Los Angeles herald., 1892-09-26
SUNDAY BREAKFAST.
THE PRACTICAL CHRIsxIANIry IT
EvIDENCED.
Some Interesting Facts About Seven.
Dsy-in-the-Week ReliEion-Food
and Aid Given First and
Theology Second.

Yesterday morning at the early hour
of :15 HERALD reporter was in the
neighborhood OF s Spring and Third
streets. At the particular time and
place aforesaid, however, quiet, pleas
ant-appearing man handed him card
on which was printed in large letters:
"Free Breakfast"
This brought to mind very forcibly
the fact that he had not broken his fast,
but prompted rather by the ever-pres-
ent desire to obtain news than to satisfy
his hunger at the expense of some one
else, he followed the address given on
the card, and soon came to the rooms OF
the Pacific Gospel Union, at 43l South
Spring street.
Passing his ticket to a sweet-faced
woman, tastefully dressed, he was given
a seat at long table. There were a
few minutes to spare, and he busted
himself by studying the faces of his
companions.
There were honest ones, and others
with sullen criminal look. Therewere
old men with despair written on their
faces; Younger ones with a shamed look
that they should be forced to take help
from others. The hard, defiant face Of
the habitue of the slums was seen here
and there, but most of the men looked
honest but as though down on their
luck"
Soon there were about $50 men seated
around the table, and the breakfast was
served. 1t was good breakfast. Such
as well fed man would enjoy, and a
hungry man call feast. There were
three kinds of meat, ham, beef and mutt
ton an abundance of good sweet bread
and fresh butter, and strong coffee and
ten with plenty OF milk and eugar.
Everything was we'll cooked, and there
was plenty for ALL Around the table
neatly dressed women were attending to
the numerous wants of the men women
whose manners indicated lives of refine
ment and culture.
Presently, when all had eaten bounte-
ously, the superintendent of the mis-
sion, Major Hilton. spoke few kind
words to the men. There was no fault
finding, but just simple appeal totheir
better natules, to lead better life, aud
before he had finished, tears were roll
ing down many face distorted by the
deep cut lines of vice. Most of the men
then left the mission, few staying to
receive aid in one way or another.
Such practical religion as this is so
rare that the reporter cornered Major
Hilton, who seemed to be the busiest
man in the city for few minutes, to
see how it was carried on.
The whole mission work depends on
voluntary contributions for support.
Money is given by many. Women and
men give their time. Food and clothing
is supplied by unknown hands. Books,
magazines and papers arrive daily. In
fact, it is impossible to enumerate' all
the channels of support.
The Sunday morning free breakfasts
are only one feature of the work done.
The sick are visited and cared for. des-
titute families looked after, men anxious
for work are supplied with occupations,
and the dead are buried. Besides all
this, there is prayer meeting every
| night; and yet for all this work not one
cent is paid for salaries.
As the major said, in closing: "We
are trying to furnish religion every day
in the week. We are trying to follow
and clothing the naked. There is plenty
of psalm singing Christianity in the
world, but we want more seven-day i'm
the-week religion. Ii l had time
should like to tell you few Of
the many incidents in which this
humanity loving band OF people have
afforded aid to struggling outcasts; but
here is list giving the result of the
work for the past eight MONTHS" and
the busy man excused himeelf.
Here is the list: Attendance at meet
ings, 49, ,663; attendance at Bible insti-
tute, 800; requests for prayer, 1l57 /;
conversions, 1863; lodgings furnished,
675; ind ividual meals given, 64S; en-
ployment furnished, 2l2; fed Sunday
breakfast, 2l58; clothing furnished, 730 /;
provisions furnished to families, 206 /;
sick visited, 1874; dead buried, 8; phyei-
clan furnished, 40; nurses furnished, 70 /;
transportation furnished, 80; medicine
furnished, 81.
Such was what a reporter picked up
concerning the work OF the mission,
during Sunday morning breakfast.