The Washington times., 1894-10-21
Members and Friends of the Central
Union Mission Will Celebrate.
ITS HISTORY AND METHODS
Now Recognized as the EvangelizatiOn soci-
ETY. Of Washingt Programme of Exer-
cjses at the Three Sunday services-Facts
and Figures That Are Eloquent.

1t is the tenth anniversary Of the founding
OF this worthy and far-reaching religious or
ganization, and the day will be appropriately
celebrated with praise. prayer and song. at
o'clock in the afternoon there will be held
in the main auditorium of the mission build
ing reunion Of converts, which Will'be pre-
sided over by Rev. E. d. Bailey. The pro-
gramme will include song service, prayer
scriptural reading and opening address by
ReY. j. D. Smith, chorus, testimony of mis-
sion converts, solo by George W. Havell,
brief addresses by Rev. Alexander Mackay
Smith, ID. D., Rev. Hugh Johnston, and Rev
Teunls 5. Hamlin; doxology and benediction.
The main anniversary service will take
place at 1880 o'clock p. m. in the New York
Avenue Presbyterian Church. Mr.. n. a. Rob
bins will preside. First on the programme
will be stirring song service, conducted by
Mr.. George w. Hayell; scripture reading and
prayer, by Rev. Dr. Sunderland; solo, by
Percy ). Foster; reading reports of the work
of the Mission and testimonies by converts;
solo, George W. Hayell; address, Rev. William
A. Bartlett; chorus; remarks by Rev. S. II.
Greene, Rev. r. H. McKim, Rev. L. T. Wider
man, and Rev. S. Domer.
The gospel wagon will also hold an out
door anniversary meeting on Market Space,
commencing cL % " ClOCh p III
WORTHY WORK OF THE MISSION.
The report for the past year, to be read at
the evening meeting. viii state that 'the year
has been full of hardships and triumphs At
the beginning of the year the board was con
fronted with mere difficult problems than at
any previous time in the history of the mis-
sion. Barely repairs enough have been done
to accommodate the old work, without room
for expansion Seats for the auditorium
had just been secured, but there is 10 heat
ing apparatus, the rooms for the industrial de-
partment were still howling wilderness, the
financial resources had been taxed to the ut
most to get so far. and nobody could see
where more could be obtained to make even
what had been done of any avail.
"Then came the demand for unusual charit-
able exertions to help the poor. 1t is no Won
der that the cvertaXed members Of the board
felt the tension and found it necessary to sum
mon al the grace they could command TO
keep in line and share the responsibility.
The entire building has been sufficiently re-
paired to be available for use, an important
industrial department has been fully organ
lied and has demonstrated lis utility so COM
pletely that no one questions the wisdom of
its existence a credttable dining room is in
full operation and sustains q large number of
men and women daily, the lodging apart
ments have furnished shelter 10 more than
$4,000 homeless men during the year the
Women's department has been q blessing 10 q
small army OF frieadleSs women, the laundry,
run by the women, promises to be an im-
portant ally Of the industrial department. a
steam-heating apparatus for the auditorium
has been put in al a cost of over 500, and a
fire escape at q cost OF $500. furnace at
cost of Sill, and other repairs and improve
ments the cost of which can hardly be safely
estimated even. because the work was done
by unemployed men tor lodgings and meals.
MOST WONDERFUL RECORD.
All this is a most wonderful record. Mean
while the spiritual work of the mission has
been kept up fully to the standard, and the
numbers reached are beyond all previous
years. While a large discount is to be made
on the figures for reasons which every one
will understand. vet as a matter Of fact more
than l, 200 persons have signed the covenant
card promising 10 lead a Christian life. This
is at least a third more than any previous
year. The attendance at all Of the services
has been greatly augmented, and an expan-
sion, for which We were hardly prepared, has
occurred.
The Mems and Women's Bands have con-
tinued 10 do valuable service, from ten to
twelve branches have been maintained in
different parts of the city, suburban eyangel-
istic services have been held, childrens
meetings have baen sustained. station house.
! hospital, and house-to-hOuse visiting has
been done as usual. excellent services have
been established at the Soldiers Home, and
every part of the work has been carried for
ward successfully.
Statistics for the past twelve months will
be presented as follows: Number of re-
ligious services held. 2, 10: number OF per-
sons in attendance. 243, ,93l; requests Tor
prayer noted. 5,2i9; number OF converts re-
ported ], ,740; number OF persons visited by
missionaries and others. 1888; number of
lodgings furnished, "a, 4S1 number of meals
! furnished. S, ,405; number OF persons clothed,
1854: number for whom employment was Sc
cured. "a; number for whom nsportatiOn
was secured, >: number sent to hospital 3d.;
number OF Bulletins distributed. 293, 800;
meals sold in March and April, S,s2S.
BAND OF CHRISTIAN MEN.
The Central Union Mission was organized
by band of Christian gentlemen, of whom
all but two (since deceased) are still actively
engaged in the work OF saving the souls of the
masses and relieving the hungry and
wretched poor of the city. The first hall oc-
cupied was at No. 500 Pennsylvania avenve.
The success of the work was such that
larger hall (the one now used by the Saliva
tion Army on Pennsylvania avenue, near
Tenth street, was secured. Crowds hocked
to the services. TheY were charmed by the
sweet gospel songs that were sung, and some
were astounded at the testimonies OF men who
had been converted at the Mission which
seemed almost incredible, judging from the
sketches they gave Of their past lives of dark
est sin.
Those men to-day are doing well in busi-
ness and are respected members OF society.
The missions success still grew beyond the
dimensions OF its second home, and the
board OF directors came to the conclusion
that the mission ought to have 4 building of
its own which would afford accommodations
and facilities for the prosecution of its many
methods for the carrying out of its main hall
and work and its contemplated system of
charity and benevolence. The large six-story
building GO Louisiana avenue, opposite Sew
enth street, formerly the Seeton House and
city post-offlce, was purchased ut bargain.
The property is valued to-day at 1100, 900. 1t
is most eliGibly located for reaching the
masses in the midst of two of the leading
business thoroughfares and promenades, and
is easily accessible by all the street passenger
railway lines.
In the summer of 1856 an omnibus was used
as a Gospel wagon and three meetings were
held every Sunday in different sections of the
city with splendid results. In one section
alone seventy-fiye persons, mostly heads of
families were converted and the first branch
mission. known as Providence Hail. was
established. In the spring of 1887 an improved
Gospel wagon was built, at cost OF 9775.
Branches of the mission have since been or
ganized in different sections of the city, cot
tage prayer meetings held in the homes of
converts, tents erected, homes, hospitals, jail,
workhouse, and lodging houses visited, until
the mission has become the city eyangeli-
zation society of Washington.