The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1885-10-11
THE CENTRAL UNION MISSION
By GREYDEARp,

By GREYBEARD.
The public generally little knows OF the great good
that Is being accomplished in the rooms OF the Cen.
tral Union Mission, at 900 Pennsylvania avenue. A
reporter OF The SUNDAY HERALD dropped in and
spent the evening at one OF these meetings during
the past week. II was most interesting occasion.
The " experiences in sin and crime as told by
those converts, who had each deyoteda quarter of
century, more or less, TO serving the deyi,n held
their listeners spelbound. Some OF the narratives
were thrilling In the extreme. The sincerity and
me earnest enthusiasm with which these ex-sinners
described their new-found happiness In coming into
the fold of Christ was beautiful to behold Il al.
most melted the callous heart OF the reporter whose
dog-nght or scenes at an "opium joint up 10 n
sermon. he had attended the opening OF the New
National Theatre me evening previous. The scene
IN that grand edince was magnincently brilliant.
Upright the lamps shone DER fair women and brave
men. Three thousand hearts beat happily, and all
were NOT smpy bp ne
temple OF the MUSES., but the play was weak and
trashy and the acting worse. How different the
gorgeous appointments, no bad acting: all was
true TO nature. The good that had slum-
e ee6waog 1or oS years IN, in human hearts was
the surface. The metamorphosls from The Sinner
10 me christian was srand sight TO witness. II
describe Here extremes had literally met. The
Christian ladies and men were lntermingled with Inc
reformed drunkard, the reformed gambler. ana ever
fort into the ears Of those whose lives IN 10 III,
present had been hldeOusy black from beinl
stepped in sin. Now The reporter Is not too goodj
good young man. Far from II. Perhaps the neares
approach TO good Sabbath act In his whole life hal
been TO write for Sunday paper. In fact, he and
crime have been almost inseparable for nearly Two
score years. lie has seen II In all Its phases Bu
he enjoyed seeing this soothing influence on tbess
hardened wretches 30 sincerely responded to
Their reformation was not enacted; II Ii intensel,
genuine. May 1t last through lfes ftful fever
Take, for instance, the simple story OF one Of III.
conyctB. lie had been slave to LIQUOR for iwent,
years lie had often walked four or ave miles on
SUNDAY morning 10 md q side door open 10 gin
mill. Rum had been his god: he worshiped /
more than honor, self respect family. or ffiends
Five months ago he was drifting down Pennsylyanlc
avenue In an aliness way, Just recovering from the
effects OF terrible spree. when he was about Il
pass the little mlssion rooms he heard voices singing
The "Rock OF Ages" The sacred melody
shot home TO his heavy heart with the force Of 1
his childhood's days, 10 his happy home, where il
infancy he basked In the sunshine of d lOylD,
mother's smiles and tenderness lie read al the en-
trance, Gospel services this evening"" Heentered
ragged, battered, forlorn, dirty In mind and body
In short, most pitiablc object OF fallen humanity
He saw on every hand happy faces. He saw thef'
terrible experiences when they, too were slaves Il
the poison, aud how much they enjoyed life since
lie asked himself the question why he could not re.
form and be'like. them. And when the kind leader
asked, IL there any sinner here tonight who would
like 10 be prayed for?" he humbly answered, Yes
/ am Oneh aud with the rest lie Enelt down AND
prayed 10 God that he might have strength to rests
temptation and be saved. Since that night he has
-
lar attendant at lie Inission-rooms. lie has had hi
mind, his body, and his soul cleansed. lie IL con
tented and happy and III respected by all with whom
he comes in contact. lie has been Influential IN
bringing others from the high road to ruin AMI
causing them TO be also converted Surely the mis-
sion has not been organized In vain even II this on,
man was the only one converted But he Is Onl,
one convert OF about seventy, many OF whom were
deep down in sin, and the mission has not yet beer
organized year. An analysis OF the statistics
right here would be OF interest. From the date Of
opening, January 20, 70 September 80 there hay'
and 1855 noon-day meetings, together with Other
meetings, making total OF 400 In 2l9 dayH Tho al
tendance at the services were 1886, making M
average attendance OF 81. TheexpeDses were 1855
| an average OF 1856 per day. The money IL con
trihuted by the drectOrs and others taking active In
teTest m the success OF the mission, Regardless
sectariansm There are seven regular leadera 10
the evening meetings, each having his regular even
Ing every week. There are no salaries paid All IN
work done ~ from thorough Christian spirit Of do
| ing good. II is not Ike the churches, where m
preachers are paid handsome salary for ihel
| sermons and 10 tell their congregations why the
think their doctrines are 30 much better than thOs
at the opposition gospel place around the corner
That sort OF business has tendency 10 dlscOurag
one who wants 10 enter on the road 10 heaven.
makes II too circultOus route, and he gets tired
deciding which road he shall take, and the result
| IN many cases he don't take either. Now the 200
| work Of the mission Ii conducted 80 honestly 4
simply 30 10 the point, that the most ignorant slime
can grasp the meaning OF all that Ia said or done
fact, the reporter regards II as most direct ali
| line route 70 heaven, 80 10 speak; aud while lie
not q "capper " for the house Of the Lord, nc slI
| cerely suggests TO all those poor nortals who al
| weary and weighted down with Sin and the burden
OF life, and who would seek their souls salvation
| drop In some evening al the rooms OF the Unlo
| Mission and there be coinforted, II not saved.