Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1894-02-22

ization in which better feeling pre-
vailed, Kindness and benevolence
shown In the face Of the good-hearted
founder Of the club, and were reflect
ed in the Countenances Of all the
members. Formalities there were
none; every man introduced himself
to his nelghbor, and brotherly sym
patty united them all. Their club
room, too, had every convenience;
baths, closets, kitchen, and dining
room, all we'll lighted, warmed and
ventilated-the ideal place where
poor, homeless, hungry fellow, tired
from tramping the hard sidewalks in
the never-ending search for work,
might find an hour or two of solid
comfort and catch bit Of sleep after
his strengthening meal. While they
ate, their genial host talked to them
Of the better life In such a way that
no member Of the club could be of,
Tended. Many a forlorn waif there
learned to lay his burden of care and
dependency upon Him who hath
promised to give rest to 'the weary
and heavy laden" if they will only
come to HIM, and no less than seventy
accepted the invitation during the
past month. And so, throughout the
whole winter of 1929, Rev. Stephen
Merritt kept open house at "The
Travellers Club" for all corners. 1t
was hard season on the poor, but it
was not to be compared with the
present winter, when, owing to the
universal depression in trade, the
idle and destitute have been multi
piled thousand-fold. When the
SHOWS Of December began to fall, the
membership of "The Travellers Club"
swelled to unheard.of proportions.
Artisans Of every trade, clerks, long
shoremen, drivers, statesmen, fac
tory hands, and workers formerly en-
ployed in a hundred different cal
lings, but now idle and penniless.
came there and were fed. There we're
many, too, who had once occupied
positions of responsibility, and not a
few college graduates among the
number. Dire poverty, which 'makes
strange bed-fellows" had brought
them to the same level of necessity
and the Clubs larder was taxed to
supply them all. But Mr.. Merritt
resolved that no matter how many
might come to be fed, none should be
turned away. He flung wide the
Mission doors, opening them several
hours earlier than before, to admit
the wanderers, and trusted the Lord
to sustain the work, he meanwhile
paying all the expenses out of his
own pocket
1t is impossible to overestimate the
good that is accomplished by this
broadly Samaritan work in which Mr..
Merritt engaged. AS may we'll be
imagined, the task Of feeding fully
fifteen hundred men each morning, is
one that calls for incessant exertion
and heavy expenditure. Helpers and
contributors are few, and the burden
lies mainly upon his own broad
shoulders. During the past twelve
months he has expended not less
than $4,000 in this charity. Some
idea of its character may be gathered
from a single days experience: Mr..
Merritt rises earlier than most men,
and is stirring and about before three
o'clock every morning, for the first
relay of guests is to be fed at 4;30
The question is asked: "Whv does
he feed them at so early an hourW
The answer 10: he realizes that, being
homeless, they are compelled to walk
The streets all night, and that, after
till 3 a. m, they are tired |
put, so he opens the place at that un-
usual hour to afforn them a rest for
5heir weary limbs and to give them
some nourishing food. He tries hu-
namely to cut their tramp as short as
possible. Indeed, he would have the
great hall open all night, If such a
hing were practicable; but he has
already given so literally for the work
Is to somewhat impair his own re-
sources, and the assistance from other
quarters has been very light.
On reaching the Mission hall about
a. m, early as is the hour, he finds
he sidewalk in front of the building
with men anxiously waiting
o be admitted. Meanwhile, all is &C.
ivitv in tho kitchen (situated IN the