Evening star., 1947-01-23

Inc inspiring STORY Ol d WOlIidu
subordination of personal suffering
sustained in early girlhood to dedi-
cation of her life to the service of
others was presented yesterday by
Mrs. Marshall johnson, secretary of
the Board of Directors Of the Christ
Child Society. to members Of the
Soroptimist Club.
Guest speaker at luncheon meet
ing at the Willard Hotel, Mrs. john
son told how the Christ Child
Society had been founded so years
ago by Miss Mary Merrick a few
months after she had suffered a
spinal injury which crippled her for
life.
Imagine a young girl preparing
for gay lawn party and, while
hanging Japanese lantern, falling
and injuring her spine so severely,
she could never walk again." Mrs.
Johnson said. THAT is what oc-
cured to Miss Mollie She was
placed in a heavy iron cast at the
time and a few months later while
in wheel chair, she conceived the
idea of founding the Christ Child
Society.
"You see," Mrs. johnson con-
tinued, '"it was at Christmas time
and Miss Mollie had asked little
colored boy what he was going to get
fon Christmas. 1--WE doan git
nothin," the little boy replied. Miss
Mollie told him to write letter to
the Christ Child and bring it to her
to mail and she was sure he'd re-
ceive some gifts. Who's dis Christ
Chile, the little boy asked, I amt
never heerd of him. Miss Mollie
determined then that something
must be done about that situation.
The little boy was told the story of
the Christ Child and urged to write
a letter. When he returned, he
brought 16 letters, many from little
friends to whom he had told Miss
Mollie's story"
That Christmas, the speaker con-
tinued, Miss Mollie Merrick called
together a few friends and together
they formed the Christ Child
Society.
From a small beginning, when the
young women founders concentrated
on making layettes, the society has
expanded until today it functions in
nearly every State in the Union,
Mrs. johnson pointed out. n
In Washington, one OF Miss
Mollie's first jobs was starting the
Settlement House at 608 Massachu-
sets avenue Sc. where now from
750 TO 1000 boys and girls each
month are provided with recrea-
tional facilities.
After the Settlement House, Miss
Mollie's thoughts turned to the es-
tablishment of a Children's Conva-
lescent Home and soon she pur-
chased piece of property for that
purpose on Georgia avenue. This
property was later sold and the pres
ent Convalescent Home at Rockville
was established.
A dramatic and little known Incl
dent in Miss Mollie's transaction
of the Convalescent Home business
was revealed by Mrs. johnson.
Miss Mcllie did not have the
money to purchase the first piece of
property" she explained. "She was
tired and worried one evening after
unsuccessful efforts to raise funds.
A special delivery letter arrived just
before she went to bed and when she
opened it, five 500 bills dropped out.
1t contained short note from
a friend Of the Christ Child Society
to use in it's work To this day,
Mrs. johnson added, Miss Mollie
does not know who sent the money"
Another local activity of the So
ciety is the Opportunity Shop In
Georgetown, the speaker continued.
The Opportunity Shop gladly &C
cepts almost anything" people don't
want. she said. These articles are
renovated and reconditioned and
sold at the shop and the proceeds
60 toward work of the Society.
1--WE now average about $500 a
monthsfrom the Opportunity Shop
she said.
Boys and girls camps are now
functioning in the summer under
the management of the Christ Child
Society, Mrs. johnson said, and the
latest plans call for a new wing to
be built for cardiac cases at the
Convalescent Home in Rockville.
Other honor guests at the lun-
cheon included Father Thomas
Dade, assistant pastor of st. Pat
rick's Church, Judge Ellen Raedy of
the Municipal Court, and Mrs.
Charlotte Handy, associated with
the Christ Child Society.
Father Dade told of continued
activities of the USO club at Tenth
and K streets which carries on full
swing" every night in spite of plans
to close USO Clubs this year. He
explained movement new to Wash
ington-the CYO or Catholic Youth
Movement, designed to provide