PORTS OF ENTRY MISSIONARY HERALD r T 1 HE one institution in America ■* most gravely concerned with the coming and staying of the Immigrant is the Protestant Church EDWARD A. STEINER Ports of Entry Missionary Herald ISSUED BY The Joint Committee of Six REPRESENTING THE HOME MISSIONS COUNCIL AND THE COUNCIL OF WOMEN FOR HOME MISSIONS Room 713, 156 Fifth Avenue, New York THE HOME MISSIONS COUNCIL Representing Thirteen Evangelical Denominations Through Thirty-three Societies Engaged in Home Mission Service Chairman, Rev. Charles L. Thompson, D.D., 156 Fifth Avenue, New York Executive Committee S. L. Morris, D.D. Grant K. Lewis Charles H. Beck, D.D. H. L. Morehouse, D.D. A. S. Lloyd, D.D. R. D. Lord, D.D. C. Whitney, D.D. C. E. Schaeffer, D.D. William T. Demarest J. C. Kunzmann, D.D. R. A. Hutchison, D.D. H. C. Herring, D.D. John M. Moore, D.D. COUNCIL OF WOMEN FOR HOME MISSIONS Representing Seventeen Constituent Corresponding and Consulting Boards and Societies Engaged in Home Mission Service President, Mrs. George W. Coleman, 177 West Brookline Street, Boston, Mass. Executive Committee Mrs. Fred Smith Bennett Mrs. F. W. Wilcox Mrs. Charles L. Fry Mtfs. P. F. Jerome Miss Florence E. Fellowe Mrs. John S. Allen Miss May Leonard Woodruff Mrs. Mary Fisk Park Mrs. R. W. MacDonnell Mrs. D. E. Waid Mrs. W. C. Winsborough Mrs. Laura Gerould Craig Mrs. William S. Cook Mrs. O. R. Judd Miss Elizabeth B. Vermilye Mrs. P. M. Rossman Mrs. Charles F. Chase THE HOME MISSIONS COUNCIL Committee on Immigrant Work Chairman, Rev. William P. Shriver, 156 Fifth Avenue, New York F. D. Bovard, D.D. A. S. Hartman, D.D. Rev. R. L. Breed E. H. Rawlings, D.D. Rev. C. A. Brooks C. E. Schaeffer, D.D. F. H. Wright, D.D. Secretary, Rev. Joseph E. Perry, Ph.D. COUNCIL OF WOMEN FOR HOME MISSIONS Committee on Home Mission Interests Among Immigrants Mrs. 203 West Mrs. David W. Smith Mrs. George C. Moor Mrs. F. W. Wilcox Mrs. J. A. Lewis Mrs. D. J. Schneider Mrs. Helen McMillin Mrs. J. F. Hartman Miss Laura Swope Miss Laura V. Keck Mrs. Mary Fisk Park Mrs. D. B. Street Chairman, P. M. Rossman, 85th Street, New York Mrs. T. J. Copeland Miss Belle Bennett Miss Anna Hyatt Miss E. G. Long Mrs. E. H. Maynard Mrs. F. V. Green Mrs. C. W. Burns Mrs. W. M. Nichol Mrs. Wm. Rowland Mrs. Joseph McLester Mrs. H. M. Bremer Represented in the PORTS OF ENTRY MISSIONARY WORK by the Joint Committee of Six Rev. William P. Shriver Mrs. P. M. Rossman Rev. Reuben L. Breed Mrs. F. W. Wilcox Rev. Charles A. Brooks Miss Edith Grier Long Secretary, Rev. Joseph E. Perry, Ph.D. 7 AT THE RAILROAD TICKET OFFICE, ELLIS ISLAND 4 Ports of Entry SCARCELY any other three words form a phrase freighted with meaning so vital to our national life. Here is the con- vergence of streams of humanity flowing from the ends of the world. Through these gateways more than 33,000,000 aliens have come to our shores. Much that they have brought has been antagonistic to the spirit and purpose of our institutions, but their great contribution has been the world's wealth of physical strength, intellectual power, spiritual vigor, religious fervor and the incarnation of the yearning passion of the soul for. liberty and life. It is our duty to recognize the value of their offering in terms of manhood and womanhood and not merely in terms of finance and business, and to so discharge the responsibility involved in opening our gates, as to help them to properly appreciate their privilege and opportunity, and to make possible the realization of their ideals. Dr. Steiner says, "It is a big task, the biggest and most difficult and yet most rewarding task the Church has to face." The Immigrant's Welcome The Federal authorities endeavor to receive the immigrant with a genuinely humane welcome. Some of our ports have not build- ings properly equipped for receiving and examining immigrants and caring for the detained. Occasionally there are rumors of instances of harsh treatment on the part of the Government. For some of these there is doubtless occasion, but one who has the opportunity to see the Ports of Entry service in all its phases through a series of months, will be convinced that honesty, careful- ness and kindness characterize the method and manner of the Government officials and employees, and that nowhere else is the immigrant received more humanely and treated more kindly and courteously than at our Ports of Entry. Dr. Frederic C. Howe, Commissioner of Immigration at the Port of New York, recently said, "Ellis