Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-02-24

A Q40ft0x Oh the City Now Entitled to
be .Rechfi.scned-TheG Great Improve.
m$nt In the COlOred People and How
It Has Been Brought About she
PrPcttc9l BenevOlence Of the Lincoln
nIsssien, &c.
Many OF the citizens Of the District are aware
that the neighborhood of the old Contraband
camp, 18th and 4 streets, which was thickly
settled durifg and Immediately after the war by
colored people, the majority of whom had been
slaves, became known by the suggestive name
Of "Heils Bottom" This section was. on ac-
count Of the character OF many who lived there
or frequented it, (for numbers of the most de-
graded OF our colored population from other
parts of the city made 1t lOafng place, was for
years looked upon by the police az one of the
lowest places in the District. When thief
was wanted by the police, almost the first place
he would be looked for was the BOTTOM -
Time, it Is said, rights all things. and what was
'Helfs Bottom" once now deserves another
name: While fine houses have, to a great ex-
tent, taken the place Of the long rows of shan
ties, there is also found among the colored peo-
pie now living in that section as great improve
ment as can be found among any class of peO-
pie elsewhere. This Improvement is attributed
to the establishment of churches and schools
and the efforts put forth to elevate the race
Without disparagement to others, the work at
what Is known as
THE LINCOLN MISSION
deserves especial notice. During the war the
American Missionary Association of New York
Ga Congregational organization erected a
frame building on r street. between 18th and
18th, as nucleus for the work, and numbers of
colored children were taught in day and Sunday
schools established by 1t. About the time that
Howard university was erected q large structure
OF patent brick was built at the corner of 18th
and streets, from the funds out of which
Howard university was built. Here Sunday
school was established. which, like all other
human institutions. has had it's ups and downs
Up to three years ago the mission building was
popular place for cake walks, fairs and other
entertainments Of the same class, and had be-
come to the residents. both white and colored,
troll OF board OF trustees here
some Of whom had noted the fact
that children had grown up in the
Sunday school and gone into other churches, q
suggestion was made that If the proper man
was selected as a minister much more good
could be accomplished. Mr.. J. B. johnson, Of
Howard University. and DR.. Presbrey after cor
responding with the American Missionary assO-
ciation, induced that body to send here Rev. P.
3. Smith, a graduate of Howard University
then Congregational minister at Athens. Ohio
Mr.. Smith arrived in November, 1879, and en-
tered Immediately into the work. preaching
regularly Sunday morning and evenings, often
to only few children.
CHURCH ORGANIZED.
On January 10th, 1881, the church was consti-
tuted Of eleven members under the name of the
Lincoln Memorial Congregational church, and
Rev. 2. s. Smith was duly installed as pastor
Since that time the church has steadily grown,
but as. the GOored people are Methodists and
Baptists by Intuition, it has not grown SO rap
idly as SOME of the neighboring churches
OF those denominations. The communicates do
them are converts, and most of them grown.
There are two Sunday schools, one held In the
mornings numbering about Is, and the other
in the.afternoon in which number of the men,
bers Of the; First church CDR. Rankin's) labor,
having nearly 400 pupils.
SEWING SCHOOLS.
In addition to Mr.. Smiths labors, Mrs. Bah
cock, lady Of Boston, is engaged in the work
auxiliary to, church and Sunday school, She
has special charge ofthe "band of hope, number
Ing about $50 members; the sewing school, in
which she is assisted bv Is teachers, in instruct
ing about 100 colored girls in sewing. the gar.
the old ladies sewing circle, composed
OF women over sixty years of age. in
the eeWiQg schools all are rapidly
Improving, ana the attendance shows that they
appfecidue the instructions given. In addition
to these benevolent enterprises q night school.
at which anominal sum is charged for tuition, s
conducted by H. W. Hamilton, one of the stu
dents at Howard University, at which there is
an average attendance of seventy five. These
students are nearly all grown people, quite
number of the men and women wearing glasses.
SOme Of them, after hard work during the day,
spend two or three hours each evening in the
pursuit Of knowledge. and those who visit the
school assert that the progress shown is very
satisfactory. In addition to these schools free
Kindergarten has just been established in the
building, To crown all
THE DAY NURSERY.
established by the Associated Charities, is To-
Gated in the upper story of the building and here
every week day women who otherwise would
be compelled to remain at their homes to care
for their children. leave their babies, paying for
the care Of them few pennies day while they
go out to work. In one of the rooms devoted
to the nursery are to be found every conceiv-
able kind of plaything, with crib where the
infants may sleep. baby carriages, and other
apparatus to contribute to the comfort and
pleasure of the little ones; adjoining this room
Is dining room where those able to set at the
table are fed, and next to the dining room is a
kitchen. Mrs Williams has charge Of this ihsti-
tuition.
Thus it will be seen religion. education, indus
try and charity all have dwelling place in the
Lincoln Memorial Mission, and it has been
found that they all work together, tending to
the elevation of the race. Probably no one in
stitution IN Washington has been productive of
80 much good.
The Lovers Quarrel.
II.