The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-11-02
THE OPEN DOOR MISSION.
A New and Very Practical Chart
~ for Portland.
Meal. aad Lodgings at Low Cost for the
the unfortunstes.

Among the new entHt rises Oh MUS 10
the establishment of In our midst OF an
organization rearing TIE suggestive name
of the Open Door Mission. This move
ment is under the auspices Of the Maine
Tract Society Of MOTH Deering. Its OBJ
jsct Is to feed the hungry, ID clothe the
naked, to minister to the SICK, to upiift
the fallen and In every way possible to
help ttose In distress.
1he plan of work outlined Is entirely
different In Its details from that usually
followed by city missions. The large
three-story building, formerly occupied
by the hye and Ear Indrmary, on the
corner OF Franklin and Federal streets,
has been secured and 10 b ng lifted mp
for the work. The basement wall be used
as a rest iurans where plain nourishine
food will be provided on the penny lunch
plsn-that lie, o howl Of hot refreshing
bean Sup with bread, will be served for
two cents; TO. cereal c)ffee, eggs and a
few other dishes rill be sold at CORE
spondingly low ratee, barely enough to
cover the first cost.
The upper rooms Of the buildings viii
be furnished with beds to be used by
thoss de string shelter for the night. The
prices for a nights lodging Will vary
from ten to twenty five cents. The house
10 supplied with bath tubs and those &C.
oupying the cheap b,ds will b, expect ID
to make Themselves clean before retiring.
1t is q we'll kr own fact that the police
officers of our city are often aocosted by
well dressed, respectable looking men,
who desire food ami shelter, but WHO Tor
some reason have no money to pay Tor
the san 9. The officers are obliged to take
these men to the police station. The need
of some such place rs the Open Door Mis-
sion has long tesn felt. those who are
down in the depths Of degradation and
under the influence of strong drink will
not be overlooked. The name OF the mis-
sion signifies that mono will be turned
away who need help. 1t has not been
thought best, however, to educate the
poor to expect favor gratis. There are
those who could pay SMALL amount
for food and shelter who could not pay
the usual prices. 1t is bettr for this class
of people to be encouraged to maintain
their independence and pay their way.
Lunch apd lodging tickets will be is
sued. The citizsns of Portland will be
solici ted to aid the mission by buying
these tickets and giving them to unfortu-
mates who may fall In their way. This
plan of bsstowing charity has It's adj
vantages. 1t will insure the givers that
what they bestow will not be spent for
liquor and they may also have the salts
faction of knowing that the ones they
thus help will be sent TO these who will
be interested to help them morally as
well rs ply sically.
A free reading room will bs connected
with the mission, evening meetings will
be held, a Sunday school will be opened
for poor child rem and workers will be
sent out to look up those in distressed
circumstances.
t Is expected that the benevolent people
e Portland will be glad to give cloth
T. ng, provisions and money to help this
7-orUhy enterprise as it will be entirely
lnssctarian ami will appeal t, all that
is noble and unsslfish In the human heart.
Jr. j. H.Ksllogg,a well-known philan
ohropist has established missions on a
similar plan in many of our western
titles. He already has two trained nurses
n this city who are now working among
Ae wealthy classes. He will probably
connact workers with the mission who
will go out to give free treatment to this
poor.
AS soon as possible plans will be laid
- give work to those out of employm emit.
A woodward has teen suggested and
some kind-hearted citizens may have a
large empty yard that he will be " iliing
to have used for this purpose.
The mission building will be opened
November 18th. 1t is probable that there
VIII be some public service connected
with the opening. II so, announcement