Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-04-09
STUDENTS JUNIOR
HIGH HEAR talk
BY DIR. GRENFELL

Dr. Wifred T. Grenfell Of Labra-
oor delivered a fine address last
evening at the Junior High school
auditorium before an audience of
nearly 1000 people. DR.. Grenfell's
lecture was accompanied by stereop-
tican views and motion pictures OF
life in Labrador and his talk wa.
concerning his work among the peo-
pie of that island. Rev. waiter
Quarrington of the First BAPTIST
church introduced DR.. Grenfell. The
lecture was given under the auspices
or the Ladies' Social Union of the
nrst Baptist church. At the begin
ming of his talk DR.. Grenfell declar-
ed that he believed every kind of
work in this world is equal in value.
that the painter and bricklayer is as
important to the building of a struc-
ture as the architect. His lecture in
part is as follows:
This medical and social mission be-
gan its work among fishermen in the
North Sea and gradually extended
as FAR as the Idelandic fisheries and
the Norwegian coast. In 1892 g.
ninety-nine ton sailing boat fitted as
hospital was sent TO the Newfound-
land and Labrador fisheries: the fol-
lowing year, at the request of the
people interested in these fisheries,
the ship returned and two small hos
pitfalls were built on the Labrador
coast two hundred miles apart In
winter the work of these stations is
moved to winter quarters at the
heads of the respective bays where
the fishermen congregate for trap
ping when the sea freezes over.
Three other hospitals and four nurs-
ing stations now make a, little cnain
of centres about fifty miles apart;
these have grown up during the past
thirty years. To introduce the cash
system of trade instead Of the uni
versal and demoralizing truck sys-
tenn that prevailed a string OF CO.
operative distributing stores were
started. The deleterious influence or
the liquor traffic on many seamen
was never much marked among these
men, but as there was no provision
for them at the head quarters where
they carried their cargoes of fish,
and congregated to seek supplies in
the spring large Seamens' Institute,
fitted with just the necessary things
to make FISHERMEN welcome, to en-
able them to get clean living and
bathing at a reasonable rate. free
erected. Many have also learnt in
it's fine swimming tank how to swim,
which, owing to the cold waters,
scarcely any of them were able to
do. The many social activities car
ried on by this Institute have been
a valuable constructive factor in So
cial uplift.
The child problem has been met by
two large homes about three hundred
miles apart where derelict and or
phan children are cared for and edu-
Gated. Many eventually are given
chances for technical training in the
United States and Canada. and re-
turn as mechanics with special abi!i-
ties to carry back to the coast useful
and uplifting knowledge they could
acquire in no other way. Besides two
permanent schools, a string of ten to
twenty summer schools has gradually
grown up and library and nutritional
work has been added to them.
Along economic lines also n good
deal of work has been done. more cs-
pecially in establishing home indus
tries-the weaving Of homespun, and
the making of fine mats and baskets.
a toy industry. tannery. and orna-
mental boot factory, ornamental skin
work and other activities that enable
the people to supplement the fisheries
and use up hours of otherwise enfor-
ced idleness are mainly the efforts
that promise most to spread that gos-
pei Of real brotherly help that is the
only undentable message of the love
OF God. Reindeer were also intro
duced and other experimental efforts
made to enable the land as well as