Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-05
The McAll Mission.

ITS INFLUENCES UPON THE FRENCH MASSES.
To the Editor of THE EVENING STAR:
Many are still ignorant of the origin and
meaning OF this mission. And yet its marvellous
growth is worthy of study. Immediately after
the dark days of the commune in Paris an Eng
lish pastor, visiting the city as a traveller. was
impressed with the grievous condition of the
common people. A workman in blouse ac-
cOsted him one day in English, and said: Come
and give us your rehgionl Many of us are
ready to accept it." Mr.. McAI decided after
few months careful consideration. to give up
large devoted parish in England and go upon
such an invitation to Paris with the only two
French phrases of which he was then master:
'Je Nous beme. "Dleu yous beine." and to
bring Christianity in Its purity to the heart of
the common people in France. At his own
charges he began his work. and has never been
paid by anybody for this labor of love. Such
dlslnterestedness became contagious and many
French pastors and laymen and even few de-
voted Catholics became his co-workers.
England, Scotland and the United States
began to wake up to the privilege of doing
missionary work, unfettered by too strict
UNCONVENTIONAL lines. And. as the French
Protestants are poor and comparatively few in
number, these neglected masses, many OF
whom had cast off all religion have been gath
cred into simple halls, taught to sing the old
hymns so familiar to English and American
homes. and have been introduced i'll many
many cases, for the first time TO the Bible and
Its truths. In Paris and the provinces there
are over a hundred of these stations, supported,
many of them, by American Christians Six
years ago there were three organized societies
composed of ladies of different denominations
IN Philadelphia, Brooklyn. and Washington
who agreed to band together and form ma
tonal association to carry ON the support of
this mission. To-day there are over sixty of
these auxiliaries, scattered all over the country
IN each case representing Episcopalians. Bap-
lists, Presbyterians, Lutherans Congregations
allsts Methodists. all working together toward
the moral and spiritual elevation of their
French neighbor. The pessimist. who views
the Erenchman only i'll his volatile. mercurial
temperament, watches his political veerings
with scOrn, and doubts whether. like the an
clent Gauls, he is not forever "bewitched."
may object to any great outlay OF money or
effort as promising any just return; but the
Christian optimist though with ST. Paul he
may exclaim, again and again, WHO hath be-
wltched you D, foolish Galatians?" yet, with the
same wise man. he will go on to saw. '.Have We
suffered so much in vain-if it be yet in vain?"
And the lover of his kind everywhere will re-
spond, as these sixty auXliaries are responding
all over our land 1T shall not be in vain.''
No EXTRA FARE TO New YoRK.-You can
travel from Washington to New York in vesti-
bule day coach on Baltimore and Ohio vesti-
bule limited express for the ordinary ticket
fare. Pullman vestibule buffet parlor car is
Iuh oil ndile Train, ana seats IN IL are sold at
SIPS, Washington to New York. The Balti-
more and Ohio vestlDule limited leaves Balti-
more and Ohio depot daily at AIS pm, and
arrives New York 9:55 pm.
The B. o. New YORK LINE.-The B. & o.
has now i'll service a complete schedule of fast
express trains between this city and New York
The average time Is quicker than via any other
line. Pullman's Parlor and Sleeping cars ON
all trains. No extra fare for fast time. See B.
o. time table, this paper.
ATTENTION Is CALLED to the advertisement
of desirable property, No. 1903 n street north