The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-20
REPORT OF THE YEARS WORK
GOOD ACCOMPLISHED BY ORGANIZA-
TION IS IMMENSE.
Superintendent Wheeler Recommends
that New Location BE selected
The Report and Letters.


William V. Wheeler. Letters from the
heads or the eitys and county's charitable
and correctional institutions were read
showing their appreciation of the good &C
complished by the society under the ener-
getic and able direction OF Mr.. Wheeler.
After warmly thanking all who have in
any way contributed to the good that has
been done the report of the superintend-
emit goes on to recommend that something
be done toward a change Of location. The
report says: Our present location. which
for years has been a good one, has through
the changes that time brings. become
somewhat isolated and so fully surrounded
by business houses and interests that but
few residences are near us and many of
those who attend come long distance. Our
building is old. crumbling. uninviting and
poorly ventilated.
Our best work demands a change in
where it Will be more accessible. eve have
such q location In view) The erection of
suitable buildings to carry forward in
practical way the work Of an institutional
mission, maintaining our evangelistic and
spiritual character and characteristics. COM
bined with such charitable and temporal in
deemed wise
I'VE are fully persuaded that our grow
Ing city demands such an institution and
that our generous and appreciative citizens
are sufficiently acquainted and interested in
the work being done by the Rescue Mission
TO see our needs supplied if we will but
take the initiative and make a forward
move, which hope we will do to-day
In all our efforts we have had the hearty
cooperation or those in authority. Our
courts, police department Jail, workhouse
and hospitals have been courteous and rem
dered US every assistance possible in our
EFFORTS 10 help others. We have been in
accord and worked tremendously with all
our charitable institutions without dupli-
eating work and all have contributed to its
success.
We have three regular lady assistants
besides number of faithful volunteer
workers among the converts and others.
we are holding Gospel meetings every
night I'm the week except Wednesday and
thursday nights, in the Mission chapel
Two services are held each week at the
workhouse on Wednesday afternoons, one in
the male and one in the female depart
ments. Every Sunday afternoon services
are held in each ward In our City Hospital.
Many mowers and papers are distributed to
the sick and much personal work is done.
We attend, as far as possible, each ses-
sion OF Police Court. which we believe to
During the year we have provided for
fifty girls and women, mostly received from
Police Court, sending them TO parents or
friends or providing them with homes and
employment. We have, during the past
year, conducted sixty-seven funerals We
have made many visits among the sick, the
poor and those In need of advice and en-
couragement At our office a very large
number have called for prayer, advice. COM
fort and help OF every conceivable nature
and We have found some way of helping
nearly all who have come We have COL
lected and distributed, after careful investi-
gaticn, a large amount of clothing. We
"a fAd l1ww
good reading matter. in tracts, magazines
and papers A hourishing Sunday school.
mothers meeting and children's Industrial
school has been profitably maintained. We
have kept up large correspondence with
prisoners in our penitentiaries with very en-
couraging results. Eighty different minis
ters have spoken In our meetings, many
OF them several times"
Following Is the detailed report OF the SUI
perintendent of the Rescue Mission OF the
reportable work done:
Number OF callers at Office, 1874; number
OF visits made by superintendent and ladies',
3.5o4; number OF services held in chapel 223:
number OF services held in City Hospital
40: number of services held in workhouse
14; number of services held extra ten:
number of services held at funerals, sixty
seven, total number of services held dur
ing the year, $40; number of penitents at
the altar, go; number OF women and girls
provided for. ffty-two: number OF sessions
OF Police Court attended, 2S4; number of
garments given out. 1851: number of diff
ferent ministers assisting, eighty-one: num-
Der of mothers meetings and children's in
dustrial schools. thirty-four, number of
Sunday-school sessions, fifty-two; number
Of picnics. two: many men and women as
sisted in getting employment; hundreds of
letters written to prisoners and others:
thousands OF tracts. magazines and papers
given out; number OF penitents at the altar
in ten years, 3l60; number OF funerals held
I'm the past seven years, 33l; number of
marriage ceremonies performed in seven
years. 30.
The following letters OF commentator
are from those most familiar with the work
being done by the Rescue Mission and in
positions to judge OF its real worth and
merit: Thomas G. Whallon, judge OF Po-
lice Court; George A Taffe. superintendent
OF police; Colonel A. ID. Shaw, superintend-
ent of workhouse: DIR. Jobe. superintendent
OF City Hospital; G. s. Grout, secretary
Organized Charities.
POLICE JUDGES LETTER.
Police Judge whallon expressed his ap-
probation as follows: 'Inasmuch as the
close OF the year for both your work and
mine so closely coincide I regard this as
a most opportune time to state TO you In a
brief way what believe will be of interest
TO everyone of our city interested in the
work OF reform and rescue among the So
called criminal classes.
''Your recommendations as TO clemency
as you know. have. in nearly all. IL not in
all cases. been needed because you have
supplied what the law does not afford. that
Il, a religious atmosphere calculated to per-
petuate the desire of reform and because
you believe, as do. that IL is better 10 save
one OF ten than not TO try TO uplift any be-
cause none OF those ten are worthy.
During my term OF Office / have felt. as
my predecessors have also felt, that your
work has been absolutely essential 10 the
best interests OF our court.
"A close study of all the work connected
with this court has convinced me beyond
question that we are I'm need I'm Indianapo-
lis OF an institution in the nature OF a
shelter house temporary lodging
tunate "a well as for those who, COMING
20 the city as strangers, so frequently by
mistake become entangled with those alb
solutely criminal. / believe this work
could best be accomplished by you of al
men in our city and L desire to add my
recommendation TO that OF those whom
have so frequently heard discuss this mat.
ter hoping that before another year passes
that you may be at the head OF some such
institution In a building owned by the city
within at least four or i've blocks OF oul
city building
Il wish 70 heartily commend your work
here with US and not only assure you OF
my active sympathy but OF my heartiesi
cooperation and trust a continuance fOi
many years 10 come and the same measure
OF success TO crown your efforts have
been so apparent In the past
c. s. Grout sent the following 10 Superin'
fendent Wheeler:
The workers OF the Charity Organize.
ton Society are In position TO know your
work IN AL its details. and they appreciate