The Minneapolis journal., 1905-11-20
TELLS STORY OF
HIS OWN RESCUE
MELVIN e. TROTTER THRILLS AU.
DIENCE AT AUDITORIUM.
Rescue Worker from Grand Rapids,
Mich, Makes ForcefuI Appeal for
Union City Mission. and Collection
Nets 3oo-Mayor Jones Talks
About His Sunday Closing Order.

Over two thousand persons gathered
at the A9ditorium yesterday afternoon
to hear Melvin E. Trotter of Grand
Rapids Mr. Trotter spoke especially
in the interests Of the Union City mis-.
sion; and so strong was his appeal that
at it's conclusion $4,000 was subscribed
for the mission.
c.. M. Stocking, superintendent Of the
mission, first introduced Mayor David P.
Jones, who was greeted with applause
which lasted fully three minutes The
ending by giving the mayor the Chau-
tauqua salute. When able to make him
self heard, Mayor Jones returned
thanks for the welcome and launched
into an eloquent address.
"Men Of Minneapolis, said the
mayor, If you will pardon personal
allusion, [ desire to say a word about
made so much Of the last few weeks.
HThe saloon order has made it pos
sible for men and women to go up and
down our principal streets on Sunday
| without the knowledge being forced in
upon them that the saloon rears it's
| head on the Sabbath day as on the 9TH
er days of the week. The act of mine
by which the. Sunday saloon was closed
was not the work of a minute or a
]
the question for months before | made
up my mind, but when had once de-
| termined that the hour had come it was
the simplest thing in the world to do.
The Fine Thing About It.
"The fine thing about it all was the
impulse of the community that went out
in support Of the mayor and really has
made possible the whole operation of
| ho q 1ou ha
today has it's rights reserved to it, but
it has nothing but it's rights. It's pow
ers for doing evil on the Sabbath i:
curtailed, and that means that most OF
away"
, The mayor reminded his hearers tina
/ as result of the laws creating patro
to certain part Of the city. "Bu
how,' he continued, "about the men
/ women and even children, who have t.
/ live where the dens of iniquity an
= vice are located9 What are you doin
to better their moral atmosphere an,
' help improve their citizenship?' TIL
speaker then referred to the Unio
, City mission as being engaged in jus
3 such work.
!. Mr.. Trotter was then introduced g
h typical Of the men and. women who al
. devoting their lives to rescue of falle
;. brothers and sisters. His address ws
e one Of both pathos and eloquence. H
told the story of his own fall, of bein
r enslaved in the grip Of terrible app
v tite for liquor. And finally Of his ow
= rescue thru mission in Chicago. H
= described how he had stood at the ca
ket Of his 2-year-old boy, and had the1
never touch another drop of liquor.
Broke His Promise.
\ "There,'' he said, "with my wife
arms about my neck promised new,
to touch another drop Of liquor-pror
ised on my honor as a man, as hu
. band, as a father-and before night
% % my wife's heart was broken.'' The
y came story Of still greater sin, Of tt
4 degradation Of slum life in Chicag
- Finally he decided on self -destructio
v, and while actually on the way to carr
y out the plan he wandered into the P
~ cifc Garden mission. There, thru tt
y efforts of Harry Monroe, then superi
90 tendent Of the mission, he was save
% % from suicides grave, and thