Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-13

paper issued by the Central Mission. and
IT occurred to US that the thing to be done
in the afternoon was to go and take our
friends to this place, wholly unlimited and
almost totally unknown to US. 1t is true
that we had seen the post Office disap-
pear from the old Seaton Hotel building
at the junction of Louisiana avenue and
@ street, and had read in the newspapers
later that the Central Mission had bought
the building and had taken possession of
it. and had seen high up on the western
wall of the structure, painted in very large
letters, Central Mission
But really we had not, as a fact. any
idea of what this mission was beyond
vague notion that every week day even
ing it held meetings and on Sunday held
them nearly all dag, and during the severe
winters cold 1t had been most jealous
in getting funds for the poor and needy
and been most earnest in dispensing food
to the suffering. But, practically, we had
no idea of what the work Of this mission
was, or its place in tine forces of religious
activities or the benevolences OF our city.
On the afternoon In question we assembled
the very clean staring that led to the
auditorium of the mission building. There
is, perhaps, no actual need that we won
dered at noting how very tidy and whole
Some this approach was. 1t Is true the
ness" but we had a sort OF preconceived
notion that where the rough scun of the
community was wont to gather there must
needs be more or less dirt and uncleanh-
ness.
In the Auditorium.
This auditorium is a large room, made by
taking in on the second floor several adjoin-
ing rooms and cutting away the floor above,
90 that a nice large room is made, having
& fine gallery about three sides supported
BY the timbers that had held the upper
floor. The main room and gallery are iur-
Iished with comfortable but cheap foldlng
Seats, and the combined capacity seemed
to US sufficient to accommodate about five
hundred worshipers. The platform is placed
against the south wall, and is well pro-
yided with DESK organ and such necessary
appurtenarces. The south windows. shaded
by curtains, afford ample light and means
for ventilating.
The services under charge of band Of
ladies' had begun before our entry. we
found an audience of perhaps one hundred
and fifty, made up of men and women
chiefly the former; most of the men were
In the prime of life. but there was a goo6
proportion of youth under twenty year:
of age; the audieI ce. excepting IN re"
instances, were evidently dressed as 10
Sunday. but not In such attire as one usu
ally sees at our church services. Inc ex
srcises consisted in very brief speeches b!
both men and women, interspersed with oc
casional prayers.
Tine main theme VI Tie liCCelh6 DN.Aie
tonfession for sin committed, but mingled
with earnest graduation for sin forgiven
Old ard young spoke with the most Ten
der feeling, though not always IN the ian
euage of the schools, and every speake
sent his words directly home to the hear
Of every one present. This was due to tn
intense earnestpess of the speakers, an
the evident feeling that he or she was talK
ing of most actual and tangible realities
fhe sinfulness of sin, the glory OF escap
from il. and a positive belief in the pres
9nce and aid of an unseen out aihaisn'
Savior. -. - o
spoken so far as words. but with all wa
the same spirit, the same zeal, the sam
inspiration. Some of the speakers, IN re
counting the loss Of children, or CON
nanlons or parents. especially one wn
told of the death of no less than elgr
dear children, were SO patnetlc as ~ t tan,
forth from every listener the quieA eeoi
of sympathy. 49, ,s;. ,
charge of the meeting Started verse
some song we'll known to most preseh
and though these were all unfamiliar
MS we were deeply impressed by ine not'
IF praise as the voices rose or 1eii III Ho
beautiful chorus.
Asking for Prayers.
Near the close of the meeting most
fectionate exhortations were MADE by Sc
e,al of the ladies, and earnest appeals e;
messed that all needy and sln-slck on
present would rise anu ash ioi p"'S
There were several responses, and IT WI
AFFECTING to note how quickly. just so soc
as this manifestation was made lac
from the platform sped down to the si'
Eiyen the suggested token, and, wit
y arm and earnest greeting. begged him
her to come to the front seat. Then
prayer was offered specially for these, al
the meeting dismissed quite promptly
the end of the hour and a half to whit
II was limited, owing to the calls to 9th
meetings In the building, and the previo
erea gements of the ladies'.
We had by this time become 80 great