THE IMPERIAL WORK OF THE GIRLS' FRIENDLY SOCIETY.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."'
you allow me to bring before your readers the claims of the Imperial work of the Girls' Friendly Society ? This Society has spread far beyond the United Kingdom, beyond even the bounds of the Empire. Its object is the care and protection of the girls of the Empire wherever they may be, The Emigration DepartMent gives them a safe- conduct across the seas, but dangers await them on the dia.: tent shore, and the Girls' Friendly Society should be there ready to welcome and safeguard them. It does this through its lodges. They are a shelter for the newly arrived emigrant and a home, temporary or permanent, for members living in their vicinity, as well as a safe and happy place in which to spend leisure hours. There ought to be a lodge at every port and in every large town. This is very far from being the case. There is only one lodge in South Africa and only two in Canada. The reason for the deficiency is the very prosaic one—want of funds. The Central Fund is barely sufficient for the support of the home organization, so for the Imperial Fund the Society must appeal to outsiders, and surely it is a work that must appeal to all who have the welfare of our Empire at heart. The Imperial Fund bas a beggarly income of £50, utterly inadequate to meet the con- stant appeals for more and larger lddges to provide safety and comfort for our girl emigrants. Subscriptions and dona- tions may be sent to the Central Secretary, Miss Ethel Smith, G.F.S., Central Office, 39 Victoria Street, S.W.—I am, Sir President Southwark G.P.S., Diocesan Council,
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