Evening star., 1899-10-14

the poor / saw men turned out of the work
house. destitute of e"errthing-h me.
friends. funds, their last remnant of self
respect and self-reliance gone Finally. one
dreadful day-February 8, 1S95-there was
blizzard raging here, as you may remember.
So many men came to me homeless, penni-
less starving, with some part of their body
frozen. couldn't wait for means and help
any longer. l made up my mind that night
l would have shelter-a home of some sort
that | could give these men, and / got it.
1 got this room here. L put In stove,
some cots and chairs, and that very night
three men found shelter here. The next
day. which was Sunday. four others came.
Monday morning there were twenty-five.
1t was. and still is open to all. To the man
who comes to the door seeking its protec-
ton / say, Brother. welcome. Make this
your home. Eat sleep, rest and look to
God. This is His providence. You have
tried being a providence for yourself. and
see to what it has brought you. Now, rest
here in Gods love and be a man again,
with God to help you
Mo other form or condition of entrance
has prevailed since the home has opened
four years ago and not a cent is charged
for all any one receives. We have housed,
fed and clothed nearly 1000 men. and in
not one instance has my confidence in them
been abused. In many cases, as l have
taken them by the hand and made them
welcome, like an electric shock has a
change come over them. With the first
touch of sympathy their manly spirit is re-
stored. and when their bodies have been
fed and clothed. they have gone out, got
work. become independent, self-sustaining
citizens Over 400 sucn in good posi-
tions today, and never has one turned out
a thief or menace to the peace of the home
that has befriended him. These men. TOO,
| mind you. are all technically unworthy
poor. Why, If so-called practical sociol-
| ogists but knew the secret of charity and
reform the unworthy poor are the most
hopeful class to deal with. When a man
starts down grade at intermediate points
| he is more difficult to reach But when
everything that recommends nim to human
respect is gone then when he has become
the despair of scientific charity and of him.
self, he can no longer offer resistance to
| your will to help him, and if you have faith
and love in your heart, you can make him
what you please.
How the Home Started.
''The organization and success of this
| home is all in evidence of this fact. When
L came down the first Monday morning
| and found twenty-five poor souls here. all
in rags and tatters. and the most of them
| with bodies covered with ulcers and their
| feet frozen, 1 saw that here was an enor-
nous work. had a great deal to do my
| self and instantly 1 perceived the necessity
| Of making the home self-sustaining if it
| was to endure. There were no salaried Off
| GERS and menials for the task and l was
only man. So l told the men here our
| Lord Jesus Christ had not thought it be-
meath II nj to wash the feet of His disciples
and l told them that in helping one an
| other in this world We must stoop no less
| than our Master. l said | would go ont
| and get hot water and bandages ointment
and all necessary things. and send these
| and that each must help his brother in his
| trouble / sent the things over right away
| and did not get back myself for couple of
hours entered the room unnoticed and
the sight L saw overcame me- On three OF
| four of the cots lay the poorest, worst suf-
1efers already bathed. their sores dressed,
resting there with an appearance of peace
| on their poor faces that must have touched
n heart of stone. The most able among
| the crowd, with their sleeves rolled IN
were hard at work, still ministering to the
necessities of the more afflicted and the
| very spirit OF Christ was in ALL I couldn't
stand It, L had to turn and creep out of
the room, and it was many moments before
L could get control of myself sufficient to
| go back. Here with the little human kind
ness these men-theSe tramps if you please
Lhad received they had themselves of
their own free will. become to one another
! dispensers of charity. 1 Joined them as
| soon as l had command of myself and
wh1le we finished making everybody COM
Portable, | told them how many demands
were on me, and said they must helm me
| by organizing for the sake of order among
themselves l wanted them to elect a cap
| tain, two lieutenants, sergeant, corporal
ana COOK to carry on the work
Order and KindIiness.
Il then went back to my business. and
when Joined the home after several hours
--S>N p0.
and perfect harmony prevailed Nor has
| 1t ever been any different during the four
years that have followed. 1t is simply mar
velous the order and kndliness that are
manifest here. The practice continues of
| the strong assisting the weak. When
man comes here he is always dirty and de-
| Initiated in consequence of his wandering
| In search of work and shelter. He is often
| sick, just out of the hospital perhaps or
| as result OF exposure and prvation. One
| of the men in the home helps him to bathe
l VIII show you our provision for this
At one end of the room. adjoining the
kitchen, was small compartment in
which there was a shower bath and two
laundry tubs. Opening off this was a zinc
lined closet for fumiga ting the clothes that
were worth saving.
'1t is seldom" he continued. that a
| mans clothing is worth saving. Then
washed he is dressed in good. suit
able clothes and made at home If he is
Sick he has the treatment necessary to re-
store his health. In every case he rests
comfortably in the home two or three days
until he has gained heart to take up again |
the struggle for existence. Then he starts
out looking for employment. The plan of |
the home is that half of the men go out the
first part of the day in search of work,
when they return for the balance of the |
day, while the other half go out This
gives each and all ample time to make |
themselves presentable and to do the work |
of the nome.
Their Daily Life. |
"They have three good meals day-see,
this IS their dinner cooking |
A hearty stew of meat and vegetables |
was buhbling on the stove, where was also |
coffee, and a quantity of bread was cut |
on the table.
Supper is at half-past s. From then un- |
til o'clock everybody's expected to be in |
SIDE and they read. play checkers DOM |
inoes-are at home, in word, with all that |
means of liberty and love. At o'clock |
we have simple religious exercises, with |
singing, for hour, and then they go to |
bed.
"a man is privileged to stay at the home |
as long as his needs require, but, under the |
influence of the spirit here, mans cour- |
age so reviveS that he is not disposed to |
abuse the hospitality he receives. He is |
soon able to sustain himself-how soon no |
one would believe who has not himself |
experienced the miraculous power of char |
ity rightly administered |
1t was easy enough to believe the founder |
of this charity might work miracles. Look |
ing into his indescribably pitying eyes and |
listening to the tones of his voice, gen. |