Evening star., 1940-06-02

O-~
member of the Women's Safety
Committee of the American Auto
mobile Association.
BY chance rather than design
this combination of social service
and club work has proved effective
for the benefit of both. Mrs. Ben
nett has made point of not at
tending club meetings as mission
representative, but her friends are
many and the names of clubwomer
are always found among the work
ers in mission campaigns.
Many campaigns have been nee
essary to bring the mission quarters
to their present status. The build
ings which confronted the young
couple when the Bennetts first
came to Washington must have of.
fered discouraging prospect. They
are recalled now as dilapidated anc
hopelessly inadequate, either as S
shelter and dining room for the
homeless men seeking aid there, OF
as a home for the superintendent
and his wife.
New Departure
For Mission Workers.
Debt also hung over the mission
but Mrs. Bennett accepted the stu.
alton as a challenge and when 6
campaign was waged to lift the
debt she joined the fight. Soon he1
ability as an organizer and a speak
er was demonstrated.
Early in her career Mrs. Bennett
decided it was unnecessary for res
cue mission workers to wear dowdy
clothing and adopt a pessimistie
attitude toward the evils Of the
world. With this viewpoint shared
by her husband, she made a point
of effecting as smart an appear
ance as possible.
Anonymous letters began to come
in, she says, about the tilt of hel
hats or her permanent wave anc
for a time it seemed that her col
leagues in the mission field were
among her critics. Time. however
has apparently vindicated her de.
cision, for her fellow workers con.
tinue to elect her to Office in the
organized mission workers assocla.
tions and place her prominently az
a speaker on various programs.
Though she likes to put her best
foot forward" Mrs. Bennett ha.
not been too proud to wear q ging.
ham apron when necessary. And II
was on such an occasion that the
first steps were taken toward the
founding of the Children's Emer.
gency Home, established in connec.
ton with the mission.
Two small girls had been left ir
the care Of the mission and ir
order to make the home habitablt
and hospitable for them Mrs. Ben.
nett donned her apron and set t<
work. In the midst of these new
duties one day she received a sur.
prise visit from Mrs. Seaton Perry
and the result of this visit was tt
have far-reaching effects.
$50 . Month and Then
A S1oo,o Donation.
Mrs. Perry decided that 1t wa.
not fitting for the superintendent
wife to add servants work to hel
many duties and sent q check fol
$50 each month to provide assist
ance as long as it was needed.
Soon Mrs. Perry's sister, Mrs
John ]. Duff, became interested
In the situation, and one evening
while entertaining the Bennetts q
dinner. wrote out check for $780,
900 for a new building for children
As result of this donation the fire.
proof structure adjoining the mis-
sion, which Is known as the Chill
dren's Emergency Home, was erected
One thing only leads to another
however, so far as Mrs. Bennett!
aims for the mission are concerned
AS the children's work becam,
An important part of the mission
activities, she was troubled with tn,
thoughts Of the many youngsterl
who have no place to play during
the summer but the city streets
Then came the inspiration for {
summer camp and Mrs. Bennett ar
ranged to have Seth Parker, O
radio fame, come to Washington
and give benefit concert here, with
proceeds to be used to buy a farm
He proved such Q drawing car.
that Constitution Hall was fillet
four times in one season and tn,
farm was no longer a dream but ,
reality.
Buildings for a children's CAM
on the farm, known as Camp Ben
nett, we're provided with fund
raised by private subscription.
Growth Of Mission
Still Continues.
The growth OF the mission unde
the Bennett administration has no
yet stopped. In fact, as Mrs. Ben
nett rounds out her Is years o
service, the end is In sight to /,
campaign for a new annex whicl
will be raised in honor Of her hus
bands memory. It is expected tina
she will turn the first earth TO
the foundation within the next tw
years.
Mrs. BENEFITS story would nc
be complete without mention Of tn
radio program she has conducte
In behalf of the mission since he
husbands death. The program |
heard each Saturday over Static
VOL and includes music and per
sonal testimony from converts q
the mission. Her signature is "Jea
Bennett" the name by which she
popularly called.