Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-29
Characteristic Charity at the Central
Union Mission.
HUNDREDS OF DINNERS SERVED
Turkey Provided to the Tattered
and Torn.
THE SCENES DESCRIBED

At Central Union Mission the day was
consecrated to charitable deeds and Chris
tian praise. The hungry were fed and God
given tn inks tor His bounty. Many sights
and scenes of poverty were presented, and
a multitude Of ragged. tattered people par
took of the good cheer set out by the
worthy workers Of the mission.
Six hundred people were fed at the
tables and eight hundred families were
supplied with dinner.
The dining room was fitted with four
rows of tables, with a seating capacity Of
one hundred. The decorations were Of
bunting and evergreens, and these were
tastefully displayed in various parts of the
room. There were also two conspicuous
notices, as follows: He Hath Filled the
Hungry With Good Things" and HE Saves
to the Uttermost.'
Curiosity Over the Cuisine.
The first dinner was scheduled for IL
o'clock, and some time before that hour
the guests began to assemble and to stand
around the halls. and incidentally to peer
into the room in which the good things
spoken Of In the motto were being pre-
pared, and whence the savory scents were
coming. At the proper signal the lines
filed in and took seats There was an or
utTly dlT dDOut the crown WHICH was dp-
propriate. There was also an air of ex-
treme care or suppressed uneasiness, as
though the men were not exactly accus-
toned to the formality of a regular meal.
Nearly all the men were ragged, but every
one Of them looked clean as to face and
hands. They had evidently made a special
toilet for the occasion. At one table were
seated the colored folks. A number Of old
aunties and uncles were mingled with little
fellows who seemed not to have seen food
for some time.
Their Appctitcs Were Excellent.
The good ladies who waited on them
placed the dishes before them. and they
did the rest Did they eat? Let the empty
dishes answer Each guest had turkey,
cranberry sauce, bread, butter, baked beans.
coffee and mince pie. During the meal
stirring songs were sung by Mr.. Muncaster,
Mr.. McMichael. Mr.. John McMichael MIR.
Redding and others. After the food had
been disposed of Rev. DR.. Bailey invited
the people to the auditorium. and Mr.. Nc
Michael offered prayer. Then the guests
dispersed. and most OF them listened to the
service in progress upstairs The tables
were reset and the procedure described re-
peated. Meals for 100 were served at IL,
IL, I, 2 3 and 4 o'clock
The Ministering Angels.
The ladies who had charge of the tables
were: Mrs. Tompkins. Mrs. Carrigan. Mrs.
Hansche. Mrs. Pratt, Mrs. Craft. Mrs. Du-
bois, Mrs. Dunning Miss Rector. Mrs. Har-
baugh. Mrs. Staufrer, Mrs. Monkey, Mrs.
Nevins.
These ladies had q number Of assistants
who came in from the various churches
to help in the good work.
Services in the auditorium were held con-
tinua!ly from IL till 4, and will be held
this evening from 80 to 9:30. The leaders
are f. d. Bailey, Geo. w. Havell, Percy 8.
Foster. Geo. w. Wheeler. Rev ]. d. Smith.
Rev. Mr.. Pos, w. f. Redding, Rev. DIR.
Todd, w. c. McMichael.
The Star man was told that a number Of
conversions had been made, and that the
day had been a very gratifying one to the
Christian workers.
One hundred and eight men were given
cots in the mission dormitory last night
and that number will also be cared for to-
night. The reporter was told that a num-
Der Of the cots are without enough cover
ing to insure comfort to their occupants,
and contributions of this nature would be
welcome. One of the sleepers last night
made pillow Of his shoes and Overcoat