Evening star., 1941-02-19
House Of Mercy Board
Watches Response
To Phantom Dinner
Many Prominent Women
Have Aided Institution
Now Seeking Funds

Now Seeking Funds
One Of the largest groups OF
women actively interesting itself in
the welfare of a Washington insti-
tuition composes the Board of Lady
Managers of the House Of Mercy,
homo for unmarried mothers and
their babies, which is holding its
fourth annual phantom dinner"
this month to raise funds with
which to carry forward the char
table work.
Among the more than so members
are a number who have served for
two or even three decades, and
several are second generation "lady
managers" who have followed
mothers or mothers-in-law on the
board.
Many prominent Capital women
have assisted in administering the
affairs of the House of Mercy
since its establishment in 1885,
among them being Mrs. Harriet
Lane johnson, niece of President
Van Buren, who was that Chief
Executives hostess during his term
In the White House.
Mrs. HempstOne Heads Board.
Mrs. Smith Hempstone now Is
president of the board, and the
other officers are Mrs. Horatio G.
Gillmor first vice president; Mrs.
Frederick A. Bradley. second vice
president; Mrs Arthur Macarthur,
recording secretary; Mrs. Thomas
Bradley, assistant secretary; Mrs.
Henry P. Hough, corresponding
secretary; Mrs. P. Lee Phillips,
treasurer, and Mrs. Barron P. Du
Bois, assistant treasurer
Mrs Frank Anderson, Mrs. George
r. Dudley, Mrs. James E. Freeman,
Mrs. Ridgeley Hunt and Mrs. Percy
Myers are honorary members, and
Mrs. Henry P. Erwin, Mrs George
Harrison, Mrs Newlands Johnston,
Mrs. J. P. Robinson and Nine.
Florian Vurpillot are associate
members.
Others on the board are Mrs. |
Henry L. Abbott, Mrs. GoldSborough |
Adams, Mrs. George Barnett, Mrs. |
J. Breckenridge Bayne, Mrs. Delos
A. Blodgett, Mrs. Joseph Cecil, Mrs.
Fred A. Carter, Mrs. Harry Cootes, !
Mrs. Louis R. de Steigeur, Mrs. Carl
A. Droop, Mrs. A. Chester Flather,
Mrs. C. Leslie Glenn, Mrs Harry |
L. Grant, Mrs. James M. Green, !
Mrs. Ralph H. Hallett, Mrs. Lau-
renee G. Hoes, Mrs R. Dickinson |
Jewett, Mrs. r. w. D. Jewett, Mrs
Richard Johnston, Miss Letitia |
Knox and Mrs. T. Sim Lee.
Other Board Members.
Also, Mrs. Thomas w. Lockwood,
Mrs. Anna MCGOWAN, Mrs. Isaac |
T. Mann, Mrs. Atherton Macondray,
Mrs. James A. Millholland, Mrs. |
William Cabell Moore, Mrs Henry
c. Morris, Mrs. Harral Mulliken,
Mrs. George T. Marye, Mrs. James |
3. Ord, Mrs. Duncan Phillips, Mrs.
Ze Barney Phillips, Mrs. Ord Pres
Luther Sheldon. jr.; Mrs. Carolene .
Smith, Mrs. William F. Sewers, Mrs. /
A. Camp Stanley. Mrs. Amy N Tai
bot. Mrs Arthur H Tirrell and Mrs. /
Walter r. Tuckerman.
The phantom dinner" arranged .
each February by the group, Is an
imaginary meal. Since no food is
provided. the full amount of each |
contribution can be used for ex-
penses of the institution.
Mrs. Green. treasurer Of the COM
nittee in charge. said last night the |
current appeal has brought an en-
couraging response, but many more
contributions before the months /
end is the hope Of her group. She !
pointed out that although 50 sub
scriptions are being sought, dona-
tions in any amount will be well
coined and put to use in the work |
of helping unhappy young mothers
and their babies.
Trained for Self Support
The unWed mothers admitted to
the House of Mercy are given do |
mestic science training to fit them
for a self-supporting status after
their tWo-year stay in the home.
Their physical and spiritual needs
are cared for by staff headed by
Deaconess Lillian M Yeo. who has
been at the institution for nearly
40 years
Provision for the well-being of
the children includes a nursery
school supervised by volunteers
from the Junior League. The young
sters are permitted to remain at
the House of Mercy until they reach
the age of years, at which time. in
most cases. their mothers are able
TO care for them. Some of the chill
dren are placed in foster homes
when such course is found to be
the only practicable one, but care
full investigation of the proposed
new environment is made before a
child is turned over to foster
parents.
The present home of the institu-
ton at Klingle road and RoSemont
avenue NV. was built in 1910 and
was the gift of the late Mrs. Julian
,JaneS.