THE FEMALE REFUGE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1156, 24 January 1874, Page 1

THE FEMALE REFUGE.

The report " on religion " of the Presbyterian Synod contains (or perhaps we ought to say did contain) a graceful and well-merited tribute to the ladies who have exerted themselves in establishing and sustaining in a state of efficiency the Female .Refuge, ft is a subject of regret to the friends and supporters of this excellent institution that the Hey. Dr Stuart has thought ifc to be his duty to move that a portion of the paragi-aph relating to the Refuge be left out, on the ground that great success had not attended the efforts of the Ladies' Committee. The Key. Mr Gow agreed with the Itev. Dr Stuart, and the last clause in the paragraph, relating to the Refuge, was struck out. We believe that the whole clause might have been retained with perfect truth. The Ladies' Committee, considering the very short time that has elapsed since the first step was taken, have met with great success. The subscriptions have been very liberal. The Provincial Government have generously contributed pound for pound on the sum collected in 1873, and with tire funds thus placed at their disposal, the Committee have purchased a suitable house, which they have greatly improved, and are now about to erect a large laundry, with sleeping accommodation over it for an additional number of inmates. There are now eight women in the Refuge, jinrl the new buildings will accommodate ten or twelve more. Most of the present inmates are young women not wholly lost to shame, and therefore affording fair hope of permanent reform. These unfortunates are well-conductpd and industrious, and -are now earning something considerable towards their own support ; and we have no doubt that when the report of the Committee is published at the end of the first year (June, 1874), the public will find it satisfactory.

Those who first organise an institution of this kind, in which much is, in the first instance, tentative or experimental, have many difficulties to contend with. The cljiss of females which they desire to reclaim consists of young women not hardened to vice, and who are therefore not past reformation. But these, from ignorance or shame, do not readily present themselves. They have to be sought out and enquired for in most cases. Those who do present themselves most readily are women of more mature years and of confirmed vicious habits, who would fain make use of the Refuge as a comfortable temporary shelter, without any serious thoughts of permanent reformation. Their professions of piety ai-e not unlikely to impose on the ladies, who cannot themselves be familiar with all the phases of vice, A little well-directed police enquiry would do much in such cases. Fortunately, applicants of this last class have not been numerous, and on the wholo success — great success in proportion to the means at their disposal — 'has attended the labours of the Committee,

There was no apparent reason why tlio report on religion should have contained the panagwrfc referred, to. It

Synod. The Kefuge is not a Presbyterian Institution. Many,, perhaps most of the promoters, are members of other denominations ; but if any one sect can justly arrogate to itself superior claims as originators of the Refuge, we believe the credit is due to certain ladies of the Wesleyan Church. But as the paragraph was in the report on religion, we think it should have been allowed to remain there. We trust that the support of the benevolent will be liberally extended to the Refuge during the current year, in spite of the motion of Dr Stuart, which we fear would have a tendency, if unexplained, to check that support. _