Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-06-22
RESCUE MISSIONS
A National Movement Having Its
Headquarters Here.
INFLUENCE OF LOCAL ORGANIZATION
To Begin a Great Campaign in
Behalf of Christianity.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
A number of people interested in Rescue
Mission work have organized recently
movement to extend their special line Of
mission endeavor so as to embrace kindred
organizations in all the cities throughout
the land. This organization is known as
the National Gospel Mission Union" Its
headquarters are at the Central Union
Mission of this city, and its board of il
rectors is composed of the following named
gentlemen: DR.. Louis klopsch, publisher of
the Christian Herald of New York and the
manager of the "Bowery Mission" and the
Christian Heralds Children's Home at
Nyack, on the Hudson; Rev. S. c. Mason
of Los Angeles, Cal, superintendent of the
Pacific Coast Mission and formerly state
secretary of California for the Y. NJ. c. A.;
Mrs. E. NJ. Whitlemore. the founder of
the Door of Hope" Mission in New York
city for the rescue of women; d. L. Davis
or Cleveland, publisher of the Gospel News
and manager of the Cleveland Rescue Mis-
sion, with cheap lodging house and cheap
meals, an Industrial department and a
gospel wagon; Maj. George A. Hilton, the
weli-known evangelist, who has organized
several prominent missions in various parts
of the country; S. H. Hadley, superinteud-
ent Of the Water Street Mission, New York
city, one of the best-known mission men
In America and one OF the most sue cess
ful W. A. bennett, whose mission eating
houses extend fromBoston to SanFrancisco;
Jno. Merrill of California president Of the
Pacific Gospel Union and active in agrees
sive Christian work; ]. f. Carpenter CT the
reform school of the District of Columbia
and the nine members of the board of di-
rectors of the Washington Central Union
Mission-E. ID. Bailey, G. w Wheeler A
L. Swartwout. G. W. Havell. w. C. Tyler,
o. b. Brown, N. A. Robbins p S. Foster
and A. S. Pratt A number of vacancies
In the board still remain untitled.
What Statistics Show.
Some statistics which have recently been
compiled by members of the organizar ton
show what task this Organization has
before it. There are IN the United States
69S cities. with population as follows: 5000
to 10000. 395; 10000 to $4,000, 1888; 25,O0O to
10000. 81: $4,000 to 100000, 81; 100000 to
1 ~ 90 ~ 100000 to 100000 II; 100000 to
Here are nearly 100 cities and towns of
over 1900 inhabitants, in a large portion Of
whlch no rescue work exists. In some fac
Tory towns churches are almost deserted.
me board of directors of the National
Gospel Mission Union. in their declaration
of principals and objects, say:
The marvellous success of the Central
Union Mission Of WASHINGTON D. c. in
reaching the unconverted classes and bring
ing them under the influence of the Gospel,
mas led to the conviction that a similar
work may be successfully prosecuted in
every city of our land. This mission in ten
years has grown from very small begin
ming to city evangelization movement
with great building in the center of the
city. and dozen branches in various other
sections, with a well orgal ized CORPS of
workers, carrying on almost every conceiy-
able form of effort to reach the unsaved
In ten years Ore than 5000 persons have
progressed conversion; the congrega tons ag-
Sregate an attendance Of 100000 annually;
about fifty meetings q week are held; sue
cessful evangelistic work among suburban
churches has been done, and an almost I'M
precedented activity has been maintained
at comparatively small expense in mon ey
the work being almost wholly done by
volunteers without pecuniary compensa-
ton.
After much consultation with Christian
workers, eyanSeiists and mission leaders in
other cities, an organization has been eff
fected. to be called the National Gospel
Mission Union. Its object is to Christian
lie America, and, while 1t Is not restricted
in its agencies and methods, yet its foun-
ders have in mind several important fea-
lures, to which others may be added as oc-
caSion arises.
First, to organize Gospel missions in cit
les where they are needed.
Second, to organize training schools for
the training of men and women for this
special class of work.
who may respond to demands for special
services in churches and missions.
Fourth, an important feature will be the
fact of refraining from the organizing of
any churches or Gnything that would con-
stitute rival of ecclesiastical bodies The
effort will be to convert the world, and not
to organize churches
An Appeal.
The board has also adopted an appeal,
which says: THE board of directors of
the National Gospel Mission Union desire
in all earnestness to call your attention
to the pressing need that exists for res
cue mission work in every town and city
in our land, such work to be in harmony
with, and under the control of, the or
ganized Church of Christ
THE object of this union, as more fully
stated in the accompanying statement of
object and constitution, is to aid in plant
ing and maintaining RESCUE missions Zone
or more) in every town and city in Amer
lea. Wherever such missions have been
organized and maintained they have
proved a great blessing to the community
in general and by a reflex influence to the
churches also. They are simple in their
organization, a board of management, con-
sisting Of prominent laymen, being ap-
pointed out of the various churches and de-
nominations, who have power to conduct
it's affairs and who personally, or by other
suitable workers, shall carry on aggressive
GoSpei work In naliS, tents, cottages, on
the streets, In the alleys, wherever the peo-
pie gather; visit hospitals, station houses,
engine houses, aims houses, work houses,
jails. ETC., and by the distribution of Bibles,
Testaments and tracts, and by brief Cos
pei talks testimonies, prayers and songs,
win men and women to Christ.
I'VE have number Of experienced Or
ganizers whom We desire to place in the
field Immediately and we appeal to you
for financial assistance. A small contribu-
ton from every lover Of Christ and souls
would enable the board to organize a num-
Der of missions during the summer months,
through whose instrumentality thousands
of our fellow men might be brought to
Jesus and eternally saved.
"Will you help us in the achievement Of
this grand and glorious object? If so, kind
ly remit to any member of the board, or to
the treasurer, and may the blessing Of the
Lord rest richly upon you"
A special meeting of the board Of d.
rectors will be held at the Central Union
Mission, 622 Louisiana avenue, next Mon
day night, when 1t Is expected important
action will be taken looking to the push
ing of the work.