Island is public property and those of us who are over there are public servants. We have made provisions at Ellis Island so that every man, woman or child in the United States can participate in its administration. We did that through inviting suggestions, criticisms, complaints. We be- lieve the best curative of disease is sunlight, and the sunlight that we are aiming to turn on Ellis Island is the sunlight of as many human eyes as will turn themselves on that station with their sug- gestions or complaints. I invite you to come to Ellis Island, to see the station and to examine it, to meet your friends and to aid the six hundred men over there in the Government employ in making Ellis Island a place we all love." 5 Our Missionaries No part of the immigrant welcome service is more important than that which is done by the missionaries. Their purpose is pri- marily to parry the gospel story of salvation and good cheer. "Be- hold, I bring you glad tidings of great joy" is the message of the Ports of Entry missionary. This work, however, combines regard for spiritual life and material welfare. It must be humanitarian and philanthropic service of a very practical sort. It is the cup of water "In His name" given with the personal touch of one of His disciples. On page 18 will be found a list of other Societies and Organiza- tions engaged in this immigrant welcome service. The Home Missions Council and Council of Women for Home Missions At the annual meeting, January 12, 1915, the Committee on Immigrant Work reported — "We are confirmed by Dr. Selden's brief study and by all that we have seen and heard during the year in the opinion expressed in our last report, as follows : "If the Council desires to do the far-visioned thing, based on the broad and stable principles which should govern the King's business, let it lay hands upon the strongest available man and put him at the task of inquiry, of leadership, of unification, of inspira- tion, beginning at the port of entry and gradually extending his knowledge and influence until he stands at the center of the whole field of our service in alien tongues." "We do not, however, venture at this time to suggest a program so elaborate nor a task so comprehensive for the Council's repre- sentative. We review in effect our recommendation of last year that the Council proceed conservatively and that effort for the coming year be limited in the main to the ports of entry. The relatively small volume of immigration now coming in, while making less immediate demands upon us, affords peculiar advan- tages for study of the problems involved, for conference with Government officials, and for development, readjustment and or- ganization of the missionary force. At the end of a year of inquiry and effort along these lines, having all the time in view the larger field of our work across the country, your Committee hopes to be able to report substantial progress and to suggest how further to profit by the ground gained in the inquiries of last year and the year to come." "Your Committee is glad to be able to announce that the Coun- cil of Women for Home Missions has been increasingly interested in the matter under discussion and has recommended to its constit- uent bodies that they assume one-third of the expense of any plan adopted for the coming year." 6 At this meeting the following recommendation of the Business Committee was adopted, "That the Council, in cooperation with the Council of Women for Home Missions, ask the Rev. Joseph E. Perry, Ph.D., to act as representative of the two Councils at ports of entry, for the year beginning January 15, 1915." The task of directing the work of the representative of the two Councils at the Ports of Entry was given to a "Committee of Six" composed of three persons chosen from the "Immigrant Work Committee" of the Home Missions Council, and three from the "Committee of Missionary Interests Among the Immigrants" of the Council of Women. In accordance with the policy and program proposed by the "Committee of Six" the time of the secretary was spent mainly in touch with the missionary work and workers at the Ports of Entry in Philadelphia, Boston and Ellis Island. Conferences were held with representatives of the Federal Government and agents and workers of various societies working with the Immigrant, including the Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners at the Ports men- tioned, Mr. Green of the Federal Information Bureau, representa- tives