Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-10
CHRISTIANS AT WORK

CHRISTIANS AT WORK
The Convention Has an Extremely interest
ing Session This Morning.
SUCCESSFUL WORK DONE IN OTHER CITIES
AGENT SWEENEY TELLS OF HIS WORK AMONG
THE CHILDREN N THIS DIsTRIcr-A coLoRED
MINISTER TALKS ON LIQUOR LICENSES.
Congregational Church was well filed this
morning with delegates and interested specta-
tors for the fifth day of the convention of
Christians at Work. The convention closes to-
morrow night. 1t is regarded in many ways as
the most successful that the association has
ever held The morning session began at 9
O'Clock with devotional service.
The first speakers Of the morning were Col
H. II. Hadley of New York on the win One
movement, and Mr.. VIM. Ferguson of Toronto,
Canada. on the Toronto Mission Union. They
told in an interesting manner of the work of
those evanselistic elements. They were
followed Ns% yo, sy M JAEGER tas German M of
earnest manner of how he himself came to be
reformed after a youth and early manhood of
sin and drunkenness. The power of the grace
OF God entered into him and the desire for
out from him and since that day he has labored
10 reform other outcasts.
THE HELPING HAND MISSION.
The Helping Hand Mission. Detroit. Mich"
the subject of an able paper by Mrs. H. N.
p. Blodgeti of that city. She described the
work of that mission and of the Thos. Nc
Gregor Mission Home, which was estab-
hshed for the purpose of reaching the better
nature of the lowest class of outcast men
by caring first for their physical needs.
The home accommodates a large number
the highest number of Inmates on
any one day being 1S4, the lowest Is.
The mission occupies a five-story building,
which Is admirably equipped for the purpose
and Is fitted up with dOrmitories, reading
room, dining room, bath rooms, a laundry, &c.
There are no charges upon the inmate, but he
is made welcome to remain in the home rs
long as he Is out of work and destitute, pro-
viding he conforms to the simple and
easy rules of the home When the men get work
they are charged % week. The mission home
is fitted up with a chapel and daily services are
held. and whenever the inmates show signs of
conversion they are removed TO a separate part
Of the building, where they are placed under
the best OF religious influences and all evil sur
roundings are kept from them.
BOSTON TEMPORARY HOME.
The Temporary Industrial Home, Boston,
Mass, was described in a brief address by Mr..
Thomas ID. Roberts. During the past year the
home has been more successful spiritually
and financially than ever before. The men are
cared for in this home, given food and
lodging with a clean nightgown and a
clean bed In the morning the man
Is expected, il he is able, to do some light work
in return for what he has received. thus doing
away with the possibility of pauperizing the
recipients of the charity. The establishment
Of such industrial homes seemed to Mr.. Roberts
to be the most valuable and practicable me thod
Of reaching the masses.
AGENT SWEENEY TELLS OF HIS WORK.
Ne d -
Newsboys and Childrens Aid Society on 18th
street in this city, described the work of that
society. 1t started out in 1885 as the result of
the labors Of some charitable women of this
city, who desired to care for the little waits of
humanity who were running around the streets
homeless and forlorn- In 1883 the house on 18th
street was taken in order that there might be
n warm place of refuge for the little fellows
when they were through with their days work
of selling papers and backing boots. The
ladies who we're connected with the home be-
gan coming In pairs IL the evening to read to
the children and interest them in better things.
From that the work has broadened out until no
man may say what the outcome of il all will be.
The next feature that developed in the work
was the visiting OF the children at the- own
homes Mr.. Sweeney said that in the begin
ming he was surprised to see the amount Of
wickedness that one small boy could accumu-
late When he began the work of visiting their
homes he readily understood it all when he saw
the awful surroundings and influences amid
which they we're brought up 1t WAS all clear
to him then, said Mr.. Sweeney. and he told of
q number Of specific cases that had come under
his personal observation.
Another link IN the chain of tine mission
work was welded when the workers undertook
to find out whence all the little outcasts come
from Mr.. Sweeney showed how, in numero us
cases, runaway children from other cities are
sent back to their own homes. The first In
mate Of the home to stay over night was a little
fellow whose pitiful story was told one evening
in TIE STAR Mr.. Sweeney saw the
story and went to the Police Cour:
the next morning and found that
the boy was being sent TO the work house from
lack OF a better place Judge Miller turned
the boy over to the care o. the Newsboys'
Home at the request Of Mr. Swee ley and since
then a position has been found for him and he
is doing we'll Since that small beginning
lodging has been given to 2,4o5 within the
home Forty-six children have been
taken from the Police Court and twenty
nye from other institutions. Meals to
The number of S.l13 have been furnished in
addition to the Thanksgiving day dinner. En-
PlOyment has been found for $50 and odd Jobs
procured for 200 more. The home has thus
accomplished much good. but there Is always
need for more funds and larger supply of
clothing and useful articles to distribute to the
poor children. With more resources a vast
deal more VI good could be accomplished.
CHRISTIAN WORK HERE
Rev. c. H. Mytinger OF this city was introduced
BY Rev. Mr.. r. A TOrrey, the presiding officer,
to address the convention on the subject Of
Christian work IN the District aims house and
work house. Tbis work was begun in 1879 by
Rev. William 7. Van Doren. a minister of the
Dutch Reformed church. and after his death
was continued by his daughters. Miss Charlotte
and Mrs Bradley. Mr.. Mytinger spoke of HIM
self a new hand at the work, but he
spoke in . pleasant manner of the work that is
being done with the inmates of these houses of
detention. and outlined number of scenes
that have attended the religious meetings in
the aims house and in the work house. The
work had been seriously handicapped through
the overcrowded condition % the woTk
house. A number made 20 occupy
the same cell and IL is u practical inpcSsibility
for a man or woman to do well Er-ier such sur
roundings In the new womans work house
arrangements are being made for cells that are
to be occupied by only one inmate. This
viii be of the creates. assistance in
the work of information Mr. Mytinger
spoke Of the great need that
exists in Washington for 4 refuge home where
ex-conyicts may go or being discharged. As il
IL now, they are thrown back upon such SUI
roundings mus; If necessity compel them to
return 20 their former manner Of life. There
should be some such supplementary Institution
Tor sed prisoners where they will be str
rounded by good influences and may remain
until they could begin a rev life Ii the gov