FACTS CONCERNING THE SHUT-IN SOCIETY.
By Daisy Boython
THE Shut-in Society originated in 1877, among a few sufferers. It rapidly increased in numbers till it became necessary to organize, which was done in 1884. Associate members from five different States were present. In 1887 the band numbered 2,000 names, which has been continually increasing as the many sufferers hear of it. The objects of the society are: 1. To relieve the weariness of the sick-room by sending and receiving letters and other tokens of remembrance. 2. To testify of the love and presence of Christ in hours of suffering and privation. 3. To pray for one another at set times; daily, at twilight hour, and weekly, on Tuesday morning at ten o'clock. 4. To stimulate faith, hope, patience, and courage in fellow-sufferers, by the study and presentation of Bible truths. The society consists of regular members and associate members. The regular members are invalids, blind, deaf, or the aged; to be wholly or partially shut in from the outside world constitutes one a proper candidate for membership in the society. The associates are those who are out in the busy, work-a-day world. Each associate is made acquainted by letter, through the executive committee, with one or more Shut-ins, thus bringing the bright sunshine and something of the busy world into the quietness of the sick-room, while they in turn oftentimes teach lessons of patience and cheerfulness under suffering and privation. All regular members under nineteen years of age are classed in the "children's department," and called the "Sunshine Makers," because they endeavor to impart some little ray of brightness into other lives. There are also children who are not sick, that are called "Cup-bearers," and occupy the same relation to the Shut-in children that the associates do toward the adult Shut-ins. Many a little Cup-bearer has been made happy by sending a ray of sunshine into the hearts of those who are living in the shadow of affliction. Some twenty circle letters are coming and going on their rounds among the children of the Shut-in Society. Even those who are well and able to be about their daily avocations watch for mail-time; how much more then do the Shut-ins look forward to the mail, which brings them words of comfort from friends far and near. It takes so little to make a bright day for such as these. A bright card, a few pieces of satin or silk, a paper now and then, just the thought of having someone remember you, comes like a healing balm to the weary heart. It is more blessed to give than to receive; and the Shut-in remembers this, as he sends on his precious treasures to others with whom he has become acquainted. Have you never seen an invalid sit and work for hours with a handkerchief or a bright string, placing it in different positions and tying it into innumerable knots, just to pass off the time? The "wheel-chair department," the "men's department," and the "missionary department" come under our notice. The society does not furnish wheel-chairs; but such as are donated to this department by associates and others, are distributed among those needing them. Those who wish wheel-chairs send in their names to the superintendent of this department, and their names are entered on the list, and they stand their chances of receiving a chair suited to their needs. Many a poor sufferer has been wheeled out into the warm sunshine by this means, who has not been out for many a long day. The "invalids' auxiliary" comes under the head of "missionary department." They who are lying on beds of suffering, or reclining on wheel-chairs, send up their offerings, many of them as the "widow's mite," to the superintendent of this department, all of which money is used in missionary work. The Shut-in Society is assisting in the Margaret Williamson Hospital in China. There the poor afflicted creatures are doctored by hundreds, and at the same time are taught of the love and salvation of Jesus Christ. The "invalids' auxiliary" is supporting a young girl there. She has been converted, and is a bright, intelligent girl. These members who cannot send money, sometimes send fancy-work, until from one State and another there is enough collected for a sale. The money is then used in the "missionary department." This giving, however, is not demanded, only those who wish to, and can do so. Each Christmas a package of letters, with a bright card in each, is sent to some person as a Christmas greeting for those who are shut in by their own misdeeds, who cannot say with those sending them, "And the Lord shut him in." The sailors, who are to a great extent shut out from the world, as they traverse the mighty deep, have been taken into consideration by the Shut-ins. Small libraries of some twenty books to each ship are being presented to many of the ships. Some send books they have, others send money to help buy books, others make scrap-books. Little bags, containing everything necessary to keep one's wardrobe in repair, are also made by loving fingers, and sent in His dear name. Hidden away in these little bags, to be discovered sometime, is a comforting text or a letter that will cause the brother on the vast waters to pause and think. So though the Shut-ins are shut in from the work of the world, the dear associates have brought the work in to them. The Open Window is the paper published in the interests of the society. On the cover is the picture of an open window, the curtain seemingly blown back by the breezes. Wound round the words, "The windows of my soul I throw wide open to the sun," is the lovely passion-vine, the crown and cross plainly visible in the flowers—a very suggestive emblem I think. If the weary ones endure the cross of suffering and privation, by and by the crown of everlasting happiness shall be awarded them. I pick up the little Open Window from off my table, and think of the many hundreds of weary ones watching for its coming, of the many thin fingers turning its leaves, and the eager eyes scanning its pages. In through this little Open Window come bright, cheering talks from the editor, letters from associates and Shut-ins, news from missionary work, the Sunshine-makers' Department, and bright rays of sunshine through the Bible-readings. All regular members pay fifty cents for the Open Window, if able, if not some kind associate pays for them. Associates and other subscribers pay one dollar per year. I think of the little leaflets bearing comforting words, flying hither and thither. If only one of these could speak as it flies from one to another, from State to State and from the islands of the sea, how many weary hearts it could tell that it had cheered and comforted. I believe God can and does assist in this work, as well as any other, and causes the right words to be sent to the right person. How often these words of comfort and sympathy have dropped into hearts tossed to and fro, scarcely knowing whether to let go their hold on God or not, and have soothed the troubled waves and strengthened the weak! Is not this a beautiful home missionary work—carried on among the associates and the invalid members, and they in turn among themselves, the sailors in their shut-outness, and the prisoners in their shut-inness? Many warm friendships are formed among the Shut-ins, which are helpful on both sides. Brothers and sisters in Christ, is not this work one in which our Father will smile approvingly? "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Anyone wishing further information concerning the Shut-in Society may address Mrs. Helen E. Brown, Secretary and Treasurer, 146 East Fifty-second Street, New York City.