The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-10-07
Temperance.
Jerry McAuley's Good Work.

The first memorial anniversary of
Jerry McAuley was recently held in the
Broadway Tabernacle, New York. A
to the address of Mr.. A. $. Hatch, who
from the first encouraged and helped
Jerry in his good work. Mr.. Hatch
said that there were gathered around
Jerry's bier a year ago the rich, the
poor, the Christian and the sinner. All
lamented his death. He had come out
of convcts cell to the platform of
mission. He had begun life badly and
ended it nobly. He came out of the
mud and mire determined to be some
body, and he spent his life getting
others out of the mire and mud, and did
his work faithfully. Since his death
no one who knew him had been heard
to say an unkind word against his pure
Christian life, covering a period of fif-
teen years. His good deeds would ever
be remembered. The speaker con-
cluded by saying that there were many
persons present who had been con-
verted by Jerry and who desired to be
heard. A tall, slim man, slightly bald
and neatly dressed, rose and said:
"More than thirty years of my life, |
am ashamed to acknowledge, have been
spent with the vilest characters in this
city. The outlaws of every city through
out the United States were known to
me. One day, about six years ago,
dropped into Jerry McAuley's Mission
on Water street Jerry saw me and
prayed for me. l gave him the history
of my life. He talked to me, and after
that we knelt down to pray. From that
moment | resolved, with Gods help, to
change the course of my life. l COM
menced to attend the meetings and
from that day to this l have done no
harm to living soul. 1t was Jerry's
hand that saved me, and | am glad to
be here to-day to bear testimony to his
noble deeds" Five years ago" said
short, stout, clean-shaven man,
was complete slave to strong drink.
1t had full control over me. | had no
chair to sit on, no table to eat on. In
one of my sprees | cut and slashed my
wife. A friend took me to Jerry's Mis-
sion one day. | thought to myself, as |
listened to Jerry, what fools they are to
speak the way they do. My friend told
Jerry who l was, and he came and took
a seat by my side. He began talking
earnestly to me. When left the place
that night | was a changed man. 1t
was the turning-point of my life. Since
then l have not tasted drop of liquor of
any kind, and the result is | have a good
home and make my wife happy. God
bless Jerry McAuley for it," "Seven
years ago" said a man with black
beard" | was a poor, miserable, help.
less drunkard, an opium smoker, and |
slept in stables and cellars. | had a
wife and children. l let them starve
and drank up the money. One day l
dropped into McAuley's Mission. He
pleaded with me to change my life. Il
will give you Bible to take home he
said. No, / have got Bible at home,
| replied, but l haven't looked at ii
for twenty years l changed from that
moment. | am now met with kindness
and affection by my family" Rev. DR.
Macarthur delivered brief eulogy or
the life of McAuley, after which Mr.
Hatch read letters of regret from Will
lam f. Dodge, Jr., Clinton B. Fisk
Rev. DR.. Deems and others. l.. Gil
bert then spoke of the memorial drink
ing fountain to be erected to the mem
DRY of McAuley, and also of the cree
ton of stone over his grave at Wood
lawn. The sum of S49S has already
been collected for the monument funC
and S797 for the fountain. DAILY
| World.