The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-11-17
THEIR REPORTS
ARE GRATIFYING
Methodist Churches of Richmond in
FIourishing Condition.
SOME FACTS AND FIGURES.
MANY New Members Have Been Added and
Liberal collections Arc Reported.
The Work of Rev. George
II. Wiley.
SOME FACTS AND FIGURES.

Al the Methodist Conference now being
had IN Newport News q nu.l1ner OF very
gratifying reports from the churches OF
Tins cttH Were submitted. showing n
healthy SPIRITUAL gyow:h and an cncou--
aSi,.s outlook.
from the repor;. OF the COMMITTEES on
The Methodist Institution for Christian
work, submitted oy Messrs. y. -MLupln,
u. W. Stun, L. a. aHcrIeIson. j. 5. BraueT,,
tLSs. Csterbind and7O s Morton, the fol-
lowing is taken:
First-h'or the body of man:
For r,:e months every Sunday morning
al averag5 OF IS have sat GOWN to a
breakfast of bread and butter, with coffee,
and often this attractive meal to the
characters Tho visit us haEs in addition =
platesof beans or a bowl OF soup. The
w g. Z. l. and the y. w. c. T. u, with
some jealous Epworth League lntmbets
have supplied the table ut an average
cost of 81 per Sunday for the forty Sun
days. Last Christmas 200 persons were
feG aoundantiy and q score Of families
had baskets OF food sent them. 1t is DIFF
iicult to make or give a correct estimate
in dollars OF the charities dispensed by
The Mission. bat it is within bounds 10
say that monetary value OF fuel food
clothing and medicines given out the past
year reaches several hundred dollars, and,
not $50 of this was allowed by the COM
1nittee from the fund raised in the
The next thing under this head, 10
which we call Your attention, is thcssav'-
ing school, wh.re the children are. being
taught the needful art of sewing, Ei,s The
president Of this school, reported an aver
age Of 25 in the weekly gatherings
throughout last winter and spring.
The boys military company has proven
a delight to its members, Each has a
real gun and within a few days a neat
uniform Will be received from New York.
When thus equipped and marching to the
music of drum and fife. we can hardly
imagine boys happier than will be these
lads. This equipment has not cost TIE
treasury one penny.
We have sheltered and lodged GOO men
IN the past twelve months. We have re-
ceived pay for beds in 800 cases, and with
the $50 thus secured have kept the beds
and rooms clean. Many OF the 600 slept
OH benches, for which we made no charge
We received oreT the lunch counter about
S223 in the five months it was running
last spring. which means 1860 lunches of
coffee and sandwiches. 1t is proper to
say that this feature of our work is in
the hands OF certain ladies, and that re-
cepts from it are turned over to them,
and consequently ii is not source of
profit or loss 10 the institution. We Go
not wish it understood that the ladies
are engaged in this work for profit; far
from it. for. it is purely their love for the
Master which prompted them TO assume
all the expense and bear whatever loss
might result from this branch OF the mis-
sion work.
LIBRARY AND SCHOOL.
Second-For the mind:
We have a library and more than 600
volumes: a reading-room. in which is
found daily papers, magazines, and popu-
lar games for men. We also have SINH
lar entertainment for boys under II years
OF age.
Throughout last winter and until late
spring a corps Of teachers, with a SUI
= perintendent, taught night school two
nights in each week. with an average at
tendance or about 40 scholars y niIsi-
cal club was comfortably arranged for by
a young man. who furnishes one of the
rooms i'll the building for their meetings
at a cost of $40. This club was sustained
throughout the winter, with weekly gath
criugs. Several entertainments, among
them the Friday night free entertain
mcnt,' We're given by the club, and were
both credicable and enjoyable. y dozen
times last winter we offered a free en-
tertainment to those in the community.
and in every case the superintendent Q5ro.
Wilty) congra: ulated himself as he SAW
the room packed with people and knew
that the pleasure derived was from inno-
cent and Outlines helpful exercise.
For the souls of those with whom we
labor:
our religious work is. OF course, the
most important, and is what ali else IS
expected TO lead 10. We have five strict
" religious Services-onc following the
Sunday morning breakfast. the Sun6a"-
school preaching Sunday and Tuesday
nights with service on Thursday night
led by a layman. The service at the
breakfast is most enjoyable one. and
not a few have given The best reason TO
suppose that they have been truly con-
verted during this service. The Sunday
school runs from 70 il the summer to l25
about Christmas time The Sunday night
services are well attended. though Cac-
ing the week not SO largely So AT least
81 have Joined some Protestant church
through the work of the Mission in the
building and lent. This. is not simply an
estimate but d fact established by care
full inquiry Of the pastors in the city
About 80 of our ladies have formed 4
board with Mrs. Michasls. OF Park-Place.
president: Mrs Maybee, OF Centenary,
yice-president. for the purpose OF cooper
ating with Bro. Wiley in this work along
such lines as in their judS1ilenl may. Ne
productive of most good All Aohor 20
them Me welcome them as co-workers
and trust that others may add themselves
To This branch Of the work
Your committee feels that the work thus
outlined is accomplishing in That quar-
Ter of the city more than could be done
by any other-than similar agency-lnd
iindsr the continued blessing OF God is
destined 10 DO more III the year TO FOL
low.
1t would not be lust to close this report
without abiding to the earnest, faithful
efforts OF Bro Wiley. who planned aAd
executed the major part OF what has been
herein alluded 10. for the committee felt
that in all matters pertaining to the
coadnct of the institutional work he
should be given free hand. subject. Of
course. 10 the approval of the commit
eTpnNc Fran