Announcement was made for a conference of station workers in Neuchatel, June 2, 3 and 4, 1910.
From these two great meetings, it would be discovered to any in attendance, that there is a purpose, and loyalty and persistence, characterizing the people and their methods, which is just as readily discovered in their everyday work.
Several similar and strong organizations are doing thoroughly good and effective work. The British Committee for the Abolition of State Regulation of Vice, under the efficient leadership of Henry J. Wilson, Member of Parliament, is one of merit. The London Council for the Promotion of Public Morality with the Bishop of London as chairman, is an organization standing for justice and skilled means in the obtaining.
The societies known as preventive are numerous The Girls' Friendly Society of the Church of England, is a splendid plan covering truly what its name implies, being real friends to its members. Their work includes clubs, classes, and a most careful record, copy of which is sent ahead to other cities or countries in case of removal, so that there are friends to meet them and continue the chain of friendship, reporting back to the national office from time to time, sustaining a relation to the girls wherever they go, friendship awaiting them through record made.
The Church Army of the Church of England is doing a most beautiful and many sided service, chiefly among the criminal, outcast, careless and neglected classes. They connect with the Probation System and help many who otherwise would go to the prisons, restoring many to their families and places in society. Their many departments include the League of Friends of the Poor, working toward removing causes of distress, giving employment where warranted, planning labor homes where direction is given to expenditures and habits. The Emigration Department seeks to farther locate some who are better for being quite away from old associates. The Women's Social Department is very successful. Industrial homes whether for rescue or preventive cases have been of great service. Women's clubs have held together those who have passed through these homes. A large work-room affords work for many who otherwise would find no way. Fresh air homes, dispensaries, factory girls' club, with the evangelists' training home, the missions, women's evangelistic departments, needle-work guild, out-door rescue work and rescue worker's training home, rescue workers' union, the Church Army Brotherhood and the many other departments make a very great plant yielding most beautiful fruitage in the lives of those helped.
From their rescue training home the sisters go forth, two by two, to seek during the night hours for the poor wanderers who haunt the thoroughfares. On such an evening out where London is worst, around Piccadilly, Bloomsbury, Haymarket, among the showy throngs, and in the less lighted streets where distressed, cowering, fearful ones wander, let us come with these workers and note the many who are willing to stop and receive a flower or a message or daintily prepared letter, and see the surprise when they feel that there are earnest souls who wish to be sincerely kind. Many are willing to stop and tell us their difficulties, some we will wish to see in the courts next day.
But in all our going about, morning, noon or night, we will have to admit our surprise that notwithstanding the many individual instances of wrecked lives who are influencing downward too many others, there is not a street in all London where we would not feel as safe as in the very best business streets of Chicago or New York. There are no dens of continuous growing infamy. Workers in all organizations are on the hunt for them. Police officials are alert and take the initiative in many instances; if a plant of this noxious kind is set out, it is uprooted before it has much chance for spreading its influence. Business men say, "We will not have them, no toleration is given, when known; there are no houses of prostitution, known as such for longer than till they can be taken before the courts."
The strenuous efforts of the organizations mentioned heretofore have been directed so long toward these things through preventive plans and legislation and wholesome law-enforcement that there is no longer any doubt concerning the wish of the people or their representatives in official places.
Since the reign of toleration of vice was broken by the strong word of government in 1886, there has been a winning battle, which though still on, has brought so much of victory that we can believe that completeness of triumph will dawn, and at just about the time that England shakes itself from the related enslaving chains of intemperance and the obstinate industrial system.