The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-11-19
CITY INTELLIGENCE.
A GOOD MOVEMENT.

-, r,evo,s 10 commencing his discourse last Sunday
,orning one OF our city pastors Rev. W. ID. Haley re-
listed that those Of his congregation who believed
~, ,h work OF a pastor aud church extended beyond
cbing and hearing should remain at the close of the
r,ice A large number OF persons complied with the
n.t and he then stated that he had called them to
ether to lay before them proposition cr the perform
snce of duty society which he felt II imperative
tr them as Christians to discharge committee of
ladies' had been appointed at the recent annual meeting
10 whom was committed the disbursement of the charities
of the church In looking over the various claims
hich we're made upon their sympathies there none
nbich had impressed the committee and himself so
bly as the wretched condition of many of the poor
children of our city. A proposition had been made
IN a way which seemed to mark it special
n,ovdonce to gather these young pariahs from the
streets and alleys and to give them free of charge
,bs common rudiments of education. He believed
n was the best charity they could bestow, for il
cave what must be beneficial they always liable
~ mposition in the relief of adults but they gave
child The alphabet though there might be persons vile
enough to trade glass of whiskey for childs primer
II was impossible that they could rob the children of the
mower 10 read the Bible which was thus conferred.
In reply to an inquiry he said that il Congress and
the city should provide the most ample accommodation
for every child there would still exist this necessity for
Christian missionary action for in consequence oil neglect
drunkenness and oftcnmes Of mcrtoous poverty there
would be the undcstratum of society in which flourish
the foul weeds of violence dissipation profanity, and
rowdyism, which, if anything ever did, would at
last choke the thriving grain of our republic He
wanted to go in the and spirit of Jesus to those
who first feeling the gospel of fraternity in gift of need
ed clothing or a smoking dinner when half dead with
hunger would then be prepared for hearing the Gospel
Of Christ lie impored his hearers to make sacrifices in
order that comparatively poor and small as they were,
they might still feel they were doing their duty. lie
did not ask them TO give to enterprises OF question
able importance what they gave would go directly
10 the poor and would n be filtered through the sal
aries of secretaries and agents to distant localities The
work was right under their supervision and Its
quits would be in an exact ratio to their efforts
Several gentlemen spoke in terms of appreciation
of the plan amongst Others DR. Wallace mentioned that
in his position as a member of the city council he had
cogpizance Of the fact that from eight hundred to thou
sand children had applied for admission to the public
schools and had been refused for want of accommoda
ton and il was fair to infer that there equal
number who had not applied but who might be looked
up and by being educated be prepared for usefulness in
stead of growing up in vagabondage.
We are glad to hear that since Sunday such as
s,rances have been received have justified Rev.
Mr. Haley in employing teacher and in ma
king the necessary preparations for carrying his plan
into operation. Several gentlemen and ladies, not
belonging to the cation have expressed desire to
contribute for the support of so laudabe an under
taking and in addition to this, prominent capitalist
who belongs the Church under Mr. Haleys pastoratc
has sgned his willingness to build and present to til,
mission handsome edifce in the spring it, during the
winter shall be found that the enterprise is successful
We presume that the Rev w. d. Haley, whose address
is 81 Third street. will be very thankful for any aid
that may be forwarded to him from any of readers.