The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-12-14

4
afternoon. aud here are twenty or thirt
young men playing baseball. Many prt
fame words ring out over the open field
| We take our seat beside the fence with on
| or two spectators. A conversation spris <
up. We appeal 10 the Bible for a confirms
ton OF our Views. A tract IL handed. b
this time some are firing OF the game an
| come near, and listen 10 the conversation
In half an hour more the game breaks up
| and the players seek the shade 10 cool ant
rest Themselves. We Join them, ask per
mission to read the Bible TO them and Civ
| them gospel talk. They give respectful
| attention to the Commandment on Sabbat
| brt sking and to what the Sabbath is WORT
| 10 the laboring man II its sanctitv 10 pre-
served. A prayer 10 offered, and they scat
| ter 10 their homes.
YOUNG MEN.
| Services of similar character have beer
held with groups Of young men found OF
/ open squares in various parts Of the city IL
the very hours OF church services on sun
DAYS, as well az often on week nights. /
10 no unusual thing TO find church member
and Sunday-school scholars squanderinl
| the preaching hour Of the churches in idl'
wanderings or sports upon the river banks
or in the outskirts OF the city. Ii must b,
borne IN mind that this IL on Sunday morn
|
| churches.
ON one such occasion some fifteen oi
| twenty Young men who had come here from
Washington 10 celebrate public occasion
had laid their plans TO spend the entire Sab
bath in sightseeing and take the evening
train for home. Some of them were mem
bers OF churches. We could change then
purpose only 30 far as 10 secure faithful
promise that they would attend the after
noon service at DIR. HOge's church.
These facts may suffice TO show what a
population is outside OF our churches while
40 many and large congregations are enjoy
ing the services. Many OF them are not
even occasional cburch-goers. Shall theS
hear no word Of the Gospel even on Lord
sayf Brethren. we can afford 10 speak iC
them in the name Of our Master, for His
word OF commentator has come down "a
us through the generations. BLESSED are
We that SOW beside all waters"
TO complete our view, showing the ne
ceSsity for our work, we must mention the
public institutions, and the n0on-tide ser
vice with the men in the workshops.
The Soldiers Home has about 100 in
mates; the pententiary about 1000; the
all about 200: the almshOuse. and hospital
large number. There are chapels for all
these institutions except the Jail. We have
services in them all.
Then we have the Retreat for the Sick,
the Sheltering Arms, and st. Luke's Home.
Visits have been made to individuals IN
these places, and An occasional service held
in them.
In seven different workshops weekly
noon services have been held with the work
men. Great discretion is required, for the
men are Of all denominations and Of the
world. The interest 10 variable, according
of the men who take their dinner at the
shop will gather, and then only small
part.
Most OF the stOnecutters at the City Hall
are Catholics. but many of them, from time
10 time, have attended our services there
and expressed themselves pleased. In
several of the shODs men have taken pains
10 tell of their fellOw-wOrkmen who never
20 TO church and who have been benefited
by attending our services. In the early
history Of our services at the Cedar Works
one Of the wOrkmen who was accustomed
% spend his Sundays IN hunting, joined
the Sunday school, and soon after toe
church. Since then fourteen from thai
factory have joined different churches,
some Of them attributing their conviction a.
the influence of our meetings. Four min
listers OF other denominations aud six OF
cur own have aided in these services.
BY these meetings we are brought weekly
into contact with seven or eight hundred
men, carpenters, mechanics, and. lab0rers
IL is our purpose TO extend his work t.
many more shops.
THE RESULTS.
While we have thus been considering the
necessity Of our work, | know the question
has been coming uD: What are the results
OF this work." "What are the fruits from
this field!v
Something of the results have been seen
as the statements have been made. Many
OF the results cannot be traced from thls
work any more than results from the seed
which the wind carried forth from the
flower. Who knows when and where they
spring up and bloom
Among the fruits a high place must be
given 10 benefits derived by those who have
been enlisted in the work. A dozen young
men could come forward and testify TO th,
increase of Christian JOY they have derived
in aiding in our visitatiOns and cottage
prayeT.meetings. Their friends can testify
To the additional facility for Christian use
fulness that they have acquired by sngag-
ing in this service.
The general effect Of our cottage prayer
meetings has been gOOd. The people IN The
ueighbOThOOds, where they have been held
have borne willing testimony 10 their salu-
tary effect The notable disorder hat was
seen in some Of the neighborhoOds, for
these meetings were held, has since dls-
appeared. In one locality we are occupy.
ing a store-roOm which but "A few month
ago was a resort for gamblers. What We
NAV vet learn Of the results of our work
NAV be inferred from the following
incident:
one evening young man stepped up 10
me and said: IL want TO tell you some
Thing which ! reckon you have forgotten
Do yOu remember about year ago you
were driven by the rain into house on
Franklin street near lhirtiethf Wen, wac
on nv way from work, and being acquainted
with the family, went in there TOO 10 ge'
out of the rain. While there you took me
nv the hand and urged me to be a Christian
IL was lust the talk | needed. 1t decided
me. From that day have been striving t.
serve the Lord. soon after joined The
church. Now / have prayer-meetlnS II
that same neighborbood."
= Other evidences Of the fruits Of our worn
" II appear IN the statistics.
During the wear we have had prayer
meetings for longer or shorter time on
Ashland, Cherry. Belyidere. Canal, Main
Twenty-third rhirtIeth streets; on ByrC
| Island, Chelsea Hill. and near the Mai
7 OrDudu Asylum. lDuh@ nun liN'i Au'
different churches have aided in these. Ih'
one near the Orphan Asylum was organized
| by Young men Of Grove avenue church.
The Byrd Island meeting has been en-
tirely in charge Of the young men oil tn
| ) .cond church during the year. and its re
| suits haye been gratifying. The room !
! ALWAYS well filled, and several of its attend
ants nave confessed Christ there. anC
| Joined churches.
In our meeting on Oregon Hill twelve
have confessed Christ. There have beef
professions also in the other meetings. Nj.
| per.Onal work, SO far as 1t can be stated, 1
| as follows
| Number Of calls made, 6SS: number o
persons met, 1856, Of whom S62 We're males
| 3i4 sunday school scholars, inhdels. ResI
the Scriptures In these visits lbs times an'
| offered 80 prayers. Preached 31S time
and made iii addresses; conducted 4
| prayer-meetings, and organized 5. Distri
| buied ~. 1902 pages Of tracts. There hav
| been 557 requests for prayer, A confession
Of Christ, backsliders reclaimed, and /
| baptized. Two Bibles were donated and
sold; 10 Testaments donated and . sold.
Brethren. the showing OF our work is no
n, great as we should like to have it.
| The fruits are not as large. But it mus
lie remembered that we have been passln
/ or a..