New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-05
4 FREE LODGING HOUSE.

A good Methodist clergyman of this city,
having applications at night this Winter for
food and shelter from more labOrers out OF
work and Outcasts than he could relieve, was
not cOntented to pass them to his richer
neghbOr and shut his door; but, at the sug-
gestiOn of member of his con gregatiOn, called
in two or three of his friends, few weeks
ago. honest, well-meaning men like himself, to
devise some efficient aid. The best they could
do was TO apply for the Use Of vacant police
building, and have it scrubbed and fitted with
plain beds The moment the first step was
taken everybody was ready to help. Gas and
coal came from this quarter, bedding from
that; restaurant keepers sent soups, bakers
bread, housekeepers each little OF
their abundance. The management, book
keeping, etc, were all given gratuitOusly
even the cook is volunteer. On De-
cember Is the house was opened, and
fourteen homeless men were fed, warmed, and
provided with beds The next day fifty came.
The number has steadily increased each day
last week over two thousand were received,
given place TO sleep and to wash their clothes,
and a comfortable supper and breakfast. Many
of this number were in the very lowest walks
of life, but there was q large proportion of
clerks bOOkkeepers, mechanics, ETC., tenn
porarily out of employment. 1t is the design
of the Committee, if supported, to extend the
relief until, as they say, there shall not be in
this Christian metropolis mouth unfed The
building is called Lodging Rooms of the How
ard Relief Committee, No. 40 Leonard
and we fancy if the spirit of Christ is to be
found anywhere in this seething caldron of
city, it is in that old police station.
The point to which we wish to call attention
is the informal, small way in which this charity
originated, and the curious fact that the widest
and most successful organizations for charity
have usually been those which originated in
an informal and small way. When large sums
are collected and mass meetings called before
going to work, the spirit of rivalry and dissen-
sion comes in at the very inception of the
plan. A scheme something similar to this was
started during the war by one or two ladies
living near a Philadelphia railroad depot. who,
when train with soldiers came in, were in
the habit of sending a can of hot coffee to
give half dozen of them, at least, warmth
and comfort. A few of their neighbors join
ing them, they hired an unused cooper
shop and put up stove in it. But OF
that feeble beginning grew the enormous
cOOper-shop refreshment houses, from
which literally millions of soldiers passing
to and from the war were fed, and II neces-
sary nursed, not only in Philadelphia, put In
the other Northern cities The present EFFORT
like that, grows out of an honest endeaVor 10
serve present urgent need, and as II grows
only with the need, will, we are assured. ne
managed with prudence and discretion. Inc
aid Of the LeOnard-st. house, or still Detter'
the establishment of like asylums IN other
neghborhoOds, is one of the best dispositions
which any of our readers can make OF their
charitable feelings or spare cash or movables;
nor need they after these examples hesitate
because their beginning must be small.