Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-21
REST FOR THE EARY

| churches, because of its immense religious
/ work. and popular with benevolent citizens
, such vast amount of good in relieving, in
most practical way. all kinds Of suffer
| ing.
subscriptions OF from 81 upwards are be-
| ing solicited. VIII you assist? Even II the
| amount is small, please send something /
VIII take pleasure in handing to the treas
urer any sum, large or small, which you
may remit by check or otherwise.
Yours truly,
i. G. KIMBALL.
Chairman of Building Committee.
Address, go Louisiana avenue.
This committee is composed of the follow
Swartwout, secretary; T. A. Harding.
| treasurer: B. F. Leighton, w. C. Morrison,
b II. Warner, George A. Hilton. w. Belden
Noble. J: H. Hitchcock. A. s. Caywood.
George w. Wheeler, A. s. Pratt, N. p.
Robbins. 8. w. Woodward. w. c. Tyler,
George Ryneal, jr., E. d. Bailey. T. Jarvis,
| T. s. Foster. ]. F. Saum, o. B. Brown,
A. j. Bruen. F. c. Severance. r. H. T..
William Dubois, ]. ]. Darlington, A. E.
Miley, w. L. Bruen.
There is no institution in Washington
better deserving of public aid and en-
| enlargement than this which not only fills
the gap between the churches and the
cutters IN religious sense, but affords
necessary supplies to most needy part of
the population. Its utility was well demon
strated during the past winter when the
hard times pressed so heavily upon the
people OF Washington that public aid COM
mittees were by necessity formed. and
money was distributed in the form of sup
plies by The thousands of dollars.
Branches of the Mission.
The work of the mission is not confined
to the large building on Louisiana avenue.
which, however. being in the heart of the
city, reaches the largest class of the desti-
tute which properly belong to Washington
Ten branches are now being conducted by
the mission in or near the city, as follows:
Georgetown branch. 3O1O NJ street; Gospel
Hall. 524 18th street southwest, near the
river wharves; B-uen Chapel NJ street be-
tween Half and 1st street southeast, the
brick yard district; southeast branch, 9th
and X streets southeast, near the Navy
Yard: 18th street branch, corner of 18th
street and Florida avenue northwest;
Cottage Row branch, between 18th and
10th, and L and NJ streets northwest. doing
alley work: Marion Court branch between
9Th and It'll, and r and S streets, also do
ing alley work; northeast branch, 200 18th
street northeast; Anacostia branch at
Haine's Hail. Anacostia, and Falls Church
branch. at Falls Church, doing suburban
work.
Thus every portion of the city has been
covered by means of these branches, which
do an effective work not only in the way of
spreading the Gospel, but seeking ou- and
remedyng severe cases of distress, that
the authorities or of the charity officials
During the winter great number of cases
OF restitution we're thus relieved by the
mission branches.
A feature of the mission with which ner-
haps, the public is most familiar is the
Gospel wagon, which Is to be seen on the
streets each evening from May to October
This wagon is q mammoth affair twenty
feet long by seven wide, carrying a large
organ and a company of thirty musicians
and speakers. 1t is drawn by four magnifi-
cent horses and is a novel and attractive
spectacle. Services are held on the wagon,
and at times audiences of nearly two thous-
and persons have crowded around it. On
each Sunday afternoon three services are
held in different parts of the city by means
Of the wagon. which is driven rapidly from
place to place and thus presents the novelty
of a church on wheels.
The Auditorium.
When the building on Louisiana avenue
was remodeled the main feature aimed at
was an auditorium suitable for crowded SER
vices of the mission. This room is located
on the second floor in the rear of the build
ing and is model of simplicity and beauty.
having a seating capacity of 1,2OO. Services
are held every night in the year In this
hail. the audiences ranging from $50 to
100, and in many instances hundreds are
turned away. 1t is in this room that the
main religious work of the mission Is ac-
complished, and here are performed many
conversions to lives of Christianity and use
fulness from those of degradation and idle
ness. Scenes of great interest are Witness
ed in this room nightly, as men. once the
victims of evil habits, arise and tell how
they have been reclaimed and enabled to
live honest, sober and Christian lives Each
day at noon prayer service is held In the
small hall on the first floor of the building
fronting on Louisiana avenue. Every sun
day at 4:45 pm, Bible training class of
Christian workers meets Tor the study
of the Scriptures.
One of the most interesting features of
the religious work is the Mems Rescue
Band, composed Of about hundred con-
vertS and workers. This band carries on
several lines of work under the auspices
of the mission, visits the branches, EN-
ploys a city missionary and assists the
board of managers opportunity offers.
The band is recruited from men WHO have
come to the mission for aid and who have
afterward secured steady, sober employ
ment and retained their interest in the in
stitution. They regard their election to
membership in the band as high honor
and some of them strive to this end with
great zeal.
The Work of Women.
A Womans Band. composed of over 100
ladies. has also been organized, holding
weekly meetings In a parlor set apart for
the purpose. The ladies maintain the Cos
pei Hall Branch. and have organized COM
mittees of welcome for work at each
nights service at the main hall. Every
Sunday afternoon a committee Of ladies
divide up into subcommittee of one or two
and visit the various station houses for
Gospel work with the officers and prisoners.
From an early day in the history of the
mission visiting the homes of the poor and
the non-church going has been promi-
nent feature Of the work. AS a means OF
reaching the mothers and children, ascer-
tanning their physical needs and supply
ing them so far as possible, beside inter-
estlng them in religious matters,it has been
FOUND TO be the best at hand. Hundreds
or sick and discouraged mothers and wives
have thus been discovered, their wants re-
heved. their hearts encouraged. During
the past nine years 81 ,020 persons have thus
been visited, an average of over 1000 an
nuaIiy. Out OF these homes have come
some OF the most enthusiastic converts of
the mission. The distribution of Bibles and
tracts mas been carried on extensively from
the beginning at the main hall, the various
branches, the gospel wagon, by the mis-
slonar1es and by visitors to the hospitals
Jails, warehouses;. etc.
The Sunday Breakfast.
AS an appropriate intermediary between
the Gospel and relief work of the mission
may be mentioned the free Sunday break
FAST, which was instituted a few weeks
ago to provide food for the large number
of hungry men and women who would 9TH
erwise spend the Sabbath begging from