Page:Portland, Oregon, its History and Builders volume 1.djvu/646

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girls on leaving mostly return to their families, while for others the sisters find suitable work.

Though all do not live up to the instructions given them, yet the sisters say that very many do well on leaving and they often receive letters from the people with whom the girls are living, telling how good they are.

This home is regularly visited by the public authorities and highly approved of.

The juvenile court regularly commits wayward girls to the sisters' care. The sentence is indeterminate, but usually after a year the girls are paroled if their behavior has been satisfactory. The sisters believe that many girls who are paroled would benefit very materially if left for several years in the home. This is particularly true of young girls.

The congregation of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd was founded by Father Eudes in 1667. This saintly French priest was solemnly beatified on April 25, of the present year.

THE FLORENCE CRITTENTON REFUGE HOME.

This organization, the Florence Crittenton Refuge Home of Portland, Oregon, is a branch of the International Florence Crittenton Mission of Washington, D, C. U. S. A.

It is the object of this organization to provide and maintain a home for the shelter and salvation of erring girls who are, or are not facing maternity; to receive and instruct them during the waiting period, bringing such influence to bear upon them in their sorrow, that they may be led to enter God's open door of forgiveness and hope; to encourage them in meeting the sacred obligation of motherhood ; to assist them in finding suitable occupation, if they are without friends, and to follow them with Christian love and care as they go forth to begin life anew.

It is entirely non-sectarian in character, and is supported by the voluntary contributions of large-hearted humane people without regard to creeds or churches; and who in the highest and best sense of the term are Christians in effort, trying to lift up, protect and reform the erring and betrayed. It is doing the same sort of work as the Sisters of the House of the Good Shepherd, and doing it well; providing a home and healthy and kind hearted surroundings at the present time for an average of forty or fifty inmates.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE.

The "Neighborhood House" is the unique expression of Portland benevolence. Say and think what you please about the Jewish people, they have the talent and the disposition to present the subject — any subject — in its most practical and effective position. They waste nothing on forms, ceremonies, creeds, customs or contention; but go straight to the important point, and secure success, if success is possible. They co-operate in public schools, charities, improvements, attend to their own business and make money. One would conclude that such a people would not need a charity institution. And the native American Jews do not need such an institution. But Russian and Polish Jew immigrants do ; and the Neigh- borhod House takes care of them. But it does not close its door against any other nationality. All are welcome. The Baby Home paraded Chinese and negro babies in the automobiles on "Tag Day," and the street crowds cheered. The Neighborhood House does the same thing — and its membership foots the bill.

The Neighborhood House is under the control of the "Jewish Women's Benevolent Society," which was organized in 1874, with C. H. Friendly as presi- dent, and Edward Kahn as secretary. Succeeding presidents of the society have been Mrs. B. Goldsmith, Mrs. B. Selling, Mrs. Steinhardt, Mrs. Marcus Fleisch- ner, and Mrs. H. Gerson, the present executive head of the society. The or-