The Evangelist’s Plea: Saving Seattle’s 'Fallen Women' with a House of Refuge

By Evangelist Crittenton

Tentation Sunday.

Collection for the Florence Crittenton Mission Brings in about $1,500.

Evangelist Crittenton preached to nearly 2,000 persons at the Armory Sunday afternoon, and hundreds were turned away. Probably one-third of the audience was composed of young women. Judge Owen presided. A chorus choir sat on the stage at back of Mr. Crittenton and led the singing.

Mrs. Stoddart told the pathetic story of an outcast girl who said, 'Nobody cares for me.' Following which the evangelist spoke on the subject of rescue work. He showed how he has been moved to enter upon his life task of mission work many years ago, and he gave all of his available money and time for seventeen years in this cause.

Talking to a very plain audience, he told his hearers that police reports in the United States showed that 30,000 girls enter doors of ill fame each year, making an average of seven a month. Three girls come from all classes of society, from the highest to the lowest. It is said that the majority of them trace their downfall to false promises of marriage, calling ranks, dancing, and the low price of food for service.

In Eastern reports, it was specifically mentioned one large department store where the average pay for nine women amounted on the average to $15 per week. An attractive young widow went to this store and asked for a position. She was told by the floor manager that her work would only be $3.50, but 'I can live on that!' she exclaimed. Now none of the girls do live on their hired wages, to the head lady there, and she will tell you how to make good meet. When the applicant went to the head lady, she was told that it was the custom for the store girls to have gentlemen friends who supplemented their earnings.

Mr. Crittenton stated that on the average girls who enter houses of ill fame live five years, and no longer. He told many pathetic incidents connected with them which had come under his notice during the time that he had been engaged in the same work.

The evangelist's address moved many to tears, and at the conclusion he asked all who wanted a Florence Crittenton Mission Home in Seattle to stand up. The entire audience arose. He then took up a collection for the purpose, prefacing it with the announcement that not one cent would go towards his personal expenses, but directly to the home.

In case enough money could not be raised at once for a home in this state, either here or at Spokane, the sum raised now would be placed on deposit in the treasury of the National Florence Crittenton Association, and as soon as enough money could be raised the deposit would be returned here later with an added sum taken from eastern receipts.

As a result of the afternoon's collection, nearly $1,500 was subscribed. At 8 p.m. an enthusiastic Young People's meeting was held in the Armory, which was attended by about 1,000 persons. At 7 the Armory was again crowded to the doors. Mr. Crittenton preached a gospel sermon.

Services will be held today and tomorrow at the First M.E. Church, at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Mr. Crittenton said this morning 'Just what arrangements will be made to establish a home here cannot yet be announced. If someone will donate land to erect a home on, the money collected yesterday will go toward the building. If no donation is made, we will have to buy our own land. In many places where homes have been erected the local councils has donated sites.

'A Florence Crittenton Mission society will be organized at the work of establishing a home in this city. It will be pushed.

It usually takes about $10,000 to erect a home, and if we purchase our own land, that expense will be added. I will leave for Spokane about the middle of the week, as I have engagements from here to St. Paul. If I remained longer in Seattle the dates of all my meetings would have to be changed. Tuesday night's meeting will be the farewell.'