The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-06
WORK FOR THE POOR.
What the Seattle City Mission
Is Accomplishing.
LODGING AND FOOD PROVIDED.
How the Expenses Of the Institution
Are Borne-An Employment Blu
reau Now Established.

In a sermon q few Sundays ago at 81. Marks
church the rector, Rev. D. C. Garrett, said that
he believed the Seattle city mission was doing
an unusually good work-good because il was
intensely practical
visitor to the rooms at 80 and 3l2 South
Third street can easily see that Mr.. CARROTS
statement is well founded. The seattle City
Mission and Seamens Bethel has large double
basement under big brick block. The front
part OF one side is devoted 10 reading-room.
Two long desks tables are placed beside the
walls, and are covered with ma aZines and
newspapers. When a observation-disclosures re-
porter entered yesterday afternoon there must
have been fifteen or twenty men making use of
the literature offered. Back OF TIE readiug-room
are a lot of OF small bedrooms separated by board
partitions. III the open place stlll further IN
in the rear, are rows of beds and cots. The
rooms, which a c plainly but neatly furnished,
can be secured for twenty-five cents night and
a comfortable bed for fiitetn. Arrangements are
also made for accommodating those who have
not even this amount OF money.
In the rear of the building IS a kitchen and
eating room VII ere man can get for five cents
meal consisting OF plate OF soup, some meat,
potatoes, bread and coffee. In the front. on the
side oppos tie the reading room is the hail where
the meetings are he'd.
y L, Ryther, the secretary OF the mission, IS
enthusiastic over the work done and the posi-
ed" said he "Dece mber S, 1889, nearly two years
ago in a tent on south Second street Atterward
the location changed to hall across the
street over the w. T. chop house, and from there
in the spring 20 the corner of south Second and
Jackson. Five months ago the present qusrters
were obtained The work is strictly
untenominational, for the constitution pro-
hibits all argument of church cresds or doc
trines. Here Bsptists MethOdists, Presby.er-
ians and in fact all evangelical denominations,
labor together in harmony 10 save souls. The
success in the religious part OF the work can be
judged BY the fact that during the month OF No
vember fity-four services were held, including
the MONDAY prayer meetings; there have been
forty-three conversions; twenty seven seekers
not satisfied, while about 80 have publieIy
manifested desire Tor salvation.
Between the Sth ofTNOvembcr and December
! some i,4s0 meals have been given out 10 the
destitute aud some fifteen poor families have
received immediate help. You see that though
We make nominal charge OF cents for meal,
very few who come to Us are able 10 pay even
that During the same time We have also given
450 free lodgings.
.sThe expenses of the institution are kept up
nv the generous responses to the personal calls
of our treas urer and others who are canvassing
for means. Butchers give us a dollars worth of
meat each once u week; bakers furnish bread :;
erocers give butter ana vegetables, and nearly
everybody helps
The officers receive no salary in dollars and
cents. our superintendent has gone into mis-
own pocket for monthly deficits OF so 10 500
Our chaplain, Thomas Rees, of the seamen's
Bethel, was sent here from the Sesmen's Friend
Society of New YORK a salary OF 500 from
that organic cation. with the expectation that he
would receive that much more from the
churches of Seattle He spends all his ii-ne in
the work bears all his own expenses and con
tributes largely to the support OF the mission
from that paltry 500.
"Of course We have 70 watch carefully 10 see
that we not imposed upon by unworthy
men Some tickets are sold for cents each 70
citizens who wish 10 be able 10 furnish meals
10 those calling upon them for charity This 5
cents about covers the expense OF cooking.