Extract from eighteenth Annual report of the Rescue Society : the Contagious Diseases Acts.

  • Rescue Society.
Date:
1872
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Extract from eighteenth Annual report of the Rescue Society : the Contagious Diseases Acts. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

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    read the Scriptures, and their infant lips seem to breathe already the spirit of piety and faith. Her case is that of many whom the Kescue Society has been the means, though only instrumentally, of leading into the paths of virtue and godliness. The Committee could point to some who are engaged in going amongst the degraded and destitute classes, as Bible-women and Visitors, who were once themselves of the lowest dregs of society. These great results have been brought about by the most persevering, patient, prayerful efforts. During many months and years these once-distraught ones have been under the in- fluence of, or kept in view by the Society’s devoted agents, and the Committee are confident in the expression of the con- viction that any less exertion, or patience, or faith, would have failed in the purpose desired. They have never favoured any general emigration scheme for the removal to other coun- tries of those who have lost hope and character in this. They have even been unwilling that their charges should, when pre- pared for employment and fit to be recommended to situations, go to any distance from them. They are invariably placed near to, or within a few miles of the Homes, so as to be visited by, or, in their turn, to have the opportunity of visiting the motherly and sisterly friends, by whose loving influence they have been benefited, and to whom they have become deeply attached. By these and every other available means the teaching and influence of the Home has been kept up, and hence the results, under God, that have followed. The Committee have very inadequately described some of the means by which the reclamation of fallen women has been, and is being effected. They would now contrast with these labours the operations by which the agents employed in carrying out the Contagious Diseases Acts, are alleged to have reclaimed large numbers of “unfortunate” women in the districts subjected to the Acts, although, in fact, the plea has seldom been put forth as to any other district than Plymouth. In the first place, serious consideration must be given to the circumstances under which these women are brought within the influence, good or bad, of the officers in question. This Committee have ever found that there must not only be a willingness on the part of the women to be rescued, but an earnest disposition for it, resulting from feelings very nearly allied to godly repentance, though not actually such, viz., dis- tress of mind, compunction of conscience, and a longing for a