Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-07-26
THE HUMAN SWARM.
BISHOP POTTER AMONG NEW Works.
TEEMlNG EAST SIDE SLUMS.

of the Cathedral mission at 100 Stanton
street, far over on the east side, was preach
ing his regular Thursday sermon one even
ing several weeks ago, there entered and
seated himself on one of the benches in the
rear of the dimly lighted, unpapered, bare
walled little room man erect in figure
and kindly in countenance. The congrega-
ton of neatly but cheHply clothed men and
women glanced curiously at the unknown
visitor, but Mr.. Batcman was too en-
crossed in eXpounding the gospel to notice
him.
1t was not until the service was near an
end that the preacher observed the late
conner, who was leaning forward in IN at
titude of profound attention. Then his
face flushed with pride MS he recognized
the figure of Bishop Potter. The distin-
guishcd head of tho New York diocese
smiled quietly at the rector's surprise,
made his way to the platform and spoke a
few words of congratulation and encour-
agcment to the congregation and shook all
thor hands as they left the mission Mt the
close of his remarks.
II have come to ask you about your
plans for vacation, " then the bishop con-
fidod to Mr.. Bateman. "When do you ex-
poet to start away for season of rest from
your arduous labors in the missionY
Mr.. Bateman confessed that he could
sec little chance of his leaving tho east side
even for brief period, as there was con-
slant need for the presence Of minister in
the mission, and no substitute had offered
to accept the position.
prepare to leave on July TO-" was the
bishops quick response. Il will relieve
you for month"; taking up my residence
here and performing all the duties which
deyolve upon the rector There, do not
remonstrate, as 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 a good example
to the clergy Of the diocese, and 1 shall ex-
ert every effort to make it 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 dcnsely populated
square mile in the entire world. Three
hundred and fifty thousand persons in
habit that area there and nowhere in tho
ncighborhoOd arc the quarters more crowd
ed and wrctchcd than in the immediate
vicinity of the mission, between Essex and
Norfolk streets. The tenomcnts swarm
from cellar to garrett with half clothed,
half starved children, sickly babes, white
faced, forlOrn mothers and despairing IA
theirs. 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 tGnements 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 u call for his serv
ices. The mission is n long established and
dearly cherished institution Of the slums,
and constant stream of persons flows to
it and into the 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. He 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 q bathroom. His meals arc
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 q tedious walk and o hot, disagree
able ride from Broadway or the Bowery to
the mission. The bishop will doubtless
have few visitors who do not live near his
seat of labor. 1t is as well. 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 tho only occu-
pants of the mission building at night
within call of each other in case of need.
From the single window in the 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 surrounded by squad
of chattcring youngsters when l saw him in
his room in the mission. eve are making
this east side work the mission of the ca
thedral which is to crown the heights of
Morningside park, " he said. ''Wo must
not think of the cathedral as a magnificent
building in which the church liturgy is to
dignihed ceremonial. 1t is rather the
heart of the missionary endeavOr, which
ministers to high and low and rich and
poor aliko-an endeavor which finds its in
spiration and power of continuance in wor
ship. Wointend to make it place for the
masses, like St. Paul's of London.
eve shall soon have more mission houses
like this among the Russian and Polish
Hebrews and Germans of the east side and
expect to have many workers in this field
alone. The missionary WORT outside the
parishes we hope to bring int 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, the PASTORS class, the boys club, the
sewing school, the kindergarten, the fresh
air work. the gymnasium, the mems club,
the relief department, the Girls Friendly
society and tho Brotherhood Of st. An
drew. The last organization is composed
of young men who do daily missionary
work in that quarter.-New York Herald.