of the Y. M. C. A., and Y. W. C. A. City and International Committees, the W. C. T. U., the Committee for Immigrants of America, the North American Civic League, the Travelers' Aid, the Immigrant Guide and Transfer Agency, and with missionaries working at these Ports. These interviews and conferences revealed : 1. The fact that organization and cooperation in this work is almost universally regarded as essential to the permanent establish- ment of any large service for the Immigrant, and especially is this true of the missionary work. It is quite generally regarded that lack of system is a great hindrance to the comprehensive effective- ness of this very important phase of the service rendered for the arriving Immigrant. 2. All other Societies and Agencies have rather definitely sys- tematized their work. This fact appeals to the Government officials and enables these Societies to have recognition and consideration by Federal and Municipal authorities and other agencies interested in the formation of any comprehensive scheme for the protection of the Immigrant. 3. In every Port the officials bear fine testimony to the very useful service rendered by the Christian missionaries. But even so their estimate is based on the social and humanitarian side of the work, and not on the spiritual phase of their service. 4. If the Christian missionaries and the religious workers were withdrawn from this service at the Ports of Entry, it would be like withdrawing the sun from the heavens. The activities involved in this service are as varied as the duties of a missionary in any other field of work. They must clothe the 7 naked, visit the sick, comfort the sorrowing-, cheer the despondent, give courage to the hesitating, frightened stranger, care for the dying, and sometimes minister at the burial service. They read to the illiterate, write letters and supply papers and literature. Indeed, they must be voice, ears, hands and feet ; even heart and soul to hundreds and thousands of these children from the old world, now babes in a new life. The true spirit of harmony, brotherly kindness, and heart sym pathy filled with the spirit of power of Christian love, characterizes their work. Nothing else could fulfil its mission. It is also very evident that the full potential value of this work has not yet been actualized. This part of the missionary service of the Christian Church may be made a much more forceful and fruitful agency in the work of the Kingdom. It ought to be a source and center of greater power in the Home missionary work of our entire country, and can be made an agency of power in our Foreign missionary work. To realize the full measure of the possible power and use- fulness of this branch of missionary work, is the central purpose of our task. To accomplish this purpose it was evident that our mis- sionary work should be organized in some comprehensive and defi- nite scheme that would unite practically all the religious forces and represent to the immigrant the heart and spirit of American Chris- tian sentiment, and that would combine in a practical way the work of all Ports of Entry, and also vitally relate this work to all immi- grant work inland, aiding and being supplemented by such work. In this way also our missionary work could be related readily to' all civic and philanthropic immigrant work in any city or com- munity. The adoption of such plan, because of its being inter- denominational in principle and having unselfish ideals, and being practical and comprehensive in its working, would commend itself to the Federal, Civic and Municipal Government authorities. It will commend itself also to the religious communities and societies for the same reasons, and also because of a possible lessening of expense, and of securing larger and more permanent results for the effort and money expended. A plan of organization was presented by the secretary to the Committee of Six, which was adopted by them and referred to the missionaries at Ellis Island for their consideration. This proposi- tion provided for the appointment of certain committees on the different departments of the missionary work, and for conferences of workers and for relating the work to that of other Ports of Entry, and for uniting the port missionary work to the missionary work inland. 