The Monitor., 1885-05-01
PhiladeIphia's SUNDAY breakfast As
sOPiatiOn.

| fancy Ill asserting llie Most -ilt6ltStiliS
and instructive service which it is the pri-
vilege of the inhabitants OF the City OF
Brotherly Love to attend--that of the sun
day Breakfast Association. This associ-
tian people of Philadelphia, actuated by
principles of beneyolence and love for fall
len humanity was organized in November,
1878 and has for its object as set forth in
its constitution, "The promotion OF chris
tianity and temperance, and the anchor
alton of the condition of the poor and of
fallen humanity, by giving free breakfast
ON Sunday morning. the holding OF reiigi-
ous services and tile use Of such other
means as, from tiYe To time, ii may be
considered wise TO adopt.
Last Sundays exercises notwithstanding
the bad weather. were well attended. At
half-past eight o'clock the basement of
the old church at Eleventh and Wood was
occupied by about four hundred hungry
men and women. many OF them trembling
from Saturday nights debauch, and
some yet staggering from the effects of
the curse that had caused ninc-tenths of
the misery and vretchedness that was rep
resented with such terrible yiYidness in
this assembage The doors were opened
wide and no questions We're asked concern
ing the physical. moral or spiritual condi-
ton of these poor WretcheS or their reiigi-
ons creed or nationality All being seated,
with cups in their hands, attendants filed
into the room with baskets Of sandwiches
and buckets of coffee. After the singing
of Il familiar hymn and a short prayer Of
thanksgiving and blessing, the food was
served each person receiving fonr sand
wiches and three cups Of coffee. During
the distribution familiar hymns We're sung
by choir Of ladies and gentlemen After
all appetites had been satisfied, everyone
was invited upstairs to attend the religi-
ous services, am invitation that was eager
ly accepted by these poor, unfortunate
creatures, whose hearts. though hardened,
perhaps, by crime. and dulled by The hard
Slips of poverty and wretchcdncss, still
have a tender spot, and drink III the kind
words and precious truths that are spoken
and explained to them with an cagemess
and attention that is surely born OF de
sire to be and do better.
BY ten o'clock the five hundred and
ninety chairs in the large audience room on
the second floor were occupied by these
and others who listened to an interesting
address by Evangelist F. sehiverea, Of
Brooklyn Mr.. Sehiverea's theme was the
necessity of help from the Almighty. and
he made an earnest appeal 70 his audience
to turn to the Lord for help. He told his
own experience. Nine years ago he was
besotted husband At one of Moody
meetings in New York lie became convert
ed. took the pledge and started anew.
An address was then made by c. c. Han
cock. prominent business man of Phila-
delphia, and an active member Of the asso-
citation. which was listened to with attcn-
tio:.
The President, Lewis l. Bean. also a
representative business man Of the city
then called on the Secretary. d. f. Dimon,
for report Of the work during the year,
which was read as follows:
During the year from May i 1894. t.
April %. 1885. there were held twenty-siX
breakfasts, twenty-six tea services aud one
watch night service, New Years Eve.
Number fed during the year. u. ,3I: whole
number fed since the organization Of the
association. November 6, 1873. ,4.939.
The number that have Signed the pledge
during the year ending April 2Gth. 2.s35;
whole number that have signed the pledge
since the organization of the association.
11.941.
During the summer months tea ser
vices" are substituted for the breakfasts.
\ special feature of the services Of the
morning was the voluntary testimony of
nearly score ofmcn who. IN brief speeches.
told of the wonderful experiences they had
passed through, and how, through the
means of this noble association, they had
been reclaimed from the very lowest possi-
bic depths, and were now doing we'll. both
morally and materially.
An invitation to come mp and sign the
! pledge was accepted by many. and 6 more
( impressive temperance lecture was never
| given than the sight of those wretched,
blear-eycd men, living monuments Of the
curse of intemperauee, as with tears iii
their eyes they placed their name TO The
pledge and with trembling fingers tied in
their button holes the little pieces Of blue
ribbon, showing a purpose and determi-
nation to lead a higher and better life
These exercises, which We're deeply in
terestng and eiiectng. were intcrspersed
with excellent singing by the choir.
This Association, which SO faras known.
is the only one Of its kind in the United
States, and only one other in the world
that at Edinburgh. Scotland, has held its
meetings for several years past in the old
church at Eleventh and Wood streets but
with desire to better facilitate It's useful
ness, has purchased The Eleventh Baptist
Church on Twelfth street above Race.
The price of the church and lot has been
fixed at 5000 and TO the payment OF
this amount several thousand dollars have
already been subscribed. including 81 ,000
from the Eleventh Baptist Church The