The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 1888. THE MAGDALEN ASYLUM.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 747, 23 January 1888, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 1888. THE MAGDALEN ASYLUM.

Some of our readers will no doubt recollect that now rather more than a year ago we referred to the great work initiated by the Rev Father Ginaty, at Christchurch, m connection with the rescue of those frail and fallen women who are .found m all our cities, and to whom the term " unfortunates" is specially and expressively applied. Those who take an interest-— and what humaneperson does not ?— in the work of rescue, will also recollect the account gtv3n by the " Lyttelton Times " of the laying of the foundation stone of the MagdaV'n institution at Mount Magdala, and all such will be pleased to learn that since then a large portion of the permanent building has been erected. And a very handsome and comfortable building it Is. The photograph which Ites before us, as we write, and which we shall be happy to show to those interested, shows on/2rhalf of what will eventually be a quadrangular building, which will then be only one of a group of three edifices, the other two being the Convent for the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, who have charge of the institution, and a church. The portion already completed has a frontage of 125 ft, and is built o_ brick with dressings of Oamaru stone. There are j two towers, each yof*; high, containing three storeys, the rest of the building being lwor«torje^. The dormitories are situated on the upper floor, and on the lower or ground floor a jving which is for the present used as a , chapel, and a refectory 75ft by 25ft, besides a number of other apartments The kitchen and lavatory' are wall fitted and arranged, and every other necessary convenience and appointment appears to be provided for, the cost of the building *o far being over For a long time past the work of reclamation of the fallen bas been carried

od, and until the new building became available, temporary premises were occupied m the City of Christchurch, where thereare, we believe, on an average between twenty and thirty inmates, under the care of the good Sisters, who may be congratulated upon now possessing so suitable a home'] Jor themselves and their charges. ] It is pleasing to find that monetary aid I is accorded by Protestants as well as ! Catholics, and we noticed only the \ other day that one of our large landowners, Mr Allan M'Lean, set an excellent example m this way to others iby a donation of ;£no. We take this opportunity of pointing out that the institution is, although managed by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, open to all who need its shelter, irrespective altogether of creed, or race, and are assured that no attempt is made by the Sisters to proselytise. We *re quite aware that a contary impre_sio_. has been caused by an account of an interview with the Rev Father Ginaty, which found publication recently, m which the Rev gentleman was reported to have said that "he did not deny that it was attempted to make Catholics of those who were reformed " but we learn from his own lips that he never made any such statement, and tbat the fact is quite otherwise, no attempt whatever being made to turn those who are Protestants from their own faith. This being so, Christians of every; denomination not only can consistently subscribe to the institution but, more tban that, are, we consider, m duty bound to give it their countenance and active support, and we feel sure that Rev Father Ginaty will meet with a hearty response m this district to his appeal ftt aid m the Christ-like work which is being carried on under his superintendence at Mount Magdala.