I. Organization:
At a meeting held on June 29, 1915, the following resolutions were adopted: (1) The general distribution in the Railroad rooms should be left to the New York Bible Society and the American Tract Society, except in cases where missionaries are especially interested. (2) The present methods of distribution in hospitals and detention rooms are approved. (3) The literature distributed in general should be interdenominational and not of a proselyting nature. (4) The New York Bible Society and the American Tract Society are requested to supply missionaries with literature for distribution in hospitals and detention rooms. (5) The Home Missions Council is requested to supply special tracts for young men and young women with advice for immigrants in general. (6) The Home Missions Council is requested to supply the detained immigrants with daily papers, periodicals and if possible with library books.
II. The Duty of the Committee:
(1) To see that the literature distributed is suitable. (2) If special kind of literature is needed to outline its character. (3) To see that immigrants, both outgoing and detained, are supplied with needed literature. (4) To see that the literature distributed is evangelical and undenominational.
III. Literature is Distributed:
(1) In the Railroad Rooms. (2) In the Detention Rooms, where immigrants are detained in large numbers, sometimes for months. (3) In the hospitals, where many immigrants are detained and literature is most welcome.
Charles A. Carrol,
Chairman of the Committee.
The Clothing of the Immigrants
at Ellis Island, N. Y.
One of the most important items in the work of the missionaries at Ellis Island is the work of providing suitable clothing and shoes for the many aliens detained at the Island. Only by strict adherence to certain principles can the work be a real success. The first of these principles is: Never give an alien that which is beneath his dignity to wear or to use. This may sound strange, but is nevertheless very important. All the aliens, except stowaways and warrant cases, bring their wearing apparel with them. Stowaways are as a rule not very particular. Warrant cases, since they have been in this country and know how to dress, are quite particular. The average alien will not look with favor upon any person who offers him a garment which is worn out, or which he would be ashamed to wear at home. There are other difficulties. Some of the aliens will not accept for instance an old lady's overcoat which was worn 20 years ago. Of such we receive quite an overwhelming number. Others cling strongly to their home fashions and will only accept such things as in some manner correspond to their accustomed styles. The second principle is: to give only to the really needy. Caution is necessary. Some immigrants are greedy, they accept everything which is offered, put it into their hampers, and keep on wearing their old worn-out duds in the hope of receiving still more gifts. Another principle is to try and fit the alien as well as possible. If the coat or shoes fit him, he will wear them with pleasure and will not feel ridiculous among his fellows.