138 Justice Calls You to Female Salvation. seven out of ten being young women from the country." The Report of a Penitentiary stated, about ten years ago, that, of those received, fifty out of one hunderd and fifty had been servants. Melancholy! that one third of those personally administering to our daily comfort are likely to perish homeless outcasts. It is manifestly the duty of not only those who aspire to become benefactors to their fellow-creatures, but of ALL who, not intending to step far out of the beaten track in which circumstances have placed them, desire the well-being of themselves, their connexions, and immediate circle,-it is the interest of all to amend certain offenders; to caution the self-sufficient and hitherto unwarned; to admonish the young and unwary, our growing and grown-up male population of the dreadful mistake, the heathern darkness, in which they are TO THIS DAY enveloped, by supposing chastity a sexual virtue, and that the denunciations of Divine vengeance against a departure from it, are not directed equally against man as women. (See Eccles. xi. 9; 1 Sam. ii. 25; 1 Cor. v.; Jer. v. 8, 9; ix. 2; Mal. ii, 14, 15; Lev. xx. 10; Matt. v. 28; Eph. x.) Shall all the labours of the pious and benevolent be frustrated by the sinful supineness of society? Shall all their anxious cares, their very great exertions, their liberal expenditure of time, mind, fortune, and bodily strength, be engulfed by society permitting depraved and daring libertines of every rank continually to prepare fresh subjects for the Penitentiary; unchecked, almost unnoticed, nay, fostered by the indulgent passiveness with which their atrocious deeds are permitted to multiply, and often fatally shielded by the perversion of law? Now is the time to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armour of light, for Christian warfare. Let the vile be aware that their long sheltering night is drawing to a close; for the eye of popular inquiry, assisted by that light which they hate, even the light of true Christianity shall make manifest their deeds. Now is the time, friends and fellowlabourers, to make instant endeavour that purity may come out and be separate; by withdrawing from men known to be pursuing an unhallowed course, and by scrutinizing the equivocal and suspected person to refrain from touching the accursed thing. Remember Judg. v. 23, and Matt. xii. 30. Be not startled by the novelty of the suggestion. Witness the growth of the Temperance cause. You believe? Then search the Scriptures; and like the noble-minded Bereans, see whether the assertions here advanced" are so." And who can tell whether Christian exertions, both at home and abroad, shall not more abundantly flourish when we are prompt to detect and put away every Achan from among us; and when the unlawful spoiler is duly punished, the Israel of God may be no longer condemned to turn their backs before their enemies? (Joshua vii.) We warn you of what is demanded by your Christian profession. Be not overawed by the magnitude of the evil. Do you ask, "Who is sufficient for these things?" Even HE who is on our side, and who has promised to go forth with his faithful people. Revival in a Ship of War-At one of the recent New York Fulton Street prayer meetings, the Reverend Charles Jones, pastor of the Mariners' Church, gave some most cheering intelligence with regard to those that "go down to the sea in ships.' "In one of the national ships bound for China, to join the squadron in those seas, thirteen of the crew had been converted. The letter to Mr. Jones stated that the Holy Spirit seemed to prevade the whole ship-officers and men, On the preceding Sabbath,' the letter stated, when all assembled on the gun-deck for religious worship, the pious men on board were requested to be seated together, so that the ship's officers and men might know who professed to be on the Lord's side. In the midst of their services the whole of this company shared in their songs of praise, and spoke of their religious experiences; and, towards the close, they all rose in a body-those who had previously made profession of religion, and those who had recently been converted-and declared themselves to be followers of the Lord Jesus. The officers of the ship were present, and were deeply affected. Some wept, and hid their faces in their caps to conceal their emotions. The captain said that never before had he ever seen such a moving sight."" Midnight Meeting near the Haymarket' for Prayer and Addresses to Fallen Women, "Prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."