The evening times., 1896-10-17
Central Union Mission Work
for the Past Year.
ITS TWELFTH ANNIVERSARY
Annual Report Shows Financial Con
ditiOn of Institution TO Require Still
Further Public Aid-Tramp Prob
lem One of the Most Troublesome
Subjects 1t Has to Deal With.

ganization is composed of members or the
various evangelical churches of the cit y and
is supported by voluntary contributions
Referring to the Gbspcl services, the re-
| port states that the same general methods
have been pursued as in previous years
| Services II ave been held al the mission every
night and every noon. The average attend
| ance at the night meetings has been about
| go. ON Sunday nights there have been
! audiences of from ,06B to 200 persons.
| The attendance at the MONDAY meetings
varied from 10 to 200 persons. Family
worship is observed in the mission office
| every morning at $50 o'clock
Good work has been accomplishe dur
| ing the year by the training class. mems
| and women's bands and the two Gospel
wagons.
Considerable space is given to the work OF
| the ten branch missions. Among these is
| the open Door" branch, No. 1919 ID street
| northwest, in the center OF the disreputable
| quarter.
RESCUE OF ERRING WOMEN.
1.-THE special object OF this branst." sa Us
| the report, has becu the rescue Of erring
women The meetings have been held on
| the streets for the most part, and usually
12 O'Clock. Some notable rescues have
resulted, and it is well-rccognized fact
that the ncfarious business OF that section
of the city has been materially iessened
through the persistent work OF rerorma-
tion. Some houses of iil-reputc have been
opened for prayer meetings. and several
men and women have been redeemed from
lives of SIM
A.N.,,
financial statement OF the mission is not
completed, but an approximate statement
can be given which will answer present
purposes The conditions have much i'm
proved during the year. Last year the un-
paid second trust on1hc building amounted
to about $4,000, which natures at the
rate of 81 900 every three months. Sew
erai payments were due and unpaid. An
effort was made to raise this sum in
pledges to be paid at the rate OF one-fourth
every SIX months. II was calculated that
these pa yruents would soon cancel the over
due notes and meet the maturing obliga-
tious.
Ten thousand dollars were pledged on
these terms, and So ,000 OF the sum have
been regularly made, much TO the relief
of the treasury. one subscriber 10 the
amount Of 81 900 claims that his pledge
was conditioned ON raising the whole sum
SI2.0Ou-and he declines TO make any pay
ment until the other 50 coo are pledged.
Efforts to secure this sum ha &c so far been
unavailing. If this sum could be faiscd it
would entirely relieve the embarra ssrnent
on account OF the building debt. and this
would open the way to an increase of the
income for current expenses, which is
sadly needed
ANNUAL REVENUES NEEDED.
The board needs $1,000 annually to
meet current expenses, or In the neighoor-
hood OF 81 900 more than was received
the past year. This The sum which has
been required for many, years, and with the
closest economy it does not seem practicable
10 maintain the work III a high state OF
efficiency with less sum.
ITO summa rze the financial condition,
il may be said that about $4,000 addition
al will be needed To cancel the second trust
on the building. and about 81 500 to pay
the floating debts. The first trust amounts
to $50, 900.
The board has been required to meet
some OF the most difficlt problems OF So
cioiogy which are ever presented any
vs. here and IL solutions have not always
satisfied the public it is no wonder. 1t
must be remembered that the chosen field
OF operation is among the unfortunate
classes. The mission parish includes the
poor, the illiterate, the unframed, the
tramps. the criminals. the erring the un-
governed and the ungovernable classes.
the mean man and the beggar. 1t is not
confined to these, but includes them all.
and much mote
THE really unfortunate classes who
need sympathy and a helping hand find
the mission a haven of rest. a home. a
friend in time of need, shelter in the
storm, a benedictiou always. No one
W bo has not tried it knows the Joy of
ministering to such people. Our only re-
gret is the narrow limit OF our resources.
We learn to love them. Their very help
lessness appeals to our sympathy.
but our great problems connect them
selves with another class the low, vicious.
vile, lazy. mean and ungrateful men who
hold that the world owes them living. and
it is their business to use their wits in
getting it. The industrial department fur
nishes the only possible method OF dealing
with such men. When we are in position
to say, work or move on" they are not
slow to see that they are outwitted AZ last
We dc not hesitate to say. after four years
of experience, that n woody is the best
possible remedy for the tramp problem.
Our only difficulty arises from the fact that
tie wood yard SO frequently becomes over
stocked with sawed wood. and men who are
anxious to work cannot be accommodated.
What to do under these conditions IS one or
the trying problems.
THE TRAMP PROBLEM.
1t has long bee N the practice not to give
away lodgings or meals. Men must earn
what they get.
Tho board is endeavoring to keep an open
door for all men who are willing to enter
upon better life, and at the same time to
give no quarters to those who are idle from
choice. To do this successfully is not al
ways possible, but the best cndeavors are
being exercised to this end.
1.-The board deems it OF the utmost ini-
portance to keep the mission in close touch
and sympathy with the churches. 1t be-
lieyes il will be an unfortunate day Tor both
churches and mission il the mission ever
becomes in any sense independent OF the
churches. The mission aims to be sensitive
to the wishes of the churches. and it asks
their sympathy and confidence. 1t Is not
TO lie resumed thu the affairs OF the mis-
sion are above criticism, tLt tits the aim OF
the board to pursue so wise and prudent
n course as to conquer criticism and merit
commentator. Tie task OF the mission is
l,,,t.