The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-02-19
A Free Lodging House.

A good Methodist clergyman Of this city,
having application 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 on to his
richer neighbor and shut his door but at
the suggestion Of a member of his congre-
cation, 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 !; acknowledges sent soups
bakers bread; housekeepers, each a
little of their abundance. The man.
agement, bookkeeping, etc., were
all given gratuitously; even the
cook is volunteer. On December Is the
house was opened, and fourteen houseless
men were fed, warmed, and provided with
beds. The next day fifty came. The
number was steadily increased each day
last week over two thousand were received,
given place to sleep and to wash their
clothes, and comfortable supper and
breakfast. Many of this number were in
in the very lowest walks of life, But there
was large proportion of clerks, book
keepers, mechanics, etc., temporarily out OF
employment. 1t is the design of the COM
mittee, if supported, to extend the relief,
until, as they say, there shall not be in this
Christian metropolis q mouth unfed. The
building is called Lodging Rooms of the
Howard Relief Committee, No. 40 Leonard
street and we fancy if the spirit of Christ
is to be found anywhere in this seething
cauldron of q 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 CHART y 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 o.
rivalry and dissension comes in at the very
inception Of the plan. A scheme something
similar to this was started during the wal
by one or two ladies living near Phladel.
phia railroad depot, who, when train
with soldiers came in, were in the habit OIL
sending can of hot coffee to give half 9
dozen of them, at least, warmth and com
fort. A few Of their neighbors joining
them, they hired an unused cooper-shop and
put up a stove in it. Out of that feeble
beginning grew the enormous cooper-shof
refreshment houses, from which literally
millions ofsoldiers passing to and from the
war were fed, and if necessary nursed, moi
only in Philadelphia, but in the Other
Northern cities. The present effort, like
that, grows out of an honest endeavor tc
serve apresent urgent need, and as it grows
only with the need, will, we are assured,
be managed with prudence and discretion
The aid of the Leonard street house, or
still better, the establishment of like asy.
lums in other neighborhoods, is one of the
best dispositions which any of our readers
can make of their charitable feelings OF
spare cash or movables; nor need they
after these examples hesitate because theil
beginning must be small.-N. Y. Tribune