, 1890-01-16
An Ex- King of the Green
Cloth
NOW DOING MISSIONARY WORK.
Carrying on One of the Most
Practical Charitable Institu-
tons in Boston.

man who, from the age Of III until
he was so, made not n dollar except
across o gaming table, who intro
duced the three card monte game In
New York city, who Kept a large
gambling hell In Chicago for years,
and who for over quarter of CEN
tury was known as one of the most
expert card players In the country
this man for the last dozen years
has given his great energies to the
uplifting of his followman and to
the service of God.
One day in ls7S, while on his way
to the Eastern depot to fulfill an en-
gagement to play cards at Port
land hotel the following Sunday, a
chance notice impelled him, why he
knew not, to attend Moody and
Sankey meeting at their tabernacle.
Troubled in mind he had been
for some time, but all unknowlng
what to do or which way to turn.
As he says himself the ncfarious and
blackened sins of thirty needless
years of dishonesty and vice came
crowding into his memory and tor
turing him with inexpressible
agony, yet there seemed to be no
ray Of hope in his life.
In this state of mind he entered
the tabernacle. From 1880 O'Clock
In the morning until 9:30 at night
he sat out the tedious time spell
bound, IA stories of wrong living
that were only duplicates of his own
life history came from the trembling
lips Of men such as he; and then
and there the awakening came that
made him what he Il to-day. From
that time he determined to do all he
could to reform, reclaim and assist
the unfortunate and the outcast,
wherever and however he might
meet him.
George w. Parker, the founder,
manager and moving soul of
"Parker's Helping Hand Mission"
of Chelsea, was born In Boston De-
cember 25, 1928. His father was IA
native of Dracut, Mass, and at one
time II prosperous grocer in Boston.
Mr.. Parker, Sr., moved to Bangor,
Me. in 1873. Through fluctuations
OF business he lost his money, ana
dying left his widow with six chill
dren to rear and educate. At the
age Of l6 George returned to Boston
to seek employment, but falling into
bad company got wrong start In
lie, ana sc IN had become known
from Maine , California as sport
lng-man. for thirty-four years ne
Followed the life of IA gambler untll,
as he says, the voice of God spoke To
nun thfough the great anu goo"
Dwight l.. Moody, and he heark-
cned unto it.
After his conversion Mr.. Parker
tried long and hard to obtain honest
employment. He knew nothing
but the card aud gaming table, how
ever, and to quote his own words to
the writer, MY past record was,
therefore such llia' lio9o,'y p"' my
'',, ,,.,.." ,,.,'m, w. w., -, a,,, ,,oJo ~
,n,,tint, IA Iiying cxcept nv the nam
ing table, made this portion of my
life n severe trial"
cASvAssING FOR A PAPER.
At last, however, he succeeded in
finding employment from II. l..
Uastings of BOSTON canyassinp for
Ii na,,,r Tho Chrl.,ion Thon
's I"P,'i IL. ,'
a''er 'ryl'lg various o'ne' P,o1cc's'
he went to work Tor George Kemp
ton as an insurance agent, and as
AN insurance agent he worked until
4, venr or two auo. making living
c. L,i,,soIf oud Family when bis
W. - l.,.'a,1a1 ~, ht'
'i''as'o" WI" 'e''''''''u "i MS
tiine' d
III Wns III thcSe, IN" early d'lys oi
his reformation, that the sincerity
of the man became evident. lie de-
torniiued TO devote every moment
no could snorc from his business Ia
'iat, "a u,I,uinn oIion n,on
a''"s "u "r, r ~"
SeiecUhg .ne Nortn Eho VI boS'on
as his Iicld OF operation, he spent all
his afternoons and evenings wan |
dering about the streets on the look |
out for in.briates criminals and ali |
o,hors nhon, noy.riy nisfortnno or |
o'' "n' IT,
''ce ''"'' "''', ''o,'"'v,'' '1v's
ings, meals ana such other assist
ance as his scanty purse would nj |
low him to render lac bestowed upon
all needy men that came IN his way.
None were too poor, too vicious TO re-
ccive his brotherly ministratlons.
uncducatcd, poor and without in
iluence, he asl lSed pecuniary aid of
no one, and placed reliance only in