-Malachi iii. 10. A FEW friends, who feel anxious for the welfare of the multitudes of fallen women who congregate every night in the Haymarket, Regent Street, and the principal Casinos and Cafés in the neighbourhood, have resolved, after mature consideration and earnest prayer that the Lord would be pleased to direct them, to attempt to convene some of these unhappy persons in a suitable place near those localities, where judicious addresses may be given, to be followed by prayer. After careful deliberations, the mode which appears to the conveners most likely to succeed is, to invite these persons to take tea and coffee. The following card will, therefore, be circulated amongst them: "The favor of your company is requested by several friends, who will meet in the St James' Restaurant, 69, Regent Street, to take tea and coffee together, on Wednesday Niglit, February 8th, at 12 o'clock precisely. This mode of invitation may appear to many strange and unnecessary, as well as the hour fixed upon. It may be remarked, however, that the class of women invited are "the gayest among the gay." associating with men who would teach them to laugh to scorn every thing of a religious character; besides which, their own departure from virture, and deeply impressed sense of utter exclusion from all that is moral and good, lead them to feel that they are utterly "LOST!" The difficulty, therefore, of gathering together persons so si:uated must be evident, and has caused many anxious thoughts to those who have taken up this work. The invitation in the above form has appeard to them most practicably. With regard to the hour fixed-the Casinos close at 12 o'clock, and the Haymarket and Coventry Street are more crowded at that time than at any other part of the night. The St James' Restaurant is very near; 140, Midnight Meeting – Remarkable Answers to Prayers. זיי! -- it contains two extensive rooms opening into each other, and the proprietor wishes well to the scheme. The cards, will be enclosed in envelopes and circulated in the casinos, Cafès and streets, by two friends who are accustomed to efforts among fallen women. The special object of this circular is, to request the prayers of the Lord's people for the success of this attempt. Two subjects for prayer is suggested-1. That those invited may, contrary to human probability, accept the invitation. and 2, That the blessing of the Lord may rest on the Meeting; that, these poor sinful wanderers, outcasts from virtuous society, reckless and despairing, and hastening to eternal ruin, may be convinced of sin, and brought by the Holy Spirit into the fold of our gracious Redeemer, who said to the repentant woman, "Neither do I condemn thee." The need of your prayers is deeply felt-may they arise to the Throne of Grace, and be answered. The friends who hold the Meeting will meet for prayer previous to the 8th. About 200 copies of this circular have been issued. The following friends have interested themselves in this Meeting-Messrs. Edward Wilson, Country Towns Mission, 27, Red Lion Square; J. Stabb, English Monthly Tract Society, ditto; T. Smith Fenate Aid Society, ditto J. F. Fortesque, and E. W. Thomas, London Female Preventive and Reformatory Institution, 200, Euston Road; W. Hornibrook, Trinity Home, Great Portland Street. Several Gentlemen have promised to attend. If many fallen women should come to the Meeting, and the Lord be graciously pleased to convince some of them of sin, so that they should desire to lead a new life, some will be received into the London Reformatory," and the "Trinity Home," aboved named, and further arrangements for the reception of others elsewhere, it funds can be provided.Theophilus Smith. The Midnight Meeting of Fallen Women near the Haymarket: Previous to holding the Meeting on the night of the 8th instant, the originators of the attempt issued a circular stating the object they had in view, and requesting the prayers of Christian people for the Lord's blessing Seven hundred copies of this circular were sent out. It is known that in many private circles prayer was offered, and that petitions arose to the throne of Grace from upwards of 50 Prayer Meetings, and from many large congregations in London, as well as froin many parts of the country and even in Ireland. Looking at the Meeting as a first attempt only, the results have been truly astonishing, Upwards of 150. women attended, and but for the obstacles placed in their way by various persons, there would have been a much larger attendance. Of these 15 are now in three Homes," one has returned to her father, aud many are under visitation, of some of whom there is a good hope that they may be rescued from a life of sin; whilst among the very persons sought to be benefited, there is a spirit of inquiry awakened, alike gratifying and encouraging to the promoters of the movement. The attention of the public has been awakened to a consideration of the position of our fallen women, and of the "Social Evil" generally, in a more practical.. manner than ever before known. Some applaud the movement, others condemn it, and many are urging great caution in seeking to guide its future progress. There can be no doubt, that it is the commencement of important measures, which may be calculated to offer a greater check r to one of the most gigantic evils of our country than any that have hitherto been attempted. The interest fel throughout the country, baso been manifested by the liberal response, which has been made to appeals or funds. These appeals have been made, not by the promoters of the movement, but by others interested in some of the Homes for fallen women, in order to provide Asylums for those who may be benefitted by the Midnight Meetings. Upwards of £1000 have been givin in less than a fortnight since the Meeting; two houses, at a short distance from town, and furniture, have been placed at the disposal of the promoters. of the movement, for the reception of penitents; and a Home is to be opened for the children of fallen women, in order that the mothers may return to respectable life. These are, most encouraging facts. Chris tian friends are requested again to offer their petitions at a Throne of Grace. A second Meeting is to be held at the St. James' Restaurant i on Tuesday Night, the 21st instant, at 12 o'clock. The following sub ject for prayer are suggested:-1. That the poor women, whose benefit, is sought, may be inclined to attend the Meeting. 