Philadelphia’s “Lighthouse."

White Ribbon, Volume 10, Issue 118, 15 March 1905, Page 10

Philadelphia’s “Lighthouse."

Philadelphia was a city of special interest to the W.C.TU. women of the United States during the month of November, as the locale of the U.S.A. National Convention.

In connection with Temperance work in that civic hive the “ Lighthouse ” and its allied forces is perhaps the most noteworthy feature. Th< “ Lighthouse ” has open doors from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m., and at any time during these hours patrons are supplied with wholesome drinks and food at reasonable prices. It is situated in the near neighbourhood of mills and factories, and is the centre of a large and growing Christian temperance social settlement.

The restaurant is not only self-sup-porting, but now contributes 500 dollars annually towards the expense of carrying on the general work. This general work includes men’s athletic and study clubs; outing and literary societies; labour unions’ conferences; the men’s gospel temperance union, whose weekly meetings are conducted by reclaimed men ; a boys' club of 850 members ; the woman’s building, in which are housed a day nursery, classes for sewing, millinery, arts and crafts, stenography, book-keeping, literary study, etc.; a choral union, and the gospel temperance society of women. The restaurant building for men has a splendid library of 6000 volumes, besides magazines and papers ; assembly and games rooms; shower baths, and a roof garden where summer evening assemblies may be held high up above the din and dirt of the city streets.

The “ Lighthouse ” work really owes its inception to Miss Esther Warner Kelly whc, with three or four other women workers, has now taken up her residence in a house adjoining the restaurant, and gives her unreserved energies and means to the neighbourhood work.