Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-06
CHRISTIANS AT WORK.
Methods Pursued in the Endeayor
to Save Fallen Humanity.
MANY EARNEST ADDRESSES.
Delegates Tell Their Personal Experiences In
Various DirectiOns-sOme OF the Remark
able People Present-saving the Boys and
the Tramps-value Of Lodging Houses.

Today was the second day of the annual con-
vcntion of Christians at Work that is now be-
ing held at the Congregational Church. In
many ways this is most unique convention
and as q result there was a large attendance ..
the various sessions today.
At the first meeting yesterday the presiding
officer, Mr.. Torrey. spoke Of the convention a.
being entirely without prominent members.
The only thing remarkable about the delegates
was that they arc all ordinary, commonpl place
people. 1t is doubtful il many would agree
with Mr.. Torrey in this opinion OF his co-work-
ers 1t is scarcely an ordinary thing for men
or women to devote themselves entirely to the
service and salvation Of the very lowest
of fallen humanity, yet here is a
convention made up Of hundreds who
have done just that thing; young women
who have given over their time and money to
raising their fallen sisters; older women who
have for years made their homes in the slums
in their efforts to get into closer touch
with the masses; men who have been and still
arc superintendents of mission homes and iodg-
ing houses for the poorest Of the poor men and
women who have risked their lives and en-
dured hardships in their efforts to spread the
cause of Christianity. Indeed it is not an or
binary convention.
There is little of theory about these people.
Quite as much works as creed, perhaps. and
not as much of how things ought to be done by
other people as of how they have actually done
things themselves last year and are going to do
them next year. When a man who has worked
for years feeding the hungry and clothing
the naked comes to speak of how to reach the
sure to be worth hearing, even if he is not
great platform orator. He il one of those who
know whereof they speak. People know this,
and the attendance this morning was large.
than 1t was yesterday.
The first session today began with devotional
exercises. conducted by Hon. X. Moreton Of
Hamilton, Ontario, followed by O description
of the work OF the Rescue Mission, Rochester,
N. y, BY Mr. T. H. Osborn, its superintendent.
RESCUE MISSION IN ROCHESTER,
Mr.. Osborn began by outlining the origin
and early growth of the mission. which was es-
tablished by Col. Hadley of New York. Col.
Hadley visited Front street and remarked that
the place smet just like mission. What is o
good way to fix upon location for mission?
by the smell; for where whisky smells the
strongest there is the most need for mission
work The saloon keeper is nobody's fool and
he goes right to work where he knows he will
sell the most liquor. In the past two years
there have been 141,946 visitors to the old
Rescue Mission.
MI. OeDOru uesCrlDeQ the metnOQb USED In
saving drunkards and outcasts. The first thing
to do, he said, is to get man to realize the
fact that he is a sinner. You can't do anything
with dapper little chap who walks down the
street with cigarette in his mouth and gen.
eral feeling that the world isn't good enough
Tor him. He Is positive drag in mission
meeting, and the best thing to do is to fire out
the cigarette boy. You can do more for an
old hardened drunkard. The speaker described
number OF particular cases of men who
were saved by the efforts of old Rescue Mis-
sion. One Of the two proprietors OF one of the
leading eating houses in Rochester was few
years ago confirmed and apparently hopeless
drUnkard. He was saved through his chance
visits to the mission. Another man is today a
hard-working, honest expressman with his own
horse and wagon, yet he was a worthless
drunkard but short time ago. The mission
people started him in business and now he is a
prosperous, enterprising, earnest man. The
way &c do IL to get right at a man, hand to
hand. heart to heart, and work earnestly and
patiently with him to bring him back in the
paths OF rectitude.
Rescue Mission is not disturbed to any great
degree by drunkards making a noise in the
meeting. The ones that make the most trouble
are the foolish giddy boys and girls who whis-
per and gIggle and take no real interest in what
is going on. MIR. Osborn sand that rather than
this he would prefer the roars and noise OF
drunkards, for he never lets any man make
more noise in the meetings than he does him.
self.
At Rescue Mission there are meetings every
night in the year and two on Sundays. Every
meeting is a revival meeting. Mr.. Osborn
stated that in the two years which he had
been connected with the mission he had spent
$4,000 for one man who had paid about all the
expenses of the mission. This was Col N. P.
Pond, Rochester newspaper man. There we're
delegates remarked that it would be great
thing for humanity if there we're more such
newspaper men.
At the conclusion of his address Mr.. Osborn
answered a number Of questions that were
asked by the delegates as to what he considered
the best methods Of reaching the heart of
drunkard, what to do with the boys how best
to conduct mission meeting and other mat
tiers OF that sort. When he had finished his adj
dress number OF earnest prayers were offered
up for blessing from God upon the work of
the Rescue Mission in Rochester. Mr. and
Mrs. Baker, the two blind evamgelists from
New York, who are in their way such remark
able singers, sang the hymn Nv onderful Words
OF Life" At their request the congregation
joined in the refrain. 1t was 6. case Of The
blind leading those that do see.
THE JARVIS STREET MISSION.
Mr.. 3. f. Bull of Toronto, Canada, made an
interesting address upon the work OF the Gen.
trpi Lodging House Association Of that city.
He spoke more particularly of the Jarvis Street
Mission. which ID conducted by the Metropoli-
tan Church, the largest Methodist church in
Toronto. The mission was started five years
ago by Il lady member Of the Metropolitan
Church, who began by collecting a number
Of ragamutiins into Grange Hall. where
she worked with them personally. Many Of
these little chaps we're started along the right
way, and though some of the church members
were disappointed because these boys had not
;cined the church and given their testimony in
class nesting yet there could be no doubt that
even it they were not identitied with the church
militant they would be part of the church tri-
umphant. 1t takes long time and u
deal Of patience to make testifying
Methodist out Of a Catholic street boy Across
the street from the Jarvis Street Mission was q
disreputable and filthy lodging house, where
! tramps and outcasts could get nights lodg-
ing for u nickel. Tho mission started to work
with the frcauentcrs D: this low hole, but
the workers we're handicapped all along
the limo By reason OF the men
going right back to the lodging house. It was
like cleaning the mud off man and then
throwing him back into the ditch The result