2. That the presence. of God may be manifested at the Meeting, and His blessing accompany t it. 3. That opposers of the movement may be converted. Signed by the Promoters of the Midnight Movement THEOPHILUS SMITH, Surrey Terrace, New Cross; EDWARD WILSON, 27, Red Lion. Square; EDWARD W. THOMAS, 200, Euston Road; W. HORNIBROOK, 9, Great Portland Street, Portland Place; DANIEL COOPER, 11, Poultry, City, Treasurers-JOHN LA TOUCHE, 24, Norkfolk Street, Park Lane; JOHN STABB, 27, Red Lion Square. February 20, 1860... i THE SOCIAL EVIL-EXTRAORDINARY MEETING. One of the most extraordinary meetings which it has been our duty! to record for years past took place yesterday morning-or rather, the proceedings were to have commenced at midnight on Wednesday-at the ́ ́ St. James Restaurant, St. James' Hall, No. 69, Regent-street, in con nection with the important question of the great social evil. The meeting was none other than one of "fallen women." for the purpose of hearing prayer and addresses, and originated in this manner: Some gentlemen connected with the Country Towns Missions, English Monthly Tract Society, Female Aid Society, London Female Preventive and Reformatory Institution, the Trinity Home, and other institutions, feeling anxious for the welfare of the multitudes of fallen women who con-" gregate every night in the Haymarket, Regent-street, and the principal casinos and cafés in the neighbourhood, resolved, after mature consideration, to attempt to gather together some of those unhappy persons in a suitable place near those localities, where judicious addresses might be given, to be followed by prayer. The mode which to the conveners 142 " The Social Evil-Extraordinary Meeting. " appeared most likely to succeed was to invite them to tea and coffee; and a neat card, enclosed in an envelope was distributed amongst them at the casinos, cafés, and in the streets, worded as follows:-"The favour of your company is requested by several friends who will meet in the St. James's Restaurant, 69, Regent-street, to take tea and coffee together, on Wednesday night, February 8, at twelve o'clock precisely." Shortly before midnight a large number of these unfortunate creatures arrived at the entrance to the St. James's Restaurant, the majority of them most fashionably attired: here they were shown into the large dining room of the hall, capable of holding some handreds of persons. There was an abundant supply of tea and coffee, with bread and butter, toast and cake, to which the strange assembly did good justice at the various tables about the room, and round which they clustered in small parties of six or eight, chatting over the peculiarity of the meeting, and wondering what was to be the course of proceeding. The number gra. dually increased, till there must have been at least 250" unfortunates present. Whilst the repast was going on, several gentlemen present mustered together at a conspicuous spot for the purpose of addressing the meeting. Amongst them were the Hon. and Rev. Baptist Noel, the Rev. W. Brock, the Rev. W. O'Neile, the Rev. - Stoughton, La. touche, Esq., (the Banker), W J. Maxwell, Esq., Theophilus Smith, Esq, &c. Shortly after one o'clock, the Rev. W. Brock stepped forward and briefly opened the proceedings by stating the object of the meeting The Hon. and Rev. Baptist Noel then addressed those assembled in an eloquent yet pathetic and affectionate discourse, alluding to his hearers as his " dear young friends." He commenced by drawing a picture of the history of a virtuous woman from her childhood, pointing out the unspeakably love of the father and mother for the child, the association with sisters and brothers, the affection of the husband, and at last the love which she herself bears her own children; and then he compared that picture with the position of those who had erred from the paths of virtue. It was quite possible, however, he assured his hearers, that some of them might yet be happy. They might ask him how, and say it was difficult to become so; and so it was, he admitted, but it was not impossible; for they had a friend who was even more tenuer than the mother, and stronger in his love than the father, and one who would never desert them. He was a friend who would rescue them if they trusted in his boundless confidence. That friend was Jesus, their Savi our, who had died for them. He was with them in that room as certain as possible, and just ready to be their friend; therefore, he intreated them to turn to their Saviour. Their whole future depended upon whether they would have Him or not. He could take them to glory from a life which must end in perdition; could cleanse them of their sins and carry them to God. If they asked him when to do it, he should say al Once, and they would be happy for the rest of their lives; if they believed in Him they would be saved. The Saviour himself said, "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Would |