HELPING HAND MISSION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 108, 9 May 1896, Page 2

HELPING HAND MISSION.

Chk Helping Hand Mission held la.Bt evening in the Choral Hall a big reception gakhert&g to welcome Sister Francis, who haa jusb come ovor- from the Sydney. mission to join tbo Auckland rescue and foeneroleni work. She has been a sister for six yaare in Sydney, working in the slums md dens of that city among tbo poor out'easts and sin - stained fragments of humanity, and much buccoss has crowned her labours. The Hall was packed with paraena eager to see and hear the sister for themselves, and the large audience, remaining from 7.30 to 10.30, appeared greatly interested in the proceedings. There was a choir of about 300 voices, with orchestral accompaniment. The soloists ware: Miss Rimmer, Miss Jenoie Miller, Rev. A. Mitchell, Mr Higgott, and Mr W. Astley. Each of these ladies and gentlemen sang with excellent etfoct, and was accorded much applause. Mies Nixon recitod "Beautiful Snow" in a creditable manner. The crowning recitation waa by Mr Ngata, 8.A., he giving his famous composition, "Scenes From the Past." The effect-of this recitation on. the audience waa specially marked. His Worship the Mayor, Mr J. J. Holland, presided, and on coming before the audience received hearty applause. He said that when, asked a few days ago to preside upon the occasion, he • accepted the honour with the greatest of pleasure. However, he would say how delighted ho waa to see such a gathering ot those specially interestdd in the rescue and benevolent! work of the city, and to know that they had come to extend a cordial welcome to Sister Franci3 ft 6 the inauguration of her new labours in Auckland. Such a gathering of friends from all sections of the community, would cheer the hearts of tbo Committee of the Helping Hand Mission, knowing as they did that the people gave their sympathy so cordially to such an enterprise. He knew the audience had only two objects in view, viz., to show their sympathy with roal rescue work, and to endeavour all in their power to assist Sister Francis. He was personally glad to hear the Sister tell of her work, and Jwiahed Auckland had many afore like workera. . The Mayor then called upon the Rev. Mr Sinclair, who read several letters of apology from sympathisers in the city who were unable to bo presenb:—From Rev. S. A. Goldstein, Mr H. M. Smeeton (who enclosed £5), Rev. Mr Macnicol, Rev. F. Larkins, Rev. Canon Nelson, Rev. H. R. Dewabury, Mr Theo. Cooper, Rev. Mr Blaikie, Rev. Mr Vealie.' Sister Francis then came forward, and received a most enthusiastic welcome. She wore,'of course, her sisterhood attire, which became her very.well. She haa a moab pleasing countenance, and winsome manner. Evidently, nothing could detor bar in doing visiting duty, and she would go anywhere in quest of a loafc man or woman in seeking to save them. She Said thab she had only been in Auckland about two months, but in^that time she had received a lot of symp'abhy from many interested in her-work. She • eaid that in Auckland we had not the Chinese opium dens and gambling dens like Sydney, but Auckland from its Bize, she thought, was worse than Sydney in other vicos. There were many discouragements in rescue work, bub she loved her work. She was sometimes! asked whab was a lister's work ?■ This was not easy to answer. She would term a sister's work any effort that had a tendency to lift) up fallen humanity, such aa visiting the flick, the poor, the destitute and the hungry, visiting the Hospitals, tending, to the dying', looking after lost children, seeking to save outcast Women, and a thousand other things which fall to the lob of a mission sister. A sister called and fitted to the work will soon find her hands full. She always felt in her work that God w»3 with her, and that all power" belonged to Him: She loved that text which had often been such a comfort to her, "I will hold thine hand ; fear not, I will help thee." She was sure that tbero was a greab work for womeh to do which could be only done by women, and in the nob far distant future woman would have to do more public work in the interests of humanity than she has done in tho past. Abandoned women of every ciby must bo conquered and won by the loving hearts of women. It was only love thab could win tho wanderers. Sister Francis then recounted some thrilling scenes which came under her own eyes in Sydney. Many girls were rescued from the lowest haunts of vico and delivered up to broken-hearted mothers and guardians, or suitable employment or homes found for them, and their livea changed and brightened with, hope. She was pleased to say thab her 'committee bed now jusb bought a home in Wellealey-sbreeb, where such women could be taken in and kept till' they got morally strong. She was sure the people of Auckland would help her; Bhe Would do the work if the people would only find the means. She sab down amidst much applause. Mi3s Lilian Edgar, M.A., was asked by the Mayor to speak. This lady is President of the Auckland Rescue Society. She said that when ehe waa asked a tew days ago toapeak atSi9ter Frances'reception, sho felb thab nho'bad done very little practical, rescue work, as, indeed, Bhe was jusb entering upon euch work. She said we all wish Sister Franciß every God speed, and accord her complete sympathy in her work. There are many others in this city working, perhaps nob on oxEScbly similar linoe, yeb doing plenty of useful wor.k. Some persons work better in one way than another and use different methods, but all tending, to the same end. She BUggosted bhat if society ia made up of single individuals we are then personally responsible, and if something is done for one hare and there, wo in this way help to raise the tone of the whole of society, if even our work is among bhe fallen and degraded. There is much to be done. If only we all do our own part bo live to higher ideals of life, our efforts shall nob be in vain. Prevention is better than cure. Father? and mothers should toach their children to resist evil, and show them thafe duby is their first consideration ; in doing go we have helped to exterminate much evil out of bhe world. If the spirit of love and duty is put into the children in early life, when older they will be better fitted to do their allotted work. If some in one way and some in ariotber assist to raise a higher tone of living, we will then have helped Sister Francis in hor work.

Mr Wilding, of the Women's Protection Society, spoke a few words of pleasure at; being on the platform and taking part in such a work as fche Sister and others were engaged in. In his department he met some sad eights, cases which he could not touch himself, and he had to hand them over either to the Helping Hand Mission, or the Salvation Army. The Hon. AY. Jennings was delighted to be •present at such a meeting. It had his complete sympathy. Ho had ever taken a deep interest in women* work, and the object of the meeting was one which comnaended itself to all. He knew the value of the Helping Hand Mission work. Be knew what that Mission had done in tho districts adjacent to where he dwelt, and ho could' testify to the highest depree that the Mission was successful. He had in his place in the Honee striven to brine in a measure for the better protection of girls, but he was ashamed to say that the Upper Hon?e had east it out.

Mr W.Crowthor,M.H.R..said that he was interested in all true work for the aEnelioration of the downtrodden. Ha was pleased, he said, that he had been asEed to take any park in their evening's deliberation. He knew for a certainty of some of the work that had been done by fcha Freeman's Bay Mi߻ion, It had now grown to such

an extent thab to him ib appeared like many bays instead of only one Freeman's Bay. •lie hoped thab the new Sister Francis in her many labours would provo. of much bene6b to the whole of the city of Auckland, and he waa sure sbo would.

Mr A. C, Brown and Mr W. H. Smith .?poke briefly, and thus was brought to an end one of tho mosb enthusiastic gatherings of its kind ever held in this city. The OFUaI votes of thanks to His Worship tho Mayor and others were carried and the meeting separated*.. Forty-six pounds was collected in the Hull towards the cost of the Home. Also ovar £165 was subscribed by the Mission frianda themselves with other donations to come. llj is hoped the Home will aoon be free of debt.