WOMAN'S WORDS

AN ORIGINAL REVIEW OF WHAT THE SEX IS DOING.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1877, by MRS. JUAN LEWIS, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington, D. C.

MARY McHENRY.

MISS MARY McHENRY, whose portrait we give in this number of WOMAN’S WORDS, is the daughter of Dr. James McHenry, a native of Ireland, who came to America with his family about 1819. He was a physician of eminence in his own and also in his adopted country. He had considerable literary ability and was the author of several novels and poems. He was United States Consul at Londonderry at the time of his death. Miss McHenry was born in Philadelphia, where, with the exception of the time spent in seven visits abroad, she has always lived.

In November 1855, a lady called upon Miss McHenry, saying that a poor woman had died, leaving five young children; her husband being a drunkard there was no one to take care of them. Miss McHenry’s anxiety to provide for them, with her consequent action, was the beginning of her long career as benefactor of the suffering poor. The first meeting for the organization of the CHURCH HOME took place at the residence of Miss McHenry in January, 1856, at which a Board of Managers and Councilors was elected. Miss McHenry and Miss Connel took the house 1706 Sansom St. for the purposes of the institution. In a week’s time it was furnished by voluntary contributions. The work increased so rapidly that in March 1857, the home was removed to 1609 Pine St., a much larger house. The next year the lot at the corner of 22nd and Pine was taken for the erection of a new building. The first money paid toward it was the result of a magic-lantern exhibition by Miss McHenry and Mrs. Starr. In 1858, the new building was completed and the family were moved into it, within four years after the conception of the enterprise. In 1869, Miss McHenry after devoting fourteen years of energy to interests of the Church Home, left it, but was happy in knowing that it was free from debt.

THE LINCOLN INSTITUTE grew partly out of the need of seeing that boys from the Church Home, after reaching the age of twelve, should not be turned completely adrift, and partly out of the need of providing for Soldiers' Orphans. The object of this institution will be, after all the Soldiers' Orphans have been provided for, to care for boys between

the ages of twelve and twenty-one, so that they may not be left entirely alone after they are able to work for themselves. When a boy arrives at the age of twelve, if he pass a creditable examination in his studies, he is put in some situation where the work is light; as soon as old enough, he is, if possible, placed at some trade or in a permanent situation. The Institution has authority to bind them. All they earn under sixteen years of age goes to their support. and after sixteen they pay three dollars per week, for board and necessary care. They can remain in the institution until twenty-one, and in the night-school until sixteen. It will be seen that they are well cared for during the critical years while they are forming their characters, a feature in which this institution differs from every other. This is an idea original with Miss McHenry, and she has been from the beginning the first directress of the home, making its good one of the chief objects of her heart. The building 308 South Eleventh St., was publicly dedicated and opened April 17th 1866, with due ceremony.

THE EDUCATIONAL HOME was founded with a view of reaching some of the large number of children who do not attend any school, and if left to themselves would develop into dangerous members of society. The building is situated 49th and Greenway Avenue, and it was opened for its inmates December 1st 1873. Miss McHenry was projector and first directress of this institution also.

The Soldiers’ Reading Room, on Twentieth St., between Market and Chestnut was also founded by Miss McHenry, though she declined being first directress. It was opened October 13th, 1862 and the amount of good accomplished by it cannot be properly estimated in this world.

Miss McHenry was appointed one of the original members of the Woman’s Centennial Executive Committee and she is also President of the Board of Lady Visitors of the Soldiers’ Home. Besides these the amount of good that she has done privately is probably far greater than we some shall ever know. We can best sum up her work in the words of General MEADE, who, at the annual meeting of contributors to the Lincoln Institution, held January 18th 1872, when a testimonial was presented to her, spoke in behalf of the ladies and gentlemen present, in the following eloquent words,

“Your care of and devotion to the sick and wounded soldiers during the war – the energy you displayed in organizing reading rooms and supplying other useful means of moral amusement to the convalescent in the hospital, are well known to all; but it is especially your connection with the Lincoln Institution from its organization to this date which renders so appropriate this testimonial, for in my judgement to you and to you alone is due its creation and present successful condition. In its organization and management, you have displayed an executive ability rarely seen in a woman and, I may say, seldom found among men. In making this statement I do not underrate the value of the co-operative aid and influence which have assisted you. I am well aware of the noble liberality of our State in providing for Soldier’s Orphans. I know also of the generous contributions of the loyal and patriotic citizens of Philadelphia, and I acknowledge the active interest and services of the Managers and Councillors who have aided you, but I maintain that, great and successful as are these aids, but for your personal agency in selecting them and blending them into harmonious combination, we should not today be rejoicing over the success of our efforts in providing for the Soldier’s Orphans, and what is of equal importance, establishing an educational home for the laboring boys of this city.

“To your clear head is due the fact that the liberality of the State was taken advantage of for the Institution, not only in securing the benefit of general legislation, but in suggesting and securing special legislation. To your well known character for integrity and benevolence is due the prompt and liberal response of the patriotic to your calls for material aid. To your judgement and discrimination is due the ready rendition of the services of the ladies and gentlemen connected with you; in fact, your administrative ability and sound judgement and intense devotion to the cause, planned, created and successfully established the Institution, and it is due to you that I should state of my personal knowledge, that, from the first, more than six years past, your sagacity foresaw not only the necessity, but the practicability of creating ‘The Educational Home.’

“Pardon, I pray you, the personal character of these remarks, which I know your characteristic modesty would urge me to forebear, but they are pertinent to this occasion; they are due to you as a matter of truth; they are due to the donors of these gifts as evidences of the eminent propriety in making them. Receive, then these articles, and value them not for their intrinsic worth, but as representing the warm esteem and those who present them, and be assured that they are accompanied by the earnest prayers that He who has heretofore guided and inspired you will in future protect and bless you, and permit you to live many years to continue the sacred work you have to this moment so successfully accomplished.” And surely the countless numbers to whose lives she has been a blessing and salvation, her friends, who know her best, as well as those who know of her only as a noble life must and will make itself known and its influence felt, will sincerely echo this prayer.

Notes and References

1. Acknowledgements: Document courtesy of the University of Minnesota Libraries.