New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-20
RELIGIOUS WORK DOWNTOWN.
WHAT THE JUDsoN MEMORIAL CHURCH HOPES
TO DO.

TO DO.
TOT the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir recent event Is one that OF late years has
become quite unusual In this city. i refer to the
dcdlcatory exercises Of the Jud,on Memorial Chgch IN
South Washington square, OF the few churfhly
buildings that have been erected downtown In recent
years Bearing in mind the fact that while during
the last twenty years the population has Increased,
twenty-five churches have either died or removed to
better localities uptown. the event deserves more
than passing notice. The Judson Memorial proposes
TO do In that locality in the midst of rapidly changing
population. what the Ncw-Yorls City Mission ana
Tract Society have been doing for number OF years
Daring the last twelve years they have bult ana
sastain the lower east side Of the city, three
large substantial and beautiful churches. where all
welcomed and where the services OF Gods house
free. 1t Is of course, known to all Ncw-iorkers
that this portion Of the city Is exceedingly cosnio-
roan in its character: therefore, In order to meet
the wants OF many whom would otherwise be denicd
the Gospel in their mother tongue-and many thousands
understand no Engsh-services in the German Ian
glaCe are conducted In two Of these churches and IN
one hundreds OF Hebrews gather every saturday after
to hear the story OF the Messiah In the language
that Is familiar to them all. through the blindness u
the managers OF the Five Points House OF Industry.
services are also held IN their Calvary Chapel In the
Italian language, and this Is probably the largest
Protestant Italian Church In this country.
These churches are centres Of ccasclcss activity.
They are never closed for repairs two months
during the hot season, bu from sunday morn TIL
saturday eve, in summer and winter, In f0ui weather
as I'm fair, their doors swing almost continuously.
Efforts are made not only minister TO thc" spiritual
wants. but to their mental and physical needs ds well
Little ones are instructed 10y means OF the now
popular kindergarten system: gymnasiIrS are pro
vdcd and instruction In ply steal culture Is gwen 10
all casscr-Hrs. boy. women, men, Readlhg-!ooH'
and libraries invite all who desire 10 avail themselves
of such privileges; entertainments anu irlrnuy ghh
crngs appeal 10 their social natures ana prove III
many cases anldoc> 10 the saloon and dancr-hou'e'
There arc services for children ana meetings 10:
mothers, whore by wise counsel and Christian sym
natl,y those upon whom heavy burdens fall ana VINO
scdnm arc able to any SILVER ulnS 10 ia,
cloud, tina; about them. are mao" stronger "ilu
better able 10 fight III" miil" Of HE. mere "rr
helping hands" and sewing schools where lotl women
and girl are 'alfcht 10 help Themselves miSsional's
both mon and women. snd c1n'ecIacd trained nurses
arc cmnloyrd to visit The people IN thar homes:
and by that sympathy (which makes all the woau
aE,n bring light ana comfort into dark places, 20
IN these many and varied ways the poor nave 'he
Gospel preached 20 them. ,,, ,o.
I;u these churches. with all their activity cannn
supply 1.-THE OF the peOll" or lower New i"ih WIZ"
church acconm ldatoa>. neither can h"y ne Sril '"!
nortng but must depend for their means IlrR'Ii VI
hos, OF their more fortunate lcllOw-men wID hiNe
sought more congcnal surroundings IN ne nrpr '"i
lions Of the city. y. T. SNliA' ffh--"'
New York, Feb. Is, 1893.