A PLACE OF REFUGE by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 14, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 15.

A PLACE OF REFUGE.

By Editor

THERE are many thousands of women and girls in the cities of San Francisco and Oakland who are considered outcasts of society. Some doubtless are victims of their own lascivious tendencies. Thousands more are victims of vanity, and have been corrupted through the lusts and hire of men. Thousands have been betrayed by men who won their affections and then basely deserted them, and then they have been crushed down into a lower life. Many of these have been educated to such a life by early days of indulgence in “pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness,” even as the daughters of Sodom of old. Many more from the ranks of girls just in their teens are constantly swelling the throngs of those doomed to destruction. Many of these desire to reform, but the frown of those who compose society, oftentimes worse sinners themselves measured by the rule of God, keeps back and down the weary, struggling soul, longing for purity, and light, and strength, and rest.

When the SIGNS OF THE TIMES became financially responsible for the Helping Hand Mission in San Francisco it knew that it was lifting a mighty load, a load that could not be borne save as God through His providence and by His children among our great family, assisted. In this He has not disappointed us, and we are grateful to our friends who have stood with us.

But as we began to labor for men, the problem of needier women has pressed and forced itself upon us. Imploring eyes and extended hands entreat us in Christ’s name for help, and we can not refuse; and we enter this work believing that our family of readers will stand by us here and help us to save some of the poor souls being engulfed in the great maelstrom of sin and vice in these great cities by the bay.

We have already secured a house of fifteen rooms, pleasant, beautiful for situation and surroundings, for a home in one of the suburbs of Oakland. We wish to place there a good man and woman, husband and wife, with a good, motherly, Christian woman as the earthly head of that home, and take there those whom we can by God’s help gather out from the breakers of death, give them Christian instruction, teach them to do housework, sewing, etc., and so fit them for useful positions. The home will be under the same general management as the Helping Hand Mission.

This is a simple statement. We believe God has guided so far. Who desires the privilege of assisting? Those who do may write to the secretary and treasurer, S. N. Curtiss, care SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.