8 Ellis Island THE center of the year's work has been Ellis Island, the great home and foreign mission field, in area covering a few acres, in influence compassing the entire world. Any one with ability to "sense" a condition standing at Ellis Island feels himself to be not at the "hub of the universe," but at the heart of the world, through which are circulating the life currents of the old world and the new. More than one-half of those coming to our shores enter by this gateway. Here is the beginning of the prepara- tion of this great mass of humanity for the process of assimilation into the American spirit and life. The missionaries at Ellis Island adopted the plan of organization approved by the Committee of Six, and appointed the committees provided for. The operation of this plan has been very satisfactory considering all that is involved. The Committees are organized and reports from some of them are given in the following pages. There are now twenty-five missionaries and workers represent- ing the Boards and Societies federated with the two Councils, and other Societies cooperating in the work of federating the religious forces in this branch of missionary service. The field of service and the activities of the missionaries at Ellis Island is typical of all Ports of Entry missionary work. The field of this ministry is : (a) The railroad rooms. Here quick work must be done. It is just touch and go. The missionaries of our Societies, the American Tract Society, the New York Bible Society, the Y. M. C. A., Y. W. C. A., W. C. T. U., and kindred agencies do most excellent service. (b) Among- the detained Immigrants. This is a field of varied service and is perhaps the place of greatest opportunity for our mis- sionaries and is specificalty their field. (c) The hospital. This is a very important part of the work for, and with, those who are detained. Of course, there is need of temporal relief and comforts, but here especially there are times when no one can minister except one who brings spiritual comfort and the cheer of the love of God. Missionary Activities THE missionaries at our Ports meet and aid representatives of the following nationalities, viz.: English, Irish, Scotch, Welsh, French, Swiss, German, Dutch, Belgian, Hebrews of various nations, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Ital- ian, Spanish, Portuguese, Austrian, Greek, Turkish, Armenian, Bulgarian, Servian, Roumanian, Albanian, Hungarian, Bohemian, Croatian, Slovenian, Ruthenian, Lithuanian, Russian, Polish, Mexi- can, Cuban, and other West Indian, Panamanian, Venezuelan, Columbian, Argentinian, Australian, Maltese, West African, Egyp- tian, Syrian, Persian, Hindu, Chaldean, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, — in all, 52. Visitors to Ellis Island often ask, "Just what do the mission- aries do ?" The Rev. Eliot White, Port Chaplain of the Protestant Episcopal City Mission Society, gives the following answer to this query: We meet those newly coming from the ocean steamers to Ellis Island, and less frequently, second-cabin passengers at the docks. We aid them through the Immigration Station in man)?- ways, with tickets, trunks and hand baggage, with food, sometimes getting milk heated for a baby, or "minding" little children while parents look for their trunks ; telegraph or telephone to relatives or friends, give information of many sorts, expediting the progress through the day's ordeals of those fortunate enough to pass without detention. As for those who are detained and designated for "special inquiry," our duties in their behalf are more complicated and often difficult and sad. Appeals must be written in many cases. Where the exclusion is mandatory, we have special opportunity for the specifically pastoral and consolatory offices in presence of bitter disappointment and sometimes heart-broken sorrow. Many are the physical needs also, of the detained, and those to be deported; indeed, the only limitation on service of this sort is the worker's time and strength. There is clothing to supply for those some- times wretchedly clad, and even barefooted on the cold stone floors, and there are errands to run for many a humble requirement. Then there is the often sad office of messenger between the sick in the immigrant hospital and their relatives detained on the main island, and sometimes a burial to conduct when the entrance to the land 10 of hope has been shadowed by some dear one's death. For some time after they have left Ellis Island, we maintain a "follow-up" correspondence with many whom we meet. Ellis Island Committees 1. Committee on Literature. Mr. Charles Carrol, Rev. G. J. D'Anchise, Miss Martha Troeck, Miss Teresa Fransee. 