Evening star., 1886-10-16
THE CENTRAL Wl89HON.
Inel0enes of the Work lAaoors and .,
the Street.

THE RECORD OF YEAR-rHE GOSPEL wAooN
AND THE CROWDS THAT eArBER AROUND
fr-How THE MANAoERs STRIVE 10 HOLD
THEIR CONVERTS.
Ifany one supposes Gospel Mission work In
city Is dull business let him talk with the
workers at the little mission at oO9 Peuusyi-
vauia avenue and he will change his mind
''Come and see for yourself" Is what the mana
gers told STAR reporter to do, and be went.
The work Is unique. There have been over sou
meetings held during the past year In the mis-.
sion rooms. on the streets. In public halls and
Wherever opportunity was given. statistics OF
these meetings are kept, from which it 10 learned
that the aggregate attendance is nearly 90. 600.
" course the great point aimed at Is the con-
version OF the unconverted, and OF that class oi
persons the records show that 219 have pro-
fessed conversion and 50 backsliders have been
reclaimed.
THE CONVERTS
what becomes of these conver;s:" the re-
porter asked.
"About seventy OF them have united with the
churches" said the managers. ..Soms OF them
are persons VINO are temporarily in the city aud
have returned to their nomes, but write occa-
Some are regular attendants and workers In tie
missiun meetings, and of course portion oil
them are lost sight OF by the mission"
"Do any OF the proiessed con verts iall away?'
asked The listener.
''on. yes" was the reply, "some do, but the
larger part OF them con tiaue fai thiul.'
One feature OF the work winch helps, IL Is
Claimed, 10 give permanence TO the conversions
Is the iuct that meei ings are held every night,
30 tnat converts are Kept under strong relis lous
Influences until tney become thoroughly es,al /.
iisneo. The mission meetings are generally
Tn. testimanies Of % the con~ers sre ex.
ceedingiy entertaining and interesting. Il
was oad man" says one convert. 81 used TO
drink whisky, be uIsordery, get arrested aud
sent down To the tarm TO wear a striped suit aud
ehalnS That's the wages tue devil paid, but
at, NOV I'm serving the Lord, aud He pays me
oinsrent wages. he has gwen back my
health and bright hopes, and good friends and
employment, and love Han Tor saving poor
II was just as low as rum could bring a man"
says anotner; II tried every Thing 10 get rid Of
the rum nend; IJoined temperance societies; I
sisneo pledges; 1 swore an oatn on the Bible,
Out my viii power Was gone, and l could 10
nothing until asked Jesus Christ TO help me
xud io'give Inc And make me a Christian. He
saved mun to-day."
THE GOSPEL WAGON
ana It's congregations have become familiar oh
Jects In this city. Street pre- aching had fallen
into such disrepute here that the managers say
tnat they entered upon this kind Oh Work with
MANY fnisxlVingS. But after six months expe-
rience ali uouots have vanished. Some the
Ietuiig churches Of the city have furnished the
sinsefs lor Tue wagon. and many OF the pastors
nave both attended aud SPOKEN at these meet.
inga Iuree oi these Outdoor services have ucen
held esch sunday afternoon ~ the 12Lu street
wharf, at Washington circle and at Market
space. The result mas been, the managers say,
W attract TO the mission hundreds oI persons
who seIaon 60 To church.
The iack OF sufficient quarters to accommo-
date the great thrOpg wuo come on SUNDAY
nlSut> anu the inability on account vi LIe want
OF means to secure larger rooms permanently,
hs.s greatly perpiexed The board ga directors,
ouL u temporary Suit has beeu made oy reul.
Ing the Dime Museum Tor sunday night serv-
Ices. Last sunday night about 300 persons
packed Tie house aud gave goou attention.
Growing out Oh the gospei wagon work la SCUM
Washington, orancn ru ssiou has been organ.
ized aud pace OF meeting, known as Pro.i.
ueuce nall, oelng The Large room over Church &
Stevenson s Of1ce, corner OF Mary land avenue
anu Stn street, HAS oeen dt.eu up and placed al
the disposal oi the mission board without any
ings nave been neld also In Union M Il. church
upon the Invitation oi the Pastor.
AN ANNIVERSARY.
The work is unGenomi national and is In the
hands Of u poard of seven directors, chosen an.
nuaily by those who support the work. The
second anniversary will be observed Tomorrow
Wy "a Special preaching service in Calvary Bap-
tist churcu In tne morning; "a special service On
the gospel wagon la the iternooI, and u test ..
mony meeting aud addresses by pastors of uiI.
Iercut denominations Al the Metz opoalian NJ h.
cuurcn an Tue evening. Tue following named
gentlemen have Composed the board of uirec-
Tors uurinL the past year: JAS. IL. Hitchcock.
kovUiNs, treasurer; Win. DUBOIS, A Il. Swart-
wout, v. &. Tyler aud L. d. Bai.ey.
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The Nerves Of EAslivn AGatesmeu.