The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-02-03
CITY NTELLI & T. NC Il
[For additional Local items see Third Page.l

SCENES AT TIE CITY PAsToR's.-Yester
day afternoon, moved by desire to observe and
personally ins pect the means and methods by
which Rev. Mir. McElwee, so well known as
The 'Citv Pastor,D was enabled t. furnish relief
to the many families who are lett in destitute
circums ances by the casualties of war, we
visited him at his residence in Lombard street.
near Broad, and found HIM actively engaged IN
the dis charge of his charitable duty. The par
lor into which we we're ushered was fitted up
plainly but with great neatness. In the centre
Of the room, seated at a table, we found the City
Pastor examining the recommendations and
vouchers of the various applicants Directly
opposite sat Miss II. Mooney, Drght-eyed and
cherry-cheeked girl, who has devoted her
young life to the great work of assisting the
widows and children OF those who have lost life
and health in defense OF their country. 1t is her
duty to take the names and residences OF all
persons who apply Tor assistance, and furnish
the information 10 certain benevolent ladies who
spend a portion OF their time in hunting up
needy families whose circumstances require in
slant relief The excellent wife OF the "Clty
Pastor' was buslly engaged IN distributing arti-
ces of clothing to those who seemed to re.
quire this kind of assistance.
Mr McElwee has introduced a system into his
operations which has y owed great saving of
time and labor. Eat h person deslrlue and makes
application at the depot OF supplies, directly
opposite to the residence OF the pastor, and are
furnished with a card numbered. They are all
heard in their turn; their names registered and
orders made out to suit their individual cases.
AS a general rule, they are furnished with the
simple necessaries OF lite, such as flour, meal,
potatoes, beef, mutton, turnps, cabbages, sau-
sage, and tea and coffee and sugar. When
sickness exists in the family, corn starch, farina
barley, and other de icacies are provided
Nothing but clothing is distributed from Mr..
MCElwee's house, and that entire department
is in charge of lis vie. In the ie moments
conversation we had with her, she informed us
that she had furnished 1000 pieces OF clothing to
destitute families, during the past six weeks, and
that she could easily dispose OF as much more'
nhoVa a,aHG 0f faTn IIIaSi in lie oIfy
who have cast-otf rament in their closets rotting
and falling prey to the ravages OF the mo tn
and the spider, which, it sent to Mrs. McEiwee,
would serve to protect some soldiers widow or
orphan from the pit less blasts of winter. She
intimated that she was IN great want of childrens
shoes, constant application being made for these
articles. How many abraded but not worm
out shoes are thrown aside every day BY the
wealthy, that could be proitably used by the
poor orphans of our defenders, the patter OF
whose little leet on uncarpeted floors chants a
sad requiem to the brave father or brother to
whom they looked for comfort support, and per
haps luxury
May we not ask of those who desire to be
charitable to make up packages of the debris,
and send them to Mrs. McElwee in such abund.
ant quantities that her rooms will not be able to
contain the stores ?
But these are not the only things that are
needed for distribution among the poor and
wretched Constant supplies OF edibles of a
substantial character are OF essential import
ance One benevolent farmer from an adjacent
county last week delivered at Mr.. McElWee's
door 80 bushels OF potatoes, 450 pounds of meal,
bushels of turnips, 20 pounds of sausage and
scrapp,e, and l6 quarts OF Lima beans. God
only knows how many HUNGRY mouths tnis great
beneactlon has filed. Are there any other
comfortable farmers that are willing to follow 20
excellent an example?
As we sat yesterday afternoon listening to the
sad story OF grief poured eloquently forth by
tremulous lips and fearful eyes, we could not
but wish that persons of means would spend one
leisure hour in the parlor of the City Pastor.
One request almost universally made was fol-
coal, and the saddest thing of all was that MIR.
McElwee was obi ged tu refuse, from the fact that
not single pound was al his disposal. The c)al
merchants OF Philadelphia could not do a more
benevolent act than to furnish an ample supply
of fuel to this charity as there are thousands o
worthy women and children pinched by cold in
this inclement season OF the year. We believe
that it is only necessary to mention this fact to
secure attention to II.
1t would not be difficult TO crowd our columns
with the incidents OF our visit. But we refrain
for the present. One thing occurred which we
cannot resist stating. An old ey.haired gentle
man happened 10 drop in, apparently with nc
particular object in view, hut was politely in
Vited to be seated. plainly dressed lady in
widows weeds was making her statement He
husband had been captured at Fair Oaks an(
taken to the den at Andersonville where he eX
pred from actual starvation. There was M
ostentatious display in her manner, but an un
hidden tear stole down her check as memOr'
carried her back to the blssful past. 1t was no
the only tear in the room. After stating he
case and adding that she had a sick child a
home and not a lump OF coal in the house, tn
old gentleman reached out an apparently well
filled pocket book and laid roll of bank bill
before the City Pastor, gave his initial, and re
tired with eyes swimming I'M tears. We knoS
not who he was, or how much he gave, but "