The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-01-28
What is Done in New York.
Mission Work on Water Street: Saw
ing the Lost: Rescuing the
Perishine

come prominent for the efficient and use
full work among the lowly and the lost
carried on in the institutions located
there. Best known and most vigorous of
them all, perhaps, is the McAuley Mis-
sion, formerly known as the Helping
Hand, at No. 316, conducted by Mr.. and
Mrs, Jerry McAuley. For eight years
they have devoted themselves to earnest
Christian labor in behalf of sailors, boat
men, longshoremen, discharged convicts,
and others, who, but for such efforts,
would, humanity speaking, have passed,
needless and unheeded, down to eternal
destruction. Every evening without ex
ception, week night and Sunday night,
and every Sunday afternoon, services
are held in the mission chapel, and sell
dom does a service pass in which some
soul does not profess to have received
lasting benefit
AT the corner of Dover and Water
streets, another of these nets of souls of
ters its attractions in the form of even
ing and Sabbath services These are
well attended, and the record of the past
is full of encouraging cases of CONVEX
sion. Men of the sea are the principal
attendants.
Across the way is to be found what
claims to be the original Water Street
Mission. On the evenings of Tuesday,
Wednesday and Friday, the comfortable
chapel Is open for service, as we'll as on
Sunday afternoon and evening. The
persons attending are not of as low a
class, perhaps, as those to be found at
the McAuley Mission, but none the less
have they souls to be saved. Sea cap
talns frequently are met here, and not
few such have found Christ within the
chapel walls Upon a recent occasion
captain hailing from Vermont rose in the
meeting and requested that prayer might
be offered for an old eomrade of his,
whose home was in different State and
who was also captain of vessel. The
speaker had found Christ for himself and
with emotion that he could not conceal
pressed the case of his friend. His sur
prise can hardly be conceived when that
friend rose from seat in the rear and
pleaded in his own behalf Neither was
previousl y aware of the others presence
and this earnest and unexpected plead
ing In his behalf was too much for the
latter speaker, and he soon became not
only convicted but converted man.
Upon the same side of the street, and
almost Immediately opposite the Nc
Auley Mission, is small and severely
unpretending building earring sign
which announces it to be Michael Dunn's
Home of Industry. It's brief but inter
estlng record as such would Justify the
name of Hive of Industry. The history
OF the building, and indeed of other of
these mission homes, gives unique evil
dence to the beneficial power of grace
divine upon things material This par
tlcular building was one of the vilest dens
OF lnlqulty In all New York It's former
occupants are serving life sentences in
the States Prison. Another of the build
ngs was devoted to the most brutal
sports. The new building of the Nc
Auley Mission marks the SPOT of a SINH
larly degraded haunt, but the gospel that
regenerates the foulest heart has done
Just such services for these former nests
Of evil.
Michael Dunn, or as his COMPANIONS
would call him, Mike Dunn, was once
a convict. Released from prison, he was
walking IN the neighborhood of Water
street with goddess acquaintance and
discussing ways and means. of raising
money. While In prison he had written
a sketch OF his life This he thought he
could sell for few dollars and use the
money to get out West, there to pursue
his old occupation-steaHng. His friend
thought that they could victimize Jerry
McAuley, and to him they went. The
mlssionary's wife and some other podlv
women saw Mr.. Dunn, shook him by the
hand, and made him promise to attend
the evening service He came most re-
i.uSc1tantly, because he had promised, but
fully determined never to attend again
That night the power Of God touched
his heart, and he soon experienced the
change that only the Holy Spirit can
bring about.
This took place less than two Years
since, and the newly saved man soon be-
gan to sympathize with those who like
himself, having served their terms in
prison, on being released, find so little
encouragement to honest lives This
idea was nursed until in January last
the building on Water street was secured
and fitted up in the most economical
manner possible. The results have abnp-
dainty verified the wisdom of the plan
Although only about a year in operation.
three hundred men, with few executions