Evening star., 1928-10-10

separated There is really no substi-
tute for them.
"Once boy is behind the bars" Rev.
Mr.. Dow says, "he begins to think.
He has plenty of time and reason to
think then. Perhaps he is doing the
first serious thinking of his life. Then
ne is ready to listen to one who comes
to him as a friend"
Does Not Preach to Prisoners.
So he goes to them in this time of
great emotional stress. He does not
preach at them. He conducts himself
like a father or an older brother, and
he often succeeds In bringing about a
complete change in q mans life.
No visitor at the jail is more well
come to the officials there than Father
Dow None who witnessed the prepa-
rations for the triple execution of the
murderers of District policeman there
last June and knew of the intense
emotional strain which was on every
body eyer will forget the ministrations
of Father and Mother Dow, not only
to one of the condemned men, but to
the relatives of all three. For these
two never abandon the criminal once
they enter a case and they are with
him even to the moment of eXecu-
ton. They keep in touch with man
or woman not only throughout the
entire prison term, but after the re-
lease, and until the individual is firmly
established in society once more. They
greatly prefer crime prevention to min
iStering to the criminal.
Their work in the hospitals is of
great importance. 1t is shared, to some
extent, by other ciergymen who look
after their own parishionerS and all
others who call for them. But DR.
Dow's especial province Is among those
who have no other clergyman. He
spends many hours at the bedside of
the dying and he often is called from
his bed in the dead of night TO come to
some one who will be among the dead
before morning His particular fields
are Walter Reed Hospital, the majority
of whose patients are not residents of
Washington; the Tuberculosis Hospital,
and Gallinger Hospital. He is con-
stantly on call from all the other
hospitals.
Work Is Non-Sectarian.
The work of Father and Mother Dow
is entirely non n-sectarian. A valuable
part of their work consists In getting the
men of their own faith. Their province
is purely that of messengers and agents
of mercy. No social service activity in
Washington is more worthy of support
The City Missions Department is sup
ported chiefly by the diocese, but there
are some independent contributions
without which the work hardly could
go on at its present level The con-
tributionS are not only in money but
in food, clothing, toys and legal and
medical advice. Some of the best law
yers and physicians in the city know
and appreciate DR.. Dow's work and
always are willing to volunteer their
services, either for nothing or for very
small fees.
Father and Mother Dow work in a
highly emotional atmosphere. People
of lesser minds or lesser faith long since
would have broken under the burdens
they carry. But 1t actually would be
hard to find two happier individuals in
Washington. They are not even cynical
over their experiences among the dregs
OF humanity in the jails and the url-
fortunate victims of disease and poverty
in the homes and hospitals.
No more earnest Christian mission
aries ever have labored In Washington
Their work is appreciated In other
cities, and 1t is not infrequently that
they receive requests to cooperate with
some non-seetarian agency Of some dis
tant city. They are looking forward to
an extremely busy Winter In the dingy
little basement, for already the cold is
driving an increased number to them
for help.
Other Aids Offered.
The work of the City Missions is per-
haps the least known of all the activities
of the Episcopal Church in Washington
outside the parishes. But 1t is by no
means all. Among the poor, the sick.
the aged and the helpless the hand of
the church is felt In many directions
particularly in the homes which it
maintains.
Notable among these is the Episcopal
Home for Children at Anacostia, but
which soon will be moved to Chevy
Chase, where nine acres of land have
been given by gentleman who Is not
an Episcopalian and not resident of
Washington, but who has devoted his
declining years to the cause of unfortu-
nate children.
Here "children's village" will be
erected as soon as sufficient funds can
be obtained, A total of $3.50 900 is
| needed The present establishment at
! Anacostia is on the cottage unit plan.
The work was started In 1895 as a
free Summer outing service, special at
tention being given to underhourished
children and to those recovering from
illness or in general need of physical
upbuilding. Land and buildings for
this purpose were generously provided
by Prof. and Mrs. Melville Bell at
Colonial Beach; and here, at the Bell
Home, as 1t is still called, the sponsors
| OF the movement have had, Summer
after Summer, the JOY of seeing pale,
wan. little faces develop into rosy,
| laughing ones.
From the first, however, 1t was real
lied that the Summer outing service
marked only the beginning of what
should be done to help homeless,
friendless and otherwise needy children
| in this diocese. In many cases it was
seen that provision must be made for
| the care of these little ones the year
round; and the result was the estah-
lishment. under the supervision of Mrs
Davenport, of the nucleus of the present
home at Anacostia. The buildings new
in uSe-ar0irlS' cOttaRA hnyw' n0kkaaa and