The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1899-03-31
TENTH ANNIVERSARY.

Remarkable Work Done BY the Market
Street Mission in the Decade of Its
Existence.
Interesting services were held at the
South Street Presbyterian Church Sun
day morning and evening to commem-
crate the organization Of the Market
Street Mission. At the morning service
Frank Eaton, the church precentor, sang
1.-THE Palms" A history of the Mission
and what it has accomplished was re-
lated by Superintendent I. B. Ironside.
He told how for some years previous to
the starting of the Mission, meetings had
been held for drinking men in the par
lors of Morristown lady. She had in
terested several friends in the very
original work and the matter was
brought to the attention of the Session
of the South Street Church, with the re-
quest that mission be started in Nor
ristown.
After making due inquiry into the
methods and results of such work else
where, and hearing speakers on the sub
iect, the Mission was started in Market
street; the Session guaranteeing its sup
port for one year by way of experiment.
The question of closing the institution
has never been raised
The original building was frame
affair 12x40 feet, 2 stories in height, the
second floor being used as a dormitory.
This was in 1889. Two years later the
building was purchased and the width
of the audience room was doubled. An
addition was also made to the second
story. In 1897 a woodward was estab-
lished Three months later. on Feb
ruary 3, 1898, the building was burned.
This disaster did not materially inter-
fere with the work, however, for room
was rented across the street, and there
the meetings were continued without in
terruption.
In July of last year the erection of the
Missions present home was begun. The
building was recently completed, and is
one of the finest structures in the city
from an interior as we'll as an exterior
view. Not only is this home for the
wanderer attractive, but it is thoroughly
adapted to the work. There is at pres
sent enough money pledged to pay for
the building. About 81 300 is needed,
however to wipe out part of the orig
inal mortgage.
A report for the past year was read by
the secretary treasurer, Robert Carter: ::
Twenty mems meetings were held less, than
the preceding year by on account of tenn
porary premises not being suitable.
There were 10 mothers meetings. which
were delayed in opening till December; and
SO children's meetings were conducted with
great success by committee of the Young
Peoples Society of Christian Endeavor.
Thirty-seven open-air meetings were held
with gospel wagon, on Green street, Spring
street, Speedwell avenue, Flagler street,
Water street, the Park and elsewhere.
| Other meetings held numbered AGO. making
a total for the year of 5l5.
The average attendance at the men's meet
| ings was 307; at mothers meetings 81; and
children's, ll7S Attendance at open-air
meetings ranged from 75 to 400 to 900; average
at ordinary meetings, A.. 3.
The average attendance at meetings was re-
duced by the discomforts of the temporary
premises in warm weather. In the summer
the audience consisted largely of converts ant
wor kers and therefore there were less visible
results. In the new hall there is larger
attendance than ever before of the classes, u
reach whom the Mission was started.
The total attendance during the year wa,
81, 307; number of inquiries, 1886; professed con
version. rs. Meals were furnished free Il
202, and the number of meals earned wai
2.3s3. Lodgings were furnished free to 1872, anC
lodgings were earned by 1855. The greater par
of the free meals and lodgings were giveI
during the time that there was no work at th'
Mission for men to do. oihing was furnished
to 209. The amount paid for labor in cash Of
orders on the stores from the re-opening of thu
woodward on December II to date was "a
Two Bibles, fifty-seven testaments and
thousands IT tracls, papers leaflets and card'
had been distributed.
In the reading room 8,292 men availed them.
selves of its privileges. This is an increase o
"a per cent. over last year, which was the
highest previous year. The total attendance
in the reading room in six years and foul
months was 32,562.
The reading room for girls, open in the
evening from until 8 o'clock, is just begin
ming to attract readers. Mr.. Carter toob
advantage of the opportunity to thank the
frienns who had given magazines, papers and
other reading matter, and to thank the pub
fishers of the Banner CHRONICLE, Erpress and
JerseDmdn. who have gratuitously furnished
their papers during another year.
The ice water fountain WAS continued on
! Speedwell avenue last summer. for which Ice
was supplied gratis by the Shelley Hygiene
Ice Co. The woodward is self supporting, but
larger sales of wood would make Ii possible tC
give more employment TO needy men
During the year $2,637 Is has been received
from collections and gifts of friends Pay
| menus On AccOuHL VI hdlhTl6st lu6l. llRnL, T6uJ
interest on mortgages, ETC., amount to 81
! GA IL. OF this. S244 56 was for the payment OF
bills carried over from the preceding year
| Mr.. Carter's report stated that the Mission
closed the year free of debt and with a balance
| on hand of $50. 49, By strictest economy the
expenses had been brought within So 400, and
that is the amount asked for the ensuing year.
The speaker at the evening service
was Rev. james III. Robertson, superin-
tendent of the Paterson Rescue Mission,
which is the largest institution of its
kind in the United States. "How the
Rescue Mission Deals with the Tramp
Element in the Community" was the
subject of the discourse, which proved
to be very interesting, told, as it was, in
a pleasing way by the speaker.
Mr.. Eaton sang Gounod's "There Is a
Green Hill Far Away" and testimony
meeting was held for converts and
others who had been helped by the
Mission.
WORLDS LARGEST FLAG.