The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1920-06-25
THE CHURCH Of THE BLACK SHEEP

Black Sheep holds it's services in the
spen cir, with neither massive pulpit
nor cushioned pew, and draws its con-
Bregations from the alleys and the
Blums. 1t still is the most cosmopolitan
Of all our churches; for within its
sympathetic circle is drawn represen-
latives OF every social class, every
race and tongue, and every degree and
grade Of vice and crime.
For the Church of the Black Sheep
ID the Salvation Army, which welcomes
with brotherly love every derelict that
comes within IT'S reach. To 1t turn
the poor rum-soaked, drug-doped. vice
hardened outcasts from whom organ
lied charities turn away in despair,
since they seem beyond every hope
Of reclamation.
The Shepherds in the Churches of
the Black Sheep stretch out the friend
ly hand, draw the desperate, lonely
heart-hungry wretch who stumbles in
their midst into an atmosphere Of
friendliness. They feed him, warm
him, clothe him, secure medical treat
ment If he is i'll, and steady his tot
tering footsteps toward job in one
OF their industrial homes, all the while
tanning back into fame the dying
spark Of hope, and shielding by their
comradeship and cheer, the poor vic
Tins Of weakness and sin from the
gibes and temptations that their up
ward turning calls forth from their
companions.
With the announcement Of the early
opening of a campaign for a Home
Service Fund, the writer sought to dis
cover just what the Salvation Army
means to any community, and just
what contribution their organization
makes toward good citizenship in Bal
timore
Seeking out the sweet-faced wife of
the officer in charge of this district,
Mrs William Escott, who has devoted
her life to service in this cause, the
writer learned that with these people
the nature of the deed is forgotten in
their zeal and Joy in the doing. To
them there is but one solution of every
problem, one cure for every trouble
conversion; salvation. While they
feed, clothe, warm, comfort and meet
every actual physical need, they have
the goal before them of coaxing back
the hayward sinner into the fold Of
religion. To them no reformation is
Asked how they found SO many sor-
rowing and needy to which to minister,
Mrs. Escott explained:
Through our singing in our open
air and indoor meetings; through our
Sunday Schools and our work for chill
dren; through the rescue homes, emer-
gency homes, day nurseries, the people
hear Of US and come to US, and we go
to them"
Asked to tell of the work Of the
rescue homes, one of which Is to be
established in Baltimore, 80 that the
hundreds Of girls who seek care in
them every year, may not have to be
sent to other homes in the district, be-
emit make-shift arrangement, Mrs
Escott cited the cases Of several girls
under her own observation.
There was Ruth" she said, 81 will
not tell you any more of her name.
She was led into misfortune through
ignorance, as so many poor girls are
Ruth had been obliged to break her
engagement with young lawyer, be.
cause her mother and grandmother de-
pended upon her support. After a
time she met a man who interested
her, and she foolishly went out to din
ner with him. She found herself at
home next day and had no knowledge
Of what had transpired in the mean
time. By and by, the situation became
SO tragic to her, that she turned to
the Salvation Army, as she could not
face her family nor the people of the
church (where she had sung IN the
choir.
1--WE put her in one of our rescue
homes for six months. After her baby
was born, she found she could reese
cure her former position In a large
store, but she could not keep the baby
with her, nor could her bed-ridden
grandmother nor invalid mother keep
It, So that little baby girl was adopt.
ed, Ruth was the first one of the
many young mothers who have gone
through our Baltimore rescue work, TO
be freed from the obligation of keep
ing her child with her"
The rescue home takes girl and
keeps her from SIX months to year.
When she Is again able to work, the
Salvationists see that she finds posi-
ton where the people will permit her
to keep her child, or else she may pay
small sum for its care at one of the
day nurseries, A nickel day is asked
Of those earning money, but to the
mothers not able to afford even this
small sum, the service is not denied.
After the girls leave the rescue
home. for three years they are kept
IN a LIST NJ visiting Weekly meetings