2. Detained Immigrants. Rev. P. D. Vassileff, Miss A. E. Mat- thews, Mrs. Athena Marmaroff*. 3. Clothing and Supplies. Rev. P. H. Land, Mr. Marmaroff, Miss Fransee, Miss Brys. 4. Hospitals. Miss Martha Troeck, Mrs. Tripp, Mr. D'Anchise. 5. Appeals. Rev. Eliot White, Rev. P. H. Land, Mr. Carbonetto, Mrs. Conversano. 6. Follow-up Committee. Dr. Perry representing the Committee of Six, Rev. P. D. Vassileff, Mrs. Conversano, Mrs. Tripp. 7. Religious Meetings and Entertainment. Mr. Charles Carrol, Rev. P. H. Land, Rev. Eliot White, Rev. P. D. Vassileff, Mr. Carbonetto, Mrs. Conversano, Miss Matthews, Miss Fransee. The Literature Committee I. Organization : At a meeting held on June 29, 191 5, the following resolutions were adopted: (1) The general distribution in the Railroad rooms should be left to the New York Bible Society and the American Tract Society, except in cases where missionaries are especially interested. (2) The present methods of distribution in hospitals and detention rooms are approved. (3) The literature distributed in general should be interdenominational and not of a proselyting nature. (4) The New York Bible Society and the American Tract Society are requested to supply missionaries with literature for distribution in hospitals and detention rooms. (5) The Home Missions Council is requested to supply special tracts for young men and young women with advice for immigrants in general. (6) The Home Missions Council is requested to supply the detained immigrants with daily papers, periodicals and if possible with library books. II. The Duty of the Committee: (1) To see that the literature distributed is suitable. (2) If special kind of literature is needed to outline its character. (3) To see that immigrants, both outgoing and detained, are supplied with needed literature. (4) To see that the literature distributed is evangelical and undenominational. III. Literature is Distributed: (1) In the Railroad Rooms. (2) In the Detention Rooms, where immigrants are detained in large numbers, sometimes for months. (3) In the hospitals, where many immigrants are de- tained and literature is most welcome. Charles A. Carrol, Chairman of the Committee. 1 1 The Clothing of the Immigrants at Ellis Island, N. Y. ONE of the most important items in the work of the mis- sionaries at Ellis Island is the work of providing suitable clothing and shoes for the many aliens detained at the Island. Only by strict adherence to certain principles can the work be a real success. The first of these principles is : Never give an alien that which is beneath his dignity to wear or to use. This may sound strange, but is nevertheless very important. All the aliens, except stowaways and warrant cases, bring their wear- ing apparel with them. Stowaways are as a rule not very particu- lar. Warrant cases, since they have been in this country and know how to dress, are quite particular. The average alien will not look with favor upon any person who offers him a gar- ment which is worn out, or which he would be ashamed to wear at home. There are other difficulties. Some of the aliens will not accept for instance an old lady's overcoat which was worn 20 years ago. Of such we receive quite an overwhelming number. Others cling strongly to their home fashions and will only accept such things as in some manner correspond to their accustomed styles. The second principle is : to give only to the really needy. Caution is necessary. Some immigrants are greedy, they accept everything which is offered, put it into their hampers, and keep on wearing their old worn-out duds in the hope of receiving still more gifts. Another principle is to try and fit the alien as well as possible. If the coat or shoes fit him, he will wear them with pleasure and will not feel ridiculous among his fellows. Another principle is to study the social training and tastes of the immigrants and if they need clothes give such things as will make their appearance more respectable. One of the purposes of the clothes department is: to have the alien appear before the Board of Special Inquiry as neat and respectable looking as possi- ble, so that he may be judged as he would look under ordinary circumstances, not as he arrives after a lengthy trip in the steerage. Another principle is: not to overlap. Where there is a number of missionaries there is always the danger of overlapping in the dis- tribution of gifts. At Ellis Island a clothes room