,ed. The missions yacht, the Sunbeam,
Goes from island to island, ministering
10 the needs Of the people.
H is the relief work done BY the Maine
sea Coast mission to which invite your
specisl attention, and am going to quote
/. paragraph which sums that up unusu-
ally well,
"a lightkeeper dies in mid winter, and
his wife is obligcc to keep lonely vigil for
three days until tho Sunbeam brings
help. A sturdy lad OF eighteen, too long
without medical care, dies, and the mis-
sion boa, carries the stricken family fifty
miles to the old home, where services are
held, and then the sad party Is borne
back to the island light. Ten persons die
on q single island in one winter, making
heavy draught on the missionary's time
and strength. Cases Of distress, sickness,
poverty, and even hunger are frequent
during the months Of extreme cold. A
blind girl is placed in school in Portland,
and cared for until she 10 able to earn her
own living. A nurse Is provided for q
sick boy, q brace for = crippled child,
financial help for some shipwrecked sail
ors, surgical aid for . number. School
boards and State school authorities are led
to see aud remedy abuses and improve
conditions OF education. Through the
Missions influence, paupers and feeble
minded are given proper attention. On
one island kind OF settlement house is
being maintained through the efforts OF
volunteer workers, For three months
last year competent physician accom-
panied the missionary, and made a study
Of health conditions, giving such relief as
was possible.n
And to-day the words OF Mr.. MacDon-
aid, the sea Coast missionary, came to me
through the columns OF Portland paper:
SIN the ten years OF the mission we never
had so many calls for aid as this winter.
We have responded to every cali, some
twenty cases have been helped to hospital
treatment, to medical aid, or to food and
clothing. Our relief fund is exhausted
and the need is still great. With all other
benevolent work, the Sea Coast mission is
suffering financially. We have never come
up against the rocks as at present. Our
directors are bordering over the matter.
1t would be too bad to take the Sunbeam
out OF commission during the winter
months, when 50 much 10 needed, just for
lack Of funds, but fear 1t must come to
that unless friends come to our help"
Il seems to me that this 10 an opportuni-
ty for clubs OF all sorts, for Kings Daugh-
ter's circles, for mission bands, etc.
would like very much to raise for this re-
lief fund mile OF pennies. / have strips
all ready, each . foot long, which will
hold sixteen pennies. II individuals or
organizations will send to me for strips, 1
will gladly mail ~ many ~ are asked for.
When filled, they may b sent directly to
Thomas Searies. treasurer, cashier First
National bank, Bar Harbor, Maine.
From experience, know how numerous
are the calls for money this year, but will
you not save your psnniss for the Maine
Sea Coast missionf
CLIO CHIEcorr.
d st. James Place, Brooklyn, N. Y.