New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-26
FIVE POINT MISSION WORK.
GREAT CHANGES IN THE MULBERRY
BEND DISTRICT IN THE LAST
FIFTY YEARS
BRAVE WOMEN WHO BANDED TOGETHER TO
BETTER THE CONDITION OF THE
SLCM CHILDREN


BETTER THE CONDITION OF THE
Stun CHILDREN
The location of the wickedest section OF New
York City Is a matter Of discussion bu, ever!
old POLICE officer we'll as every missionary OF ex-
perience remembers the time when Mulberry Bend
with its treacherous alleys ard murderous dives.
easily carried off the honors as being the refuge u
criminals and the nursery of crime Originally the
Five Points was low. swampy pond. which. being
filed up became the foundation Of number OF
ramshackle shanties. In which the poor ana VICIOUS
and dissolute congregated. BY degrees the ne'sh-
borhood became so bad that people spoke OF II with
bated breath The underground cells and passages
connecting blocks OF houses became known TO the
police as Cowboy and "Murderers alleys. and
no spot OF ground In the States had more terri
bic reputation
Every house almost was a rumshop, and the mos,
vicious and degraded Of both sexes congregated
there to concoct future villanes and glory In past
ones Children brought up in this school OF IN
EQUITY became accomplished burglars and criminals
and II seemed Impossible then that religion or edu-
cation could ever find foothod in the God-ior-
saken place. No one knows what blessing the
Five Points Mission House OF Industry ana fari-
disc Park are 10 the denize Of the Berd. and no
one can estimate how many little lives are saved
from blight disease and death by their combined
influence
II IL Interesting to look back over the years and
note the gradual growth of the Five Points MIS-
sion work. as well as its great work to-day among
the little waits with which the neighoorhool
abounds
THE BEGINNING OF THE MISSION.
Ir 1874 a few determined Christian W. men banded
,oeatber 70 devise some means Of lettering the
condition of the slum children and the general
state Of affairs In the neighborhood. They secured
the "Old Brewery their mission building anu
with the following objects. the Ncw-i ork LADIES'
Home Missionary Society has carried on the work
for fifty years
First-To employ or more missionaries 10
labor among the poor OF the city OF New-horK'
ospecially In the locality known as the Five Points
Second-To provide food clothing and other pee
essaries for such poor
Third-To educate poor children. and rovide for
their comfort and welfare.
Fourth-To maintain hcfoo at the Five Points
and to perform kindred Of charity and benevo-
leHce
To-day there Is not more interesting work In
New-York than that done by the Five Points Mis-
sion and hundreds OF bright, jolly. happy httle
faces are a living testimony TO the proprety and
success Of the methods employed The Rev Mr.
James is chaplain. and his genial kindly face is
his bows and girls Lately they have had several
outings together. to Bell Island and it is difcult to
sav which enjoyed them more.
Mrs c. Van AIKEN, the principal. has day school 5',
Of eigh departments. over which the Board OF Edu-
cation has supreme control. pupils being Obliged 10
nas. The same examinations as the children In the
nublic schools Mrs Van AIKEN takes an especial
delight in showing letters from many graduates,
taken out OF homes of poverty and sin, who are
occupying to-day responsible and lucrative places;
These never fail 10 be present at Thanksgiving ana
Christmas to take par, in the holiday exercises, as
of old o>,, ,,r,
Tho mission children are furnished daily with a
noordav meal and on Saturday their baskets are
supplied with enough food to keep them until Mon
dav morning. Almost every child Is clothed by inc
mission as their parents far too poor TO provide
oven the ne1nest covering.
yn addition y this missionaries visit the homes or
rho LITTLE ones provide bedding and other family
s,nplies and frequently doctors and medicine
EIGHTEEN NATIoNALITIEs REPRESENTED.
Eighteen different nationalitcs are represented IN
~. scbool and the teachers and missionaries have
q hard task 10 inculcate American principles ara
Cbrstiani,v into their school and home NE Inc
york Of the mission is entirely distinct from that
~ The House Of Industry. though both belong 10
IN. Five Points work. and both are dong tnei,
utmost 10 teach the little vicious wrongcn Puuuc.
If sumdon that there is truer NE than Muioe',
Bend knows. and that there is chaice iof i''' ~
I'M