The Portland daily press., 1896-05-25
ieosPEL MISSION ANNIVERSARY. mzp
Report by Rev. Mr. Pearson and Appeal fol
Assistance.

| The 18th anniversary of the Gospel
| Temperance mission, ono CT the noblest
charitable institutions in the city was
celebrated last evening in City hall. AL
| audience of 1900 people were present.
On the platform was the trained choir
| of the Mission of nearly 90 voices which
furnished excellent music during the eve
ming. Rev. II. T. Dexter. the assistant
1 pastor of the mission, opened the exer-
cises by brief exhortation after which
Mr.. Clarence Brooks, the we'll known
baritone, rendered solo in his usual
pleasing manner.
Rev. Mr.. Pearson then stepped to the
front of the platform to address the
| audience.
"On the 26th day of this month"; said
Mr.. Pearson, 1T will be % years that 1
have stood in the city of Portland be-
tween Casco street and the Second
Parish church and done Whatever good 1
could see it in my power to do. Just is
years ago this month we opened the doors
of the Gospel Mission and commenced
our labors among those of our city whom
we thought most needed our eervices, 1t
IS not for me to boast of what has been
done during this tt me but il may quote
from the words of ID. L. Moody, the
evangelist, no mission In the United
States had one more work than has that
OF the Gospel Mission of Portland. You
may see by the following letter which
recently received from the Governor Of
the state that MIR. Moody's opinion ia
that of others in this city:
Portland, May 81, 1895.
Rev. S. f. Pearson:
My dear sir:-I have observed with
much interest the most excellent work
being accomplished by the Gospel Tenn
peranco Mission under the auspices OF
yourself and Mrs. Pearson. The Mission,
with the extensive charitable work, de-
serves generous support.
Very truly,
HENRY B. CLEAvES.
Mr. Pearson. as has been the custom
since the foundation of the Mission, then
read the report of the years work.
THE EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL RE-
PORT.
The 18th annual report of the Mission
| was presented by Rev S. T. Pearson.
The report shows that at the close of the
last year the mission was burdened with
! debt of $500. Mr.. Thomas S. Laugh
| lin rendered his services to raise the
debt. The next mail brought letter
] from Mr.. G. H. Payson, Offering substan-
tial assistance, and the following day
MIR. j. S. Kicker pledged one-ffteenth
part of the debt. MIR. Laughiin secured
the amount in sums of 500 each from
Messrs. j. R. Libby, D. W. Clark, H.
M. Payson, G. II. Payson. Geo. P. Wes-
colt, a friend, W. W. Thomas, Payson
Tucker, j. S. Rioker H. M. Jones. W. W.
Born, N. G. Davis, BENZ. Webster, aud
$500 from T. s. Laughlin. The amount
of cash received during the year was
s., 800 Sc, OF which $3S875 was received
in the mission, S341.75 for membership
| cards, S78S. 30 collections and subscrip-
tions, $105S "a collection city envelopes
Y. P. S. C. E., $40 80; Ladies' Aid,
! $98. 80; borrowed of l.. D.Austin, $120 90;
| borrowed of Traders bank, $500; of this
amount Rev. II. F. Dexter's salary was
$3.50: rent and repairs of hail. $423 81;
gas, $105.96; charity, $4,000; annual re-
ports, 1924; coal, sl37.5O; janitor, $3.50;
printing, S4.25, and the remainder for
water, wood, stationary, tracts, etc. The
expenditures of the mission is $3.50 to L.
D. Austin and note of $500 to Traders
bank
| There have been 1913 services held the
past year aud $50 have came forward for
prayers at the testimony meetings. The
Christian Endeavor Society has been
prosperous and won the banner for the
largest percentage of attendance for the
year. The entertainments have been
many and successful. We have added
257 names to the temperance pledge. We
have given nine lectures. conducted "a
| funeral services, married 10 couples,
provided a13 meals for suffering ones,
furnished lodgings for 65, visited the
hospitals and reform school, made 1, 1876
visits among the siok and destitute. There
has been much suffering owing to the
continued hard times and in some places
such wretched poverty and misery that
filled us with horror and amazement. We
| have secured employment for 1913. made
many visits to the municipal court and
many who were arrested for intoxication
| were released upon taking the pledge
We have distributed about II, 600 pounds
of cooked and knocked provisions, have
carried food. clothing, lights and fuel
to number Of homes that have been re-
joicsd thereby forwarded 10 unfortunate
persons to their homes, distributed
1859 articles Of clothing that has been
| carefully examined and repaired by the
Ladies' Mission. circulated $500 tracts.
| The value Of the clothing, lights, food
distributed has been fully $4,000. Mr..
Pearson returns the usual thanks for as
sistance.
Mr.. Pearson called attention to the
fact that not one cent of salary has been
received during the year just passed by
either himself or his wife or his daughter
although he had devoted from Is to 90
| hon n I,