of moderate proportions is in use. It is divided into sections, and clothes are kept separately for men, women, and children. Shoes and other things have their proper places. A great deal of valuable time is consumed in sort- ing out the things which are utterly unfit to give away. We can- not insist too strongly upon the necessity of not sending_ things which are useless, worn out, or ridiculous. The average alien has 12 a great deal more knowledge and taste than he is credited with by the donors in various churches. Shoes and clothes ought to be at least in good repair. It would be far better to send fewer and better things, than to send great boxes of indifferent material. The greatest needs. Underwear, suitable to the season of year, shoes of large proportions, men's overcoats, socks and stockings for all, infants' outfits for the newly born, and children's clothes are always welcome and appreciated. Also a lot of other things sel- dom received, garters, suspenders, toilet articles, such as combs, finecombs, shaving mugs, brushes, etc. All these things are needed every day. The most essential principle of all this work, however, is for the missionary to put heart into it, and not to let the recipient feel that the work is done perfunctorily or with aversion. The missionary sometimes must even show how to make use of the gift and must see to it that the clothes are actually worn, etc. It is a blessed work if properly done. Rev. P. H. Land, Chairman of the Committee. Missionary Work in the Immigrant Hospital, Ellis Island THE daily visits of the missionaries in the hospital wards on Ellis Island have proved a great blessing and a help to the immigrants. We are also in various ways helpful to the doctors and nurses in their attentions to the patients, and very often act as an interpreter. The missionaries are particularly responsible for those people in whose languages they are able to converse. They visit these daily, if possible or advisable, but they also pay attention by little gifts and sympathy to the other patients in the ward, and by doing so become friends to everybody. Our first object in visiting new arrivals is to let them know that the relatives who traveled with them on the same ship are waiting for them in the large Immigration Detention Rooms and will not leave before the sick one is discharged from the hospital. This is always welcome news, for most all the poor, helpless patients seem to be under the impression that their friends have left them when separated from them by the doctors. After a little explanation and comforting words, we leave (if advisable) some good litera- ture with them and promise soon to call again and bring greetings from their loved ones. As they see us talking to other patients, they find confidence and take courage among the strangers, and wait anxiously our return. We visit all the wards in the hospital except the contagious hospital, where the missionaries are allowed only by special permission from the Superintendent or doctors. The missionaries are called upon to supply the patients with the most necessary articles of clothing to those discharged from the hospital, and also to supply many children and adults with shoes and stockings when under treatment for trachoma or any other disease, which does not confine the patients to the bed. They fur- 13 nish the outfit for new-born infants for which the mothers had no chance to provide, or were too poor to do so. We bring tags, pic- ture books, dolls and other little gifts to the sick and lonesome children. To the adults we carry newspapers and magazines in dif- ferent languages, books, gospels and tracts. On Christmas we place trees in the different wards and give appropriate presents to all the patients. The missionaries communicate with the relatives or friends of the sick aliens. In case of death they assist in every way possible. Pastors often officiate at the funeral services. Martha M. Troeck, Chairman of Hospital Committee. Committee on Appeals and Petitions WHEN a case is excluded at Ellis Island an appeal is allowed to the Secretary of Labor in Washington, as a higher "court," except when the exclusion is because of certain contagious disease, mental inferiority and the like. The missionaries at Ellis Island not infrequently write the appeals, endeavoring to bring out points in the cases which strengthen the appellants' cause. They also make petitions for hospital treatment for such un- appealable cases as sufferers from