The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-03-25
MISSION Anniversary.
Progress of the Noble Work on
Market Street.

Furry-PiaDs for Greater Work.
The Anniversary Exercises of the
Market Street Mission, were held in the
South street Presbyterian Church ON
Sunday, the pastor the Rev. Or. Erd-
man presiding. At the morning service
the annual collection which was the
largest in several years, was taken and
the secretary and superintendent pre-
sented their reports. DR.. Erdman fol-
lowed, strongly endorsing the work.
That the people of Morristown are in
terested in the practical work done by
the Mission is evidenced by the fact
that the liberal contributions already
made for the new building. amount
to about one half of the total amount
required. The report of the Secretary
Harry B. Hoffman follows:
The Market Street Mission has long
since passed being an experiment. 1t
has become one of the permanent reli-
giOus and charitable institutions of Nor
ristown, and. is known far and near as
one of the most successful enterprises of
this kind ever established; as we look
backward over the work of the past nine
! years and see how God in His goodness
has prospered the work in all its branches,
we can but give praise to His name for
the many blessings bestowed; yet there
is a sadness that comes to the heart, when
our thoughts turn to the destruction of
the building on the morning of Feb 2nd.
During the year 533 meetings have been
held.
Regular meetings. 426
Mems meetings. .........................., l8
Children's meetings. gs........................ 35
Mothers meetings. ...,...........,.s........ 19
Gospel Wagon meetings. observation-disclosures. 81
The total attendance has been 81 .S20,
year.
The attendance as compared with pre-
viouS years has been larger every month
up to the time of the fire.
Our present quarters are far too small
to accommodate those who are in the
habit of frequenting the Mission, On
March 21st, we will vacate our present
qaarters, removing to a larger room
! farther down the street. The Chifdrens
meeting continue TO grow, although the
attendance has not been as large since the
/ fire. but as the room has been more than
| full, it was not noticeable. These meet
| ings are in charge of committee from
the Christian Endeavor Society and are
not only very successful, but helpful, the
attendance averaging about 1876.
| A Mothers meeting is held on Thurs
day afternoons and is well attended.
While one of the ladies in charge reads
something interesting the mothers sew
garments for which the material is sup
piled at wholesale price, and is cut out
for them. When the garments are finish
ed and paid for they become the property
of the makers. The working hour is
followed by short testimony meeting,
and a talk on some practical subject: 273
garments were made this winter
| During the summer months the out
door work was carried on on larger
scale than ever before. FocmerIy servic-
es were held at various points, the speak
er occupying a box for his platform.
This year large two horse truck was
furnished, the expense being borne bv
friend of the Mission This we named
the Gospel Wagon, a large piece of
muslin bearing this name was hung on
each side of the wagon, chairs were fur
nished for a number of the workers,
leaving room for the cabinet organ which
was great addition. Thirty-tive meet
ings were held in various parts of the
town Ghe park, the railway station,
Green street, Spring street, Washington
street, Water street, and at different
points on Speedwell avenue) the attend
ance from 100 to 600, the total being over
5000. The results were very encourag-
ing in conversions and an awakened in
terest and increased attendance in indoor
meetings.
The Sunday afternoon meeting has
been discontinued since November ON ac-
count of the fact that most of the attend
ants at it also attended Sunday school,
and that few unconverted people were
attracted to it. The effect of the discon-
tjnuance is being watched and if consid-
cred advisable the meetings will be re-
sumed.
The mems late meetings on Saturday
evenings had to be discontinued after the
fire on account of the want of accommo-
dation and a regard for the comfort of
the other tenants in the building which
we are now occupying. The object Of
this meeting was to draw those who have
been turned out of the saloons and others
who would come in at no other time
Lunches of sandwiches and hot coffee
were served and it was seldom before
midnight that the doors were closed.
Many men who have come for the hot
coffee have been won to Christ.
The stereopticon has been used with
good effect to bring in the unsaved. This
also had to be discontinued after the fire.
The room has been crowded to it utmost
capacity. manv being unable TO gain adj
mittance. With larger room these illus
trated talks will be resumed.
Tract distribution and colportage are
carried on the year round. In addition
to the general work worker visits the
saloons and billiards rooms at least once
a week always on Saturday evening
when they are most frequented; 8 bibles,
81 testaments and over 1000 tracts and
cards were distributed, besides large
number Of periodicals, religious and se-