RAISE THE FALLEN.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 464, 19 April 1890, Page 5

RAISE THE FALLEN.

While ministers and laymen in Auckland are being tossed to and fro in deep agitation of mind over some paltry doctrinal nicety, and are gazing at each other with lynx eyes, if by any means they might discover the perfect and the blameless, there is a little society hidden away amidst the squalor and poverty of Freeman’s Bay, called the “Helping Hand Mission,” the promoters and workers of which believe in doing and living for others, rather than engaging in chatter and religious nutmeggrating. While the commotion in the churches is at its height, they have stepped out into a new field (for them) of Christian enterprise, and have employed a lady (Sister Blakley) who has been solemnly set apart as the “ Sister Dora ” of the entire district to bind up the broken-hearted, ameliorate the condition of the poor that surround the mission, to visit, relieve, and to lift up the fallen who stumble across her path. Nominally she is controlled by the mission, but she has a much wider charter to sail under—one that is bound to no sect or creed, but wherever a wail or cry is heard all over the city to go there and give a helping hand. This new phase of the mission work was under contemplation for months prior to the project being launched. The work had grown to such an extent in its various departments (outside the regular mission services in the hall) that such a philanthropic and Christian agency was needed ; indeed, many such agencies are needed to-day all over the city. Since Mrs Hutchinson left for Queensland, there has not been a sister who has stepped into her place, to take up the real rescuo work of the city, and into whose heart a fallen girl could pour her tale of deception and woe. It is a well-known fact that girls have been found, and others are now walking our streets, whose cry is, “Save us from this awful life,” but who shrink back from the glare of exposure. It is pleasing to record that the new Sister of Mercy will aim to supply such a want, and do what she can to tell the erring ones that there is a “ brighter and a better way.” Sister Blakley has had considerable experience in London mission life and work, and she is well qualified by head and heart for the enterprise that she has devoted her life to.

One of our staff had a conversation with her a few days ago, and heard that she had found out six motherless children, whose lowest age was two years, whose father was away from them, and she arranged that the little ones would be placed in new quarters for the present, till something could be done for them.

She says that she is in great need for secondhand cast-off clothing, and if the good ladies would kindly remember her she would be glad. Any lady having parcels of such might address a note to her, care of the Mission Hall, Freeman’s Bay. She would arrange to send for the parcels. As the winter is closing in, such help would be a boon and blessing to many. It is very probable that if visitors went to the Hall on Sunday they would not find Sister Blakley, as she is often away visiting the homes ol the people, many of whom go nowhere on the Sabbath.

Her work has sometimes an amusing side to it. She has often to wash and dress a baby; sweep, arrange, and tidy up a sick room; and one of the last things we saw her do was to help at a christening in the Mission Hall, by carrying up one of the babies for a mother.

Such self-sacrificing services cannot go unrewarded, and the sister will have a hearty response and commendation from many kindly hearts that such a Christ-like enterprise may prosper.—* Auckland Star,’ April 15.