Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-07-18
THE HUMAN SWARM.
BISHOP POTTER AMONG NEW YoRK'S
TEEMINo EAST SIDE SLUMS.


when tho Roy. II. II. Bateman, rector
bf tho Cathedral mission at 1870 Stanton
street, far over on the east side, was preach
Ing his regular Thursday sermon one even
dng several weeks ago, there entered and
seatsd himself on one Of the benches In the
rear OF the dimly lighted, unpapercd, baro
walled little room man erect I'm figure
and kindly In countcnance. The congrega-
tion of neatly but choaply clothed men and
women glanced curlously ut tho unknown
visitor, but Mr.. Bateman was too on
crossed In expounding tho gospel to notice
him.
IL was not until the service was near an
end that tho preacher observed the late
conner, who was leaning forward In an at
titudo Of profound attention. Then his
face flushed with prido as he recognized
the figure of Bishop Potter. The distin-
guished head Of the Now York diocese
smiled quietly at the rector's surprise,
made his way to the platform and spoke q
few words OF congratulation and encour-
agement TO the congregation and shook all
their hands as they left the mission at the
close OF his remarks.
II have come TO ask you about your
plans for a vacation" then the bishop con
flded TO Mr.. Bateman. "When do you ex-
poet to start away for a season OF rest from
your arduous labors In the missionY"
Mr. Bateman confessed that he could
soc little chance of his leaving the east sido
even for brief period, as there was con-
stant need for the presence Of minister In
the mission, and no substitute had offered
to accept the position.
80 I.,l. A
bishops quick response II will relieve
you for a month, taking up my residence
here and performing all tho duties which
devolve upon the rector. There, do not
demonstrate" rs the hard worked clergy
man shook his head In emphatic refusal OF
the unexpected announcement; my mind
is fully made up. The experience is my
earnest desire 1t may be good example
to the clergy OF the diocese, and shall ex-
ert every effort TO make 1t fruitful Of good
TO the neighborhood.
No easy task is this self appointed one
of Bishop Potter's, ministering to the poor
and sick in the most densely populated
square mile in the entire world. Three
hundred and fifty thousand persons in
habit that area there and nowhere in the
'neighborhood are the quarters more crowd
cd and wretched than In the immediate
vicinity of the mission, between Essex and
Norfolk streets. The tenements swarm
from cellar to garrett with half clothed,
half starved children, sickly babes, white
faced, forlorn mothers and despairing ia
thers. The heat Is terrific and suffocating,
and few venture from choice out into the
full strength Of the suns rays.
1t Is In these teeming tenements that
Bishop Potter will pass much Of his time.
He will administer the communion and
the rite Of baptism, attend to the wants
of the sick and suffering and marry and
bury whenever there Is call for his serv-
ices The mission Is long established and
dearly cherished Institution Of the siums
and constant stream of persons flows TO
1t and into tho comforting presence of the
rector in charge. The bishops office hours
are from to 10 o'clock. both In the morn
ing and the evening. Ho will spend the
intervals In travelling about the neighbor-
hood and in assisting in the daily meet
ings for service.
His living apartments comprise three
rooms. small and plain-a sitting room, a
bedroom and bathroom. His meals are
served from the Community House around
the corner The fare Is substantial, but
plain to degree which must have sur
prised the bishop on first introduction.
1t Is to iious walk and hot, disagree
able ride ON Broadway or the Bowery to
the missi' l. The bishop will doubtless
have few rs who do not live near his
seat of labo. 1t Is as we'll He has no
time and no inclination to entertain. The
demands Of unfortunate humanity are
difficult to meet. His two secretaries are
In Europe for the summer and Sexton G.
l.. Richardson will be his only constant
companion. They will be the only occu-
pants Of the mission building at night
within call Of each other In case Of need
From the single window in tho bishops
bedroom he will be able to look directly
into the tenements on all sides where fire
escapes and roof do summer bed duty.
The bishop was surroNded by squad
Of chattering youngsters when saw him In
his room in the mission. "We are making
this east side work the mission of the ca
thedral which Is to crown the heights Of
Morningside park" he said. "We must
not think Of the cathedral as magnificent
building In which the church liturgy Is TO
be rendered with all the accessories Of q
dignifed ceremonial. 1t Is rather the
heart Of the missionary endeavor, which
ministers to high and low and rich and
spiration and power of continuance in wor-
ship We intend TO make 1t place for the
masses, like st. Pauls Of London.
"We shall soon have more mission houses
like this among the Russian and Polish
Hebrews and Germans of the cast side and
expect to have many workers in this field
alone. The missionary work outside the
parishes we hope to bring into one system,
to be controlled by the cathedral" "
Bishop Potter will preach twice on Sun
days and once on Thursday evenings and
is president Of the Sunday school In the
Rev. Mr.. Bateman's absence. He will also
have oversight of the kitchen garden, the
Helping Hand society the mothers meet
ing, tho PASTORS class, tho boys club the
sewing school, the kindcrgNrtcn, the fresh
air work, the gymnasium, the mems club
the relief department, the Girls Friendly
society and tho brotherhood of St An
drew. Tho last organization Is composed
of young men who do daily missionary