trachoma, hookworm, etc. This treatment, if allowed by the Secretary of Labor, is at the expense of the aliens' relatives. If the afflicted person is cured, he or she is, if otherwise eligible to land, admitted to the country. Eliot White, For the Committee. In the complete working out of this plan the proper method will be for any missionary wishing to file an appeal, to confer with this Committee, and especially so before making an appeal to the Secretary of Labor in Washington. In some instances at least, this will be a protection for the missionary against unwise peti- tions of friends and relatives. Follow-up Committee THIS Committee is to be the connecting link between the Ports of Entry and the inland work. The missionaries fill out blanks, giving the name and destination of the arriving immigrant. These blanks are given to the Follow-up Com- mittee and duplicates with a letter are forwarded to a pastor or worker in the place of the immigrant's destination with a request that the family be visited, and a reply sent on the postal card enclosed with the letter. In this short period 198 names have been forwarded. It is, however, too soon to measure the value of this work. Mrs. Marie Conversano, For the Committee. 14 The effectiveness of the work of this Committee .necessitates - having a list of pastors and workers in the entire country. This will be greatly simplified by the appointment of local interdenomi- national committees such as have been appointed in several t6wns and cities. It can be made a most important force in correlating the work of the different Ports of Entry, and strengthening our inland missionary work. Committee of Religious Services COMMISSIONER HOWE having givera his consent to the holding of Religious Services, five of these were conducted in the spring and summer of 191 5, under the auspices of the missionaries representing the Congregational, Episco- pal, Lutheran, Methodist, and Presbyterian Churches. At present the best available hour on Sundays (2.30 to 3.30 p.m.) is occupied usually by a concert, so that the services have been somewhat interfered with. It is hoped, however, soon to meet this difficulty. E. White, _ For the Committee. This year frequently the missionaries have met once a week in a prayer service. During the year weekly entertainments have been given with a moving picture outfit provided by the Committee of Six for the detained immigrants. Other Societies Working at Ellis Island The New York Bible Society AT Ellis Island our missionaries aim to make it possible for each immigrant to obtain a copy of the Scriptures in his own language. Mr. Jackson has been engaged in this work for over thirty-six years. Mr. Lodsin is familiar with the language and customs of the Lettish, Russian, and Polish people. At Ellis Island during the year 629 Bibles, 3,047 New Testa- ments, and 27,510 portions of the Scriptures were distributed. American Tract Society DURING the current year at Ellis Island, the American Tract Society has distributed Christian literature in twen- ty-nine different languages, and a total of 150,270 volumes, booklets, tracts and periodicals. The number of immi- grants visited totals 386,595. 15 Mr. Ernest Jackson, missionary of the new york bible society at ellis island for more than thirty-six years Young Men's Christian Association FIVE port secretaries in America serve the thousands still coming. In Ellis Island, during the year, 7,807 men were helped ; 4,302 were given introductions to inland Associa- tions; 1,644 were tied up to relatives and friends, and 250 appeals were made in behalf of the detained. Similar services were rendered men landing in New York, Philadelphia, Boston and San Francisco. The Association has this year found excep- tional opportunities for service among men who could neither land nor leave. Port secretaries have assumed the responsibility of landing many of these people, found them employment, and re- ported regularly to the Immigration Commissioner concerning them. 16 The Young Women's Christian Association have two workers, one for the New Y ork branch office, and one for the national office. These are not engaged in strictly missionary work. The New York branch frequently sends some of its foreign-speaking work- ers to Ellis Island for special services. Plans for still greater national and international service may be formulated and adopted. The W. C. T. U. MRS. ATHENA MARMAROFF, missionary at Ellis Island, is under appointment by