Second Annual Report of the Woman's Union for Christian Work, of Lynn, Mass.,
For the Year Ending October 4, 1871.
Reading Room, No. 51 Market Street.
Thos. P. Nichols, Printer, No. 24 Market Street.
Lynn: 1872The Woman's Union for Christian Work has now, for the second time, arrived at the end of a year's labors. Our main purpose is to aid in the true elevation of women in our city, especially of the young, who come here as strangers, administering to their temporal needs when we find occasion. Although we may sometimes have been unmindful of the duties devolving upon us, yet we realize that, so far as we have faithfully labored, our work has not failed. Our membership has increased during the past year by eighty, the present number being three hundred and thirty-four, including one life member. The multitudes of needy cases which have presented themselves to our committees for visiting the poor and the sick, or which have come under the notice of our earnest Superintendent at the Reading Room, have in almost every instance received the relief most desired, either from our treasury or from contributions in money, food or clothing, by members of the Association. Deeply touched at the recital of many a tale of distress, and often greatly tried as to the best method to pursue, our hearts have ever had cause to thank God for placing within our reach some means of alleviation.
The numbers of young women who frequent the Reading Room continue to increase. While some who visited this room when first opened, soon learning to prize the home-like privileges here offered, still make it a frequent resting place, new faces are seen here every day, to re-appear and gain the home feeling. Many a young girl has expressed deep gratitude, that upon arriving in the city, a homeless stranger, unable to find employment, she found at our Reading Room sympathy, encouragement and practical aid in her time of trouble.
During the year intervening between Oct. 1, 1870, and Oct. 1, 1871, there have been in all about six thousand five hundred and seventy-four calls at the Reading Room, --eight hundred and sixty-seven of these from women seeking employment, and two hundred and twenty-four from those desiring boarding places. During the year which elapsed from Feb. 1, 1870, to Feb. 1, 1871, an account was kept of the number of individuals who might properly be called working-women, who visited
the room. It was found to be one thousand and ninety-five. The demand for women to work in families, I various capacities, is greater than the supply; but the Superintendent has been able to furnish only a small part of the applicants for board with desirable places.
The library now contains one hundred and thirty-four volumes. Besides these, may be found the leading periodicals of the day.
Until the summer, free instruction was rendered at the Reading Room in writing, drawing, wax-work and sewing, to all young women wishing to avail themselves of the privilege. The wax class presented to the room a pretty specimen of their work. The classes will probably soon be resumed for the season. The weekly social gatherings at this room (discontinued through the summer, but now resumed,) have usually been as large as our accommodations would comfortably admit. There have frequently been present from seventy to eighty persons, mostly young women transiently residing in the city for business. Enlivened with a piano and vocal music, games, an original manuscript paper, and sometimes selected reading, they have proved not only agreeable but profitable seasons. Several young women who have but lately commenced a Christian life, feel that they owe their change very much to our Association, which placed before them the home-like influences of the Reading Room as a turning point in their lives. Requests from such for devotional exercises at the close of the social gatherings, have frequently been complied with. Some members of the Association and young people who visit the room have felt the need of instituting a prayer meeting. On the Monday evenings immediately preceding the September and October meetings of he Association, refreshing and strengthening prayer meetings were held at the residence of one of our members. At the meeting of the Association, held September 6th, it was voted to add to the standing committees for the year now opening, a Devotional Committee, whose duty it shall be to make arrangements for prayer meetings to be held by the Woman's Union.
A Committee from our Association, including members of the Advisory Committee, have made arrangements for a course of five public Lyceum Lectures, supplemented by a concert. These will be held in Music Hall successive Thursday evenings, commencing October 26th. If any pecuniary profit arise from them, it will be devoted to the work of the Woman's Union.
From the first organization of our Society, the Young Men's Christian Association have offered us free use of their audience-room at any time when not needed by them. We would most gratefully acknowledge this favor, having availed ourselves of the privilege of holding there our regular monthly meetings. We are much indebted to Mr. P.L. Cox and his co-laborers of the Lynn Reporter for repeated and continued favors in the columns of their valuable paper. Also to the editors of the Lynn Transcript for similar favors. To all who have aided us, by donations in money or in books, newspapers, periodicals, tracts, games, or other articles for the Reading Room; to all who have assisted our labors in other ways, if only by words of encouragement, we would return our heartfelt thanks.
Fellow laborers, having put our hand to the plough, let us sow good seed, and unitedly, as well as individually, let us pray that heavenly dews may water it. And asking, we shall receive a rich harvest; in due time we shall reap, if we faint not, a harvest of joy in our own hearts, overflowing love toward each other, love toward our less favored sisters, for whom we are willing to sacrifice a little ease; love toward the Giver of all good; and with all this, the knowledge that the dignity of true womanhood is surely advancing in our city. What a harvest! Yet we have already realized such in kind where we have labored. Let us each, while working more earnestly than ever before, invite many more laborers to join us, that we may the coming year cultivate more widely the great field before us.
LOUISA P. HOAG, Rec. Sec'y.
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