Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-06-09
AMONGST THE POOR.
REV. FATHER HUNrIsGTeN AHD HIS
WORK IN NEW YORK.
A ouixotio Resolve-He Sets Out TO Learn
Trads So That He Can support
Himself as a Laboror.
For the Dispatch-Copyright 1889 BY Bachellci
a Col

For the Dispatch-Copyright 1889 BY Bachelloi
& Col !
NEW YORK, June 8, 1889. |
He has given himself to the poor, il
what his friends say OF the Rev. w. y |
Huntington-FatherH Huntington, AZ ht
is better known among New Workers
and all who knew the reverend iathei /
arc agreed that richer, more mag |
nifcent gift could hardly he spread DO
fore the poverty stricken tenement |
houses of the East Side than this OF hD /
life and all his efforts with which no has |
so lavshly endowed them.
He is the son OF Bishop Huntington |
and is himself devoted High Church. |
man. Therefore, of course, his work |
among the narrow streets and the tall
tenementhouses and their wretchet !
poor have the Church rs their basis
their startinR-place, and their objective |
point. But while the greater part OF his
efforts have a distinctly religious aim
and are carried on along distinctly rell-
gions lines he has branched out come
what from these, particularly during the
last few years, and sometimes helps on
his work by means that are social rather
than churchly.
THE MISSION or THE HOLY CROSS.
Father Huntington is a young man
etill-he can be but little past thirty
and he looks forward to long life
which is to he spent in battle with the
forces Of sin and misery and IN getting
nearer and more in sympathy with tho
lives and hearts Of the working poor
His work is carried on from the MIS-
sion of the Holy Cross, PLAIN, simply
furnished brick building on the corner
of east Fourth street and avenue {.
The mission was started a dozen years
eeo bv the Sisters OF ~. John the Bap-
fist. IT is supported by an endowment
from one Of these Sisters, by sJbscrlp-
tons from it's wealthy friends. and by
voluntary offerings from the people
whom 1t seeks to benefit.
Eight wears ago Father Huntington
entered the mission, and since then he
has go endowed it with his own per
sonality. bis own earnestness, and bis
strong feeling Of the equality OF hu-
manitv. that the work has become known
"a "father Huntington's work, more
generally than as tho " Holy Cross Mis-
sion.
ADISCIPLE or HENRY GEORGE.
He is On ardent disciple OF Henry
George. and it Was during tho latter
first candidacy, two and half years ago,
that be first began 10 be known. He
osnoused GEORGES canse with great fer
vor. and made many speeches III his ia
vor.
Aside from the immediate church
work. with It's Sunday school, It's ser
vices, once daily and five times Sunday,
there are number Of guilds-one for
men. one for women, one for boys, an
other for girls, and still another Tor
Young children.
The children have games and such
amusements. the girls and women are
taught to sew and knit and embroldeE
the BOYS and men have singing and reli-
gious instruction.
Under the especial care OF Father
HUNTINGTON there IS weekly meeting
which IS attended by the wealthy friends
of tine mission and its poor communi-
cants. They are all, nch and poor
alike, under solemn promise to HIM to
treat one another whilet the meeting lasts
exactly as If they were on complete
equality.
HU1BLING THE RICH.
at has done the rich people a great
deal Of good" is Father Huntington $
most important conclusion az TO the re-
suits of these meetings.
Father Huntington and bis three as
sistants have all taken the prlestly vows
OF temperance, chastity, and obedience.
They exercise the usual priestly care
oyerthcir parishiontrs. visit the SICK, the
forsaken. the miserable, the destitute,
and sometimes give material AID TO the
most distressing cases.
but We do not wish 10 give the I'M
preston. said one OF the priests, 90 that
the Church Is source Of material help.
We try to do nothing that Will make
them feel dependent or tend IN the least
to pauperize them.
Father Huntington IS tall and slim,
with a long, thin face that is iull Of
earnestness. gray blue eyes and a
strong, firm chin and mouth. HIS man
ner and speech are energetic even to
| brusdueness. and his influence with rich
, people is powerful. Many ladies have
/ been induced 10y him to spend their
spare time teaching in the vllest quar-
/ tiers OF the town.
RESULTS or THE WORK.
"What results of your efforts can you
notice among these people after they
begin to come here 2" one Of the priests
connected with the mission was asked.
" We can notice very decided dit
/ ference. They soon begin 10 seem more
selfrespectful and 70 show more eleya-
ton Of character-in short, they become
more civilized.
HOLY Cross Mission is about 70 have an
| addition to its working force who goes
there under peculiar circumstances. Vie
Was one Of several young men belonging
10 Felix Adler Society who established
a club in the most Vretched portion OF
the East Side. They tried t. influence
and elevate tine people around them by
appealingto their reason ana their moral
sense and by interesting them IN things
that would appeal to and awaken their
lutellccts.
One of them. however, after patiently
trying the experiment, has decided That
ethical culture Oilers nothing with which
10 lay hold OF the masses, and that the
only way OF reaching them Is through
tLe Church. SO he has decided TO give
up the ethical work j, studying for
orders, and viii soon be ordained and
cast his lot in with Father Huntington i
mission.
"if wish to DO the best things posi-
bic in this work, Is Father huntington
latest decision, 3" must be still more
with and Of the people. | must ct
into close sympathy with them. II Il
not right for me to be supported IN tins
way while they Work.
20 he has decided to cast HIS lot en-
tircly with the sons Of toni, TO support
himself by his own hands, and earn his
bread oy the sweat OF his brow. In pur-
suance to tuis decision he Is about to 60
10 one OF the towns IN Central New orh
where Tor two months he will work
. ,,roL.II,. IN factory learning a trade