Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-26
THE PEOPLES EMISSION
Work Accomplished by Band
Of Religious Workers.
HANDSOME QUARTERS
STORY OF THE LIFE OF EVAN
GELIsT McMIcHAEL.
Officers and Committees of the Or
ganization- Gospel Hall Branch
Objects in View.
HANDSOME QUARTERS

Mission has been doing some remarkable re-
iigious work at $40 Pennsylvania avenue,
but few weeks ago fire broke out in the
building. and before the flames could be ex-
tinguished the society had lost almost
everything 1t possessed. Including it's piano
and organ. AS there was no insurance on
its property, the loss was a heavy one for
the organization, and at first the members
were of the opinion that they would be
compelled to give up their work. Friends
began sending in contributions, however.
and before the flames had entirely died out
a neat little sum had been collected toward
replacing the losses This encouraged the
society and the members went to work to
repair the damages, and today they have
the satisfaction of announcing to the pub
lie that the contractors have completed
their work.
Comfort and Convenience.
The hall is now not only one of the most
handsome and comfortable s-of its kind
in the city, but one of the most convenient.
1t will extend clear through to c street, and
have a seating capacity of between 400 and
500. Folding chairs are to take the place of
the old-fashioned pews. so that IL at any
time 1t should be desired to use the room for
other than meeting purposes. it will take
There are two galleries, one at the Penn
sylvania avenue end Of the hall, which will
serve as a business Office, and another at
the G street end. These galleries have
been generally improved, and the posts that
supported the one on C street have been re-
moved. The old awning on street has also
been taken down, and this not only makes
the hall much lighter. but wonderfully i'm
proves the appearance of the building from
the outside.
New platform furniture of an up-to-date
style is another Improvement, and two
large electric arc lamps now light the hall.
Then there are new piano and a new or
gan to replace those destroyed by the fire.
The walls and ceiling have been reprinted
and calsomined, and the scriptural texts
that used to attract so much attention are
to be replaced. In fact, about everything
in the hall will be new and tend to make
the place look more inviting than before.
A Word About the Mission.
The Peoples Mission was organized
little over four years ago In the building
now known as Gospel Hall. corner 18th and
F streets southwest, and it's membership
increased so rapidly that it was soon found
necessary to secure larger quarters. 1t was
then that the hall at No. 80 Pennsylvania
avenue was secured. Each year of it's exist
ence has added to it's numerical strength
and usefulness. If the testimonies of the
men and women who have packed it's hall
again and again are reliable the war 1t
has waged against sin has been success
full one.
The ladies of the society have an auxil-
larry that has accomplished a great deal
toward furnishing the work of the mis-
sion, and has raised good share of the
money needed to meet expenses. A Bible
class meets every Sunday morning at half
past O'Clock to study the Scriptures and
exchange views. The boys have formed
an orchestra, and this helps to furnish
AMI mo
the summer months interesting open-air
services are held from gospel cart, and it
rs nothing unusual for the organization to
have as it's speakers some of the nations
most distinguished men and women.
Evangelist McMichaeI.
The evangelist who has charge of this
mission house is William C. McMichael
recognized in the Christian homes of Wash
ingtor as one of the citys most Jealous
mission workers. He came to the CAPITAL
from Pennsylvania when a young man. He
became a pension Office attorney and a
publisher. But he soon became a slave to
strong drink. lost all he had and then left
wife and home and became a rover.
Finally. he drifted back to Washington,
where his friends endeavored to get him
on his feet and for a time he succeeded in
standing alone. Then he fell again. After
that 1t was one long. protracted spree, I'M
til at last he decided that the only thing
for him to do was to commit suicide.
The very day he had fully decided to
kill himself he had his attention arrested
by an evangelist. George w. Havell, now
of the Peoples Mission. who was holding
a service at the corner Of Pennsylvania
avenue and 7th street Mr.. Havell was at
that time connected with the Central Union
Mission.
Mr.. McMichael stopped and Joined the
crowd assembled about the evangelist. The
man was singing a song. and it touched the
vfe-fo 30 aorf "a IN hn
days of his childhood. and In few brief
minutes he had lived his whole life over
again Then. for the first time in his life
he fully realized how he had disgraced his
family, and would bring upon them still
greater disgrace IL he committed suicide.
Filled with remorse, he stepped forward
and sought the new birth that he felt must
be experienced before he could ever free
himself from the bondage Of strong drink
When he left that open-air meeting he was
a converted man. and from that day up to
this he has been endeavoring to lead others
to the higher life. Few men in the rescue
work today are any better known than
William C. McMichael.
Officers and Committees
The officers of the Peoples Mission are:
Evangelists. Geo. w. Haven and w. c. Nc
Michael; associate evangelist. Edwin D.
Bailey; secretary, J. e. Lacey; treasurer,
J. NJ Patterson; missionary, Mrs. M. E..
Mel G. Leaman, w. C. McMichael, H.
Barnes Sigel Brown and w. H. Evans;
general committee, G. w. Hayell, chairman;
w. C. McMichael. Alfred Pew. R. L. Pile,
S. Brown. J. H. Barnes, A. E. Miley. w.
H. Evans, 8. w. Martin, j. e. Lacey,
Thomas C. Havell, John w. McMichael, M
G. Leaman. Mr.. Bridge, Joseph Topp, A..
Mortimer, Geo. Van Horn, A. ]. Smith, Ed
die Franklin, Walter Rice. John Gray, Geo
Bryant. p. w. Pratt, C. C.. Frost. o..
Vaughan. ]. NJ. Patterson. w. l. Graham,
J. w. McLane. E. c. Houghton, Jas Nc
Curdy. w. D. Hartman. Mrs. NJ E. Carroll,
Mrs. 8. e. Martin, Mrs: s. D. La Fetra.
Mrs. ]. H Robinson. Mrs. w. c. McMi-
chael, Mrs. 8. bruce, Mrs. A. r. Miley,
Mrs. G. w. Hayell. Mrs. A. Pew, Mrs Alice
Bridge, Mrs. 8. w. Folk. Mrs. E. v. Wright,
Mrs. L. A Carpenter. Mrs. J. w. Mchfi-
chael, Mrs. Clara Brown, Mrs. L. A. Price.
Mrs. Stauffer. Mrs. O. Vaughan, Mrs A.
Mortimer. Mrs. J. Fl. Barnes. Mrs. Sigel
Brown. Mrs. NJ. q. Leaman. Miss Alice A.
Hercus. Miss Ida Tracey and Miss Bessie
Henry.
Meetings and Leaders.
Meetings will be held In the future, as In
the past. every evening at 7:30 o'clock.
The leaders Of the meetings are: Sunday.
Geo. w. Havell: Monday. r. L. Piier: Tues
day, w. c. McMichael: Wednesday, Gospel
Hall night. J. II. Barnes: Thursday. A. r.