The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-10-31
An Appeal i'm Behalf of the Me,bad;sts n
Chie04O.

az Cuicdgo, presented the claims of the Meth
odists OF that city to the sympathy and aid OF
the brethren of Portland to a very respectable
audience at the Chestnut street Church last
evening. The meeting was opened by hymn
and prayer and the speaker was introduced by
Rev. A. i. Church
MIR. Parkhurst said that lie came to repre-
sent the combined interests of Methodism 10
Chicago. A consultation of the trustees of all
| the Methodist interests OF that city, beid few
| DAYS after the fire, decided that none who were
sent out for aid should plead for any individual
organization, but go in the name of the whole
church. Methodism is bound together every
where by.tes which no other church possesses.
| The sufferings of the brethren in Chicago af-
fected the churches in New England. The
| great destruction ir Chicago is to be accounted
for as folows:-On Saturday night twelve
| acres of ground were burned over. Every
steamer in the city hid been engaged in fight
| ing the fire. The vast coal heaps on the banks
of the river-the winter fuel of the great city
were all in red-hot glow. The fremen had
been at work upon thom, and when the second
fire broke out on Sunday night, at 10 o'clock,
the fremen had not an hours work left in
them. Those who were in the habit Of drink
ing were dead drunk, and those who never
drank were overcome with fatigue. A terrible
drouth had prevailed for weeks and the city
was as dry as a tinderb box. The dry winds
from the praires south and southwest of the
city blew gale; and these three facts COM
bined to extend the disaster. The speaker
here proceeded to explain the Topography Of
the burnt district. The fire extended over
three miles in four hours. At haifpast the
Water Works, which supplied the whole city.
took fire, and from that time there was not a
cup-ful of water to rink throughout that ter
rible confiagration. AT least three and third
times the population Of your city were turned
out of their homes in twenty-four hours. Ny
own parish embraced $50 families, and when
looked over my visiting list the next day I found
that every family had been made destitute.
My church, beautiful edifice of stone, which
cost $106,c00 exclusive of the land, was mass
of ruins, and the parsonage was also destroyed
Only the pulpit Bible was saved; rescued by a
young man who wrapped it up and took it to
place of safety, and it passed SO near the
flames that its velvet binding was scorched.
For ten hours / did nothing but go from fami-
ly to family to encourage and cheer my people.
When the fire broke out merchants naturally
went to their stores to save their property, feel
ing assured that their homes, which were at
distance from the fire, were safe; but the flames
swept round, cut them off, and their families
were driven before the devouring element and
became separated, only TO be gathered up from
distant points after days of anxious search.
And here the speaker went ON to relate some
&c. tI.oe \;
observation. I have read, said he, in the news
papers descriptions of that fearful event. and 1
have thrown the papers away from me, for the
narratives were far too tame. had seen more
than they could describe.
You ask me how your bounties are distrbut
ed? answer, more judiciously and faithfully
than they could be by any men sent from here.
For several years great central charity has
been in operation in Chicago, supported by
merchants, who were willing to give their
money, but had no time to listen to the fire.
quent appeals for aid., This was under the
charge of Mr.. Gibbs, a man of large executive
ability and big, sympathizing heart. he had
the city districted and called to his aid noble
Christian women, who had some time to spare,
and applications were sent to the lady in charge
of the district where the applicant lived, and
according to her report relief was furnished.
This was made the basis for the distribution of
supplies after the FIRE. The city is divided into
districts and sub-distrcts, under charge Of diff
ferent committees, who report every night to
the central Office their operations for the day.
AT one point is "shanty tent whore orders
are given for lumber for a small shanty, which
is lined with paper-felt and rooted with SINH
lar material. This is to be the home of FAM
lily for the winter. Stoves, food and clothing
are provided at other stations. The pastors of
the various churches were instrumental in
helping the work of distribution. Knowing
their own people, their condition and necessi-
ties, minister's certificate is recognized with
cut hesitation, while those who had no regular
place of worship were obliged to wait their
turn fer hours and be subjected to searching
examination before getting relief. tell you,
said the speaker, that it is worth something
now in Chicago for man to have been regu-
lar attendant at some church.
Mr. Parkhurst then presented the needs of
the Methodist churches in Chicago. The
buildings are gone and there are mortgages on
the real estate to the amount of $50, 600, which
are liable TO be foreclosed and the heretofore
strong men OF the denomination are penniless
now. Some of the weatlhiest and most liberal
few days ago are destitute and cannot give;
and unless the Church at the East stands be-
tween the sufferers and the capitalists who
holl these valuable mortgages, Methodism
must lose its place in Chicago. The brethren
there are doing all they can. They are erect
ing temporary structures in the ruins of their
churches; and they beg that their land may be
preserved TO them so that they can be assured
of their ground when they build permanently.
The State, be said, had assured tie recon
struction of the burned bridges, the city had
begun to replace the public buildings, the Gov
erDment would restore its property and private
capital and credit is already at work for itself !
He hoped that the contributions of Methodists
might be specifically devoted to the relief of the
Church to restore their churches and furnish
work and bread for their own membership.
The speaker closed by saying that if the appeal
which the Church in Chicago makes to the
Church at large is unheeded he would never,
in all his pastoral life, ask a contribution from
his people in aid of Church Extension.
A contribution, of cash and pledges, amount
ing to $3.50 was taken, and on motion a COM
mittee was appointed to work in the Methodist
churches in the city to-day and increase the
amount to $500.