The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-28
STORIES THAT SAVE MEN.
METHODS OF THE TH0 STARS AT
JERRY M'AULEFs MISSION

" buuo Sonunon. AEeu wv
Drunkhrd-Taik That Reaches tho Men'
When tho officers OF tho old Water Street Mis-
sion. founded twenty-five years ago by Jerry
McAuley, have a particular desperate case to
handle. they trot out either Phil Mcguire or
Rube johnson. or both. These two old fellows
are types of the work that the mission docs.
According to their confessions no ono could
sink any lower than they have been, which In
itself is an argument that generally works won
ders with the subjects tho mission people are
trying to convert. Phil and Rube have a STOCK
of hair-raising stories. and they can tell them
in graphic style. They have to tell them a hun
dred times or moro q week; but thoy don't seem
to mind It so long as It helps along the work OF
reformation. for the two men arc religious en-
thusiasts. and as jealous workers In the cause rs
can be found In the mission. 1t 10 conceded that
they havo done moro than anybody else In the
little Water Street Mission to rescue apparently
hopeless cases, and yet only a few years ago
both men were drunkards, tramping about
the country, Ill fed and Ill clad. spending most
OF their time in station houses and hospitals,
and altogether about as u~npromising material
for evangelists as could be found. The mission
people go on the theory that no man is beyond
redemption, and they. use tho careers of Phil
and Rubo to infuse hope into the despairing.
They say that II encourages n drunkard to know
that the clean, decent looking man whit Is talk
ing to him was. only q few years before. even
lower than he. 1t makes him feel as though he
had q chance to accomplish the same transfer.
nation himself and raises his courage and de-
termination 80 per cent. Judging from results
the theory is an excellent one.
1t would be hard to imagine two moro widely
different types than Phil and Rube. Mcguire is
about 65 years OF age and a product Of the slums
of New York. He is without education. and was
surrounded by the worst influences during his
youth. Years of his life have been spent in
prisons. Out Of prison he was q drunkard.
He enjoys the distinction Of having served in
Sing Sing with Jerry McAuley, and laughed
in his sleeve when Jerry professed religion.
They generally introduce Rube johnson to an
audience as e" tho biggest blk that ever walked
tho Bowery." RUDE Is nearly 80 years Of age,
but has q fine old face and a wealth Of white
hair. He is . man who fell from grace In spite
Of good influences; led the life of q drunkard
and tramp for years; backslid three times after
being converted. but now has held out for nearly
eleven years, and says that the fourth CONVEX
sion was the final one and will last him forever.
He 10 a man Of education, and can talk well and
interestingly. His life story is not 80 powerful as
that of old Phil Mcguire, because he never did
time" He was o drunkard, pure and simple;
while Phil was All all-around thief, and had an
endless round of experiences before liquor got q
tight grip and rendered him useless ms a crook.
With three or four wretched looking men be-
fore him. old Phil Mcguire will get up and speak
as follows:
"Cheor up, boys! Down here we don't think
anybody kin git so low that tho love of Jesus
can't save him. Say. boys. I've got a clean shirt
on now, I'm clean shaven an what's more, I
Amt had Q drink fer years an don't want none.
Just the same. it wasn't SO long ago l was goin'
around like you fellers, drunk on stale beer an
anything else l could git a hold of, sleepin' in
cutters an thinkin' nothing could save me. Be-
foro that / was even worse. I was a thief. a
crook. did all the things tho good Bible snys
wo mustn't do. I done time in Sing Sing
an other places. yet here 1 am tonight a
saved man. hauled right out of u good sight
worse fix than any Of you boys are in. Did I
save myself Did any drugs save met No,
boys, it was the love of Christ. Nuthin' else kin
do 1t. All the making up yer mind ter quit in
the world don't help q bit. Yer'll fall again.
sure. Take Jesus in and you're saved. He kin
save you. boys. a sight easier than he saved me.
an he's made a good job of it wit h me, too.
God bless yer boys. an God bless Jerry Nc
Auley. he that started this mission. They say
I'm the only man alive that was in Sing Sing
with Jerry. l met him there an we knew each
other we'll. l was q bad man. but n heap sight
worse man was Jerry McAuley. I didn't take
it was the beginning OF his great life for God.
boys. came out OF sing sing long aficrJerry
ff lad asi the pahhs anssrin' % for a nu dfiGk: ap that S0 tae sHl
cent though. and was walking up the Bowery
",Whnts yer lay, Jerry + ] asked.
He laid his hand on my shoulder. looked 40
but the york of Jesus Christ. Come around an
Il went, around to see Jerry an his mission
here, and he talked to me, fed me. clothed me.
and sent me away thinking. BOYS. tho change
SEQ that nothing, but the love of jesus would
save mo. got drunk again and again after my
here hss't on water "a Stree street ~ i found fsdI 5tmS ' Rand OUT %p
to me. Well, boys. the Lord came into me one
sire for the old life Went out. Oh, boys il yer
SpSb Is only sa o Kn9w ht-know what it mcans-yer'd
Phil keeps this up until hc has his subjects
In the proper frame of mind: then the whole
mi Mboa G PRif IN n amH works ,,E up 5 heir &c lee I'M s;,r
who is both crook and drunkard, old Rube
Johnson's career, as told by himself. does for
i iRS %.h \ NeH { Hr rsp sS@s h TO rhe Cd FapiRtG abe ' t%iEine
the other night t9 a row OF unfortunates.
you to be saved, Just look at me. I'm getting to
be SO years OF age, yet it was only q few years
you, 1t WASH t anything but drink that brought
me down. ] had n good family and a good wife.
could Spa in sh ,aIeoF Wen %Ha = sf' found ON m the 'l Iord n0 Jenas
Christ, boys. the whole thing passed away like a
easy then, boys. 1t don't matter what you think
about T. now, boys; IN DO jus. as easy for you,
once inc love or Jesus takes u hold.
81 began drinking when "a boy, my friends
just n little beer and n little wine now and then.
but 1t was the reason OF my complete downfall
later. At 80 l was n drunkard. l had to sneak
away to keep the fact from those who loved me,
and l only returned when ! knew that | could
keep sober for u week or so. Gradually tho
desire got stronger. and l reached tho age OF
80. q got. | was ms hopeless II case ms any
OF you ever sRw-worsc than any OF
you are now. Sine times after l was
30 / went to tho Kings County InebriRtcs'
Home. There every human means TO save me
was tried. 1t was all of no avail. Even tho
horrors OF dclirium trcmens failed to keep mo
straight. Boys. | have helped t. hold raving
crazy men-crazy with the awful torture OF de.
lirium tremens; have had them die in my arms,
and knowing that the same terrible end awaited
Inc have gone out and tlled myself with rum
Simply couldn't fight II.
boys. 1t was after | had come out OF the
home for the ninth time that / wandered, shiv.
cring nd cold, into tho Madison Square Park.
i had been drunk for days and was a physical
and mental wreck. ] sat down on u bench and
somebody spoke to me. ! looked to see who It
was, but there was nobody near. Again | heard
/ 49,. u md IL Inn III -la.El L.a.l IA.-