The morning times., 1896-12-07
SPOKE TO TWO !" go.
IMMENSE. GATHERINGS
Evangelist CrittentOn Had to Turn
Many Away.
Address at the First Congrega-
tionaI Church Followed by An
other at Epiphany.

cation which completely filled
| the First Congregational Church as
| scmbled yesterday afternoon to listen to
g. recital OF the history ana work of the
| Florence Crittenton Rescue Mission as
| told by the founder, MIR. Charles N. Crit
| tenton.
The Hamine NJ E. Church choir sang
several selections, and solos were rem
dered by Miss O'Neal, Mr. Humphrey, and
Mr.. II. f. Perry, the latter's- solo. being
entitled Nellie Conroy," named for one
| of The young women rescued uli0agil Inc
aid of The Crittenton Mission in New- York
Mr.. Crittenton whose fame as n mission
| worker among the sluuis mas spread
| throughout the land, detailed the Incl
dents of his life which lead him to abandon
| his business and devote his time and en-
| ergies toward raising the fallen. He
| said that fourtee III years ago the Angel
| of Death, had removed from his happy
| family q little bright-eyed. golden haired
| girl OF four years.
! BEGINNING OF THE WORK.
He mourned her death ana lost all in
| terest in life; he was on the verge Of com
! hitting suicide, wondering why some poor
| forsaken child of the streets had not been
taken instead of his baby Suddenly an
| inspiration came to him. Following it,
| he had been led into Une MONDAY prayer
] meeting at Grant place.
| Relating in brief his experience from
| THAI hour, re had gone Gown intU the
| slum quarters of the great city to carry
| d message of hope and extend welcoming
| hand to the lost. To the erring sister he
| had used the words OF the saviour: Go
| and sin no more Where was she to
| CO. when every avenue of rescue was
closed to her? -.,-.' Fns
Then it was that lie decided to expend
his wealth IN establishing place where
| fallen women might find a welcome and
| a home. A mission was opened at No.
| 20 Becker street, the first OF it's kind,
| and christened the Florence CrittenUon,
| in memory OF his beloved child. Its doors
| have never been closed and throughout
| the country, indifferent cities, in tile very
| centers OF vice, thirty-eight similar mis-
| sions have been founded
He said there WEE from 100000 TO
300, 900 fallen women in the country to-
day. Their average life, after beginning
their downward career, is but five years,
30 that $4,000 girls, many of them from
he best homes and finest families every
year died in the dcns OF evil ana found
| rest in unknown graves in the Iotter's
field.
OBJECT OF THE MISSION
lie Florence Crittcnton Rescue Missions
had been established, and to that work he
had devoted his life. They Were Il It opIe
robbed and 81 DIED. as the Scriptures
had said, and Chris ian people often asked
If they could be saved.
There is nothing, he said, in this world
which pays as well us taking Il ST one 10y
| The hand and leading her to a better life.
The cause of so many fallen women he
attributed chiefly to dancing, skating, I'M
happy maria ges and low wages. The lat
| ter had driven tens of IL ouSandS to the
| brothel because they Gould not make an
| honest living at a respectable calling and
| were iii measure forced choose between
| life OF shame and Starvation.
Mr.. Crittenton's address was filled with
| many incidents, pathetic and hcartrend-
| ing, which had come under his ice in
| the fourteen years OF his rescue work, and
| stories of the fallen who had been led
| back to rIghte Gus life. The lurge con-
gregation was more than 6nce moved to
| tears by the RECITAL OF numerous expert
| enccs in his eyentful career.
Mrs. Kate Waller Barrett also made
| stirring address, and t4ld OF the work
| Of the CrittCnton Mission in Washington,
| where she said there was more loom for
| earnest, active efforts than in any city
| III the world.
THE EVENING MEETING.
The clergy and congregation of Epiphany
| Episcopal Church extended To Evangelist
CrIttenton a hearty welcome to that edi-
| flee in the evening. The warmth of the
reception is,partly due to the fact that
the noted evangelist was at one time
| member OF the v1stry and a communicate
in the Rev. DR.. MCkin'S parish in New
York city.
Rev. DR.. Mckim in presenting Mr.. Crit
| tenton TO the congregation also intro
duced the subject By a brief reference to
The story OF Mary MagdaIen. He then
spoke of MIR. Crittenton as former par
I>hioner and communicate Of his in New
York, and extended to him a glad well
come to Washington and Epiphany Church
tell the story of the establishment Of
the Florence Crittenton Home and its
numerous branches.
The regular service before the address
was conducted by the Rev. DR.. Turner,
assistant rector Of Epiphany parish.