The evening times., 1899-08-24

The Central Union Mission is said to be |
n distress. Many of its old patrons have
lately withdrawn their philanthropy, ac-
cording to report, and the money to keep
the institution in operation is not forth
coming. The evangelical churches of the
District have been the mainstay of the
mission since its organization. 1t has ac-
complished much, and is still doing good in
the alleviation of distressed humanity
within the District of Columbia, but 1t is
reported to be on the point of retiring from
the charitable field.
The whole trouble is said to have had
its beginning in the dissensions within its
board of directors. Commencing with the
of Rev. E. d. Bailey, one by
one the old working and enthusiastic
of this board having Withdrawn,
until IL has become a mere shadow OF it
SELF
The story of its weakening in the per-
formance of good works can be summed
up in the words "a house divided against
ITSELF" Last spring the subjects of 'holi-
ness and "sanctifcation' gained ascen-
dancy in the minds of the good people of
the mission. G. W. Wheeler and A. L.
rectors, were, it is said, at odds and
threatened to resign with Mr.. Tyler, an
other member of the board. In the mean
time Rev. E. d. Bailey, the well-known
local evangelist, had resigned from the
board of directors in company with AL
len Wood, another member of the board,
and sympathizer with Mr.. Bailey.
After the Rev. Mr.. Bailey resigned
charges were preferred against him. Mr..
Bailey wrote the board twice asking that
the charges against him be investigated by
a committee of the Preachers Association,
but the board, it is said, has paid no at
tention TO his request This unjust treat
ment of Mr.. Bailey by the board is said by
his friends TO be the cause of an illness
from brain fever, which has prevented him
for the last six weeks from attending TO his
evangelical duties in Washington, and from
which he is still suffering. They accused
him, say his friends, of defrauding the
mission by misappropriating the printing
Office plant from that concern.
Said the gentleman today: The facts
are that the said printing office plant was
his personal property and that he was
ignorant of it having been taken from the
mission until informed Of the circumstance
by the members of the mission who look II
away. They cid this, they say, with the
knowledge that Mr. Bailey would not claim
his property for fear of mourning the dis
pleasure of the mission people
II is said that prominent charitable clti-
zens of Washington, who have heretofore
contributed large amounts toward the main
tsnance of the mission have lately with
drawn their patronage. 1t is also said that
this has been one of the results OF the with
drawal OF Mr.. Bailey, who held their con-
fidance which has been lost by the present
board through the action or its managers
Financially they say, the mission is now
a failure and cannot meet expenses. The
recent attendance has fallen OF 10 such an
extent that there are seldom over fifty peo-
pie at any meeting, whereas from one TO
two hundred used to be the rule.
1t is urged that it was Rev. Mr.. Bailey $
personality and magnetism with former
" attracted the large crowds and brought
TO the nilsson the financial aid o. the re-
lgicus and philanthropic people of the
District.
The partisans of Mr.. Bailey further say
| that G. w Wheeler is now the one-mal
power who runs the mission, and since his
leadership il has been crippled both finan-
cially and spiritually, dissensions in the
board being the main cause.
Those who have the means of knowing
and who are still connected with the mis-
sion. also say. that fl has decreased at
least 80 per cent in usefulness, so far as
helping the reformation of fallen human
ity is concerned and the lack of good
leaders and enthusiasm at the meetings
are causes Of the great falling off of the
good work.
One of the results of the split is the
closing of the Gospel Hail." and mem
| bers who favored the open door" then
| withdrew from membership. Another incl
dent of the division was the orgaalZa-
| ton of new mission, under Rev. Z. ID.
Bailey, with established headquarters at
the corner of Eleventh and F Streets
southwest. For some time past meetings
at this place have been held every Monday
and Friday night.
| These meetings, it is said have been at
| tended very largely and many have pro-
| fessed conversion Another result of the
| split in the mission is the gospel herdic
| meetings, which have been prominent at
| the corner of Twelfth and d Streets north
| west until Sunday before last, when they
| were discontinued on account of the i'll
ness of Mr. Bailey. Mr.. McMichael, the
| most prominent member of the board oil
| directors of the Central Union Mission
| then preached a sermon in laudation of Mr.
| Bailey, taking for his text, And they
| threw stones at him." which few of the
great crowd fully understood, however
| Still another incident of the discord in
| the mission control is the fact that al
Bailey's employees, including the we'll
| known matron of the mission, sixty five
years old, have been dismissed since the
new regime. and other employees installed
! Mr. Tyson, however. the new superintend-
ent of the mission, is popular and Spoken
| of in the highest terms. He lately sue
| ceeded w. c. McMichael, friend of Mr.
1 Bailey.
An election of officers for the mission
| will be held the first of October, when i
is said Mr.. Bailey's friends will have hin
| reinstated as a member of the board o
directors. 1t will also be proposed that
on account of the late dissensions in tn
| board, that the control of the mission b.
placed in the hands of the ministers of tn
various evangelical churches Of the Dis
trict, they to select the board of manager
and have full charge of all matters for tn
good and welfare of the mission.
Atherton Signs With Milwaukee.
Charley Atherton, who was released b
Washington yesterday, was not long with
out a job, as he has accepted Conni
Mack's terms, and will leave this after
noon to join the Milwaukee club. Ather
ton viii no doubt make his mark with tn
Brewers, and with a little more experienc
will probably be seen again in the majo
organization. Notwithstanding his tailur
to play up to National League FORM Ath
erton made many friends in this city, a.
of whom hope the big fellow will be yer