the National W. C. T. U., though the administration of the work is placed in the hands of New York State. Mrs. Marmaroff was educated at a Con- gregational Mission School in Monastir, Turkey. She speaks all the languages of the Balkan States. Mrs. Marmaroff works among Greeks, Roumanians, Bulgarians, Montenegrins and immigrants from other Balkan States. Her work is especially for women and children. During the month, of October, 1915, she gave out 3,500 tracts, 150 papers, one Bible, nine Testaments, and 65 Gospels. . The various Hebrew Societies are excellently organized for doing most effective service. The Report of Committee on United States Immigration Stations To the Board of Directors of the Hebrew Sheltering and Immigrant Aid Society of America: Your Committee is, under our Constitution, in "charge of all matters pertaining to the relation of the Society with the Federal Immigration authorities" and "the work of the Society at the vari- ous Immigration Stations." Accordingly we have during the year kept in close touch, not only with our Ellis Island Bureau but also with the work at the Immigration Stations of Boston, Philadelphia and Baltimore, con- ducted by our affiliated organizations at those ports. The bond of harmony which now exists between the workers at the various ports has been firmly cemented during the year, a fact which has resulted in great benefit to the Jewish Immigrants who sought admission at these ports. 17 Societies at Work at Ellis Island FROM the point of view of effecting - some definitely organ- ized plan of cooperation among the various agencies at work at Ellis Island, these agencies fall into four groups : i. National and Philanthropic Societies: Of which there are eleven, accredited with ten missionaries. These include such societies as the Polish National Alliance, the Slavonic Immi- grant Society, the Travelers' Aid Society, the Austrian Society of New York, etc. 2. Jewish Societies: Three accredited with three workers. The burden of this work falls upon the Hebrew Sheltering and Aid Society, which has six regular workers. 3. Catholic Societies : Of which there are four, accredited with eight workers, including five priests. Italian immigrants are particularly cared for under this group by the St. Rafael's Society. 4. Protestant Christian Agencies: Women's Baptist Home Mission Society Missionaries : Miss Martha M. Troeck Mrs. Marie C. Conversano Congregational Home Missionary Society Missionary : Rev. P. D. V assileff New York City Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church Missionary : Rev. Charles Samuelson Methodist Woman's Home Missionary Society Missionaries : Miss A. E. Mathews Immigrant Home : Miss Ellen Stenman Woman's Board of Home Missions, Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. Missionary: Miss Teresa Fransee Protestant Episcopal City Mission Society Missionaries : Rev. Elliot White Rev. G. J. D'Anchise Board of Domestic Missions of the Reformed Church in America Missionary : Rev. Sidney Zandstra Board of Home Missions, Reformed Church in the United States Missionary: Rev. P. H. Land The Lutheran Emigrant House Association {German) (Connected with the Lutheran General Council), 21 Pearl Street, New York City. Missionaries : Rev. Fritz O. Evers, Supt. Mr. Adolph Metshone Swedish Lutheran Immigrant Home (Connected with the Lutheran General Council) 5 Water Street, Missionary Supt., Rev. Axel C. H. Helander. 18 Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (united) 410 Grand Avenue, Kenosha, Wis Missionary: Rev. J. J. Kildsig 193 9th Street, Brooklyn Missionary: Rev. R. Andersen German Evangelical Lutheran Synod (Lutheran Immigrant Society) 8 State Street, New York City Missionary: Rev. C. H. Restin, Supt. Norwegian Lutheran Church of America, United Missionary: Rev. T. Aug. Tillehei Swedish Evangelical Mission Covenant of America Missionary: Rev. P. Peterson Young Men's Christian Association: The International Committee Workers: Rev. J. D. Marmaroff Mr. A. Carbonetto Young Women's Christian Association: National Board Miss Mabel Cratty,. Gen'l Sec'y 600 Lexington Avenue, New York City Worker: Miss Adelaide Currie Women's Christian Temperance Union Worker: Mrs. Athena Marmaroff American Tract Society, New York City Missionary : Mr. Charles Carrol New York Bible Society Missionaries: Mr. Ernest Jackson Rev. Michael Lodsin (EtfriBtmaH 027 "371 718 5i6 483 330 233 2,638 I.4QI 3,357 2,6l7 4,73i 1,824 3.50 l67 31,421 22,922 303.338 204,074 30