TORY STREET MISSION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 18, 16 October 1907, Page 3

TORY STREET MISSION.

BRIGHTENING- THE LIVES OF THE POOR. A garden party was held at the residence of , Mr. Justice Cooper yesterday afternoon in aid of the hinds of the Tory Street Mission. During tho course of tho afternoon speeches were delivered by the Rev. W. J. Williams, Mrs. IXislo'p, the Rev. C. Porter, and Judge Cooper. Spciilcing from her personal knowledge of the work done by the Tory Street Mission, Airs. Hislop said that much was done to brighten tho lives of the men, women, and children living in its neighbourhood. The care of children was peculiarly woman's work, and Khe was glad to know that the Mission did a great deal for children. In that part of the lowu ior some reason there seemed to be a great many children wlio required attention aud care, out it was not only among tlie children that tho Tory Street Mission did good work. It eared lor tlie mothers of tho elnldren. Mrs. Hislop wished that Sister Isabel could have more helpers. Perhaps if tlie leisured women of Wellington realised how drab the lives of many working women were they would realise tneir own responsibility towards them, and endeavour to make those lives blighter. There was a great deal of sell-sacrifa'cing devotion on the part of these working motlieru, many of whom had uot only to cure for their households and families, but had even to earn tneir children's bread and butter. It was a hard struggle for them. Mrs. Hislop did not advocate tnat any woman should euter another woman s house without due courtesy simply because it was a small one, bpt there were ways of making acquaintance with these women, and getting into touch with them, and the visitor would soon be surprised and pleased \° hud how many things they had in common. Jllrs. Hislop would like to see a guild formed ot matrons and girls for the purpose of bringing brightness into the lives of these hardworked mothers. Perhaps each member would not do very much, but if it were only taking care of the children for a littl-. while, or in some other way lifting the burden from the shoulders of the overtaxed • mother, it would be worth doing. Sister Isabel explained that tlie object of the Mission was to extend a friendly hand to the people of the neighbourhood, to rescue men and women from tne sins of intemperance, gambling, and impurity, and to enable them to make the best of their own lives. With the increase of population, and tho increase of : prosperity, there had been no decreaso in vice, and the Church still had to fight hard for the souls or its people. This was an age of .philanthropy, and provision was made for young men and young women, for children, the ageci, and the infirm. The' Mission, while glad to help in all these directions, realised tlmt its special call was to the help of the working people who would not go to the city churches, ihere was an idea that the Tory Street Mission was only for tho poorest of the poor; that was because the Mission building was so very small. The Mission required a larger building, and it wanted funds. Mothers' meetings woro a special branch of the work, and these were attended regularly by from forty to fifty women. In connection with this was a cmngs-bank for mothers, where interest at the ratoot ton per cent, was given. The first year s_ deposits had only amounted to J.'s, the S o?n" d mu £ ? S ' J , ",' 1 this y° nr tllttfe h *<l been f SU - .J- no bank had been of great assistance to the women during this winter of severe sickness. Sister Isabel explained that tho Mission was enabled to/pay this high rate of interest by the sale to the women of articles of clotning given by friends. Thero was always a demand for second-hand clothing at a very low-price, and contributions from friends would be gratefully accepted. Another special foa-' ture of the work, was the' Saturday evening ?u£\ nS <ft r T u \ at ,Y, llio,l »«PPer was protvn h ,ff' of H,is was t0 <!lw »>en •pom tho pubhehouses, and it had proved verv •benoteinl. Sister Isabel concluded by instancing, several cases of men who Jiad fallen into a state of degradation, but, by the help of tlie Mission had been aWo to recover their footing among their iellow-tich.' The Rev. C Porter tendered the thank's of tho Mission to Mrs. Cooper, who had entertained the visitors, and to Mrs. Hislop for he • ad

■Judge Cooper paid a high tribute to tho work do . n e ty.H* Mayoress in Wellington. Ho said that in .hie-travels through the length of tho Dominion,he met many women who were earnest and energetic in their efforts to prothej lived, but ho had never met one who took a greater interest or. did'more for the people" of. the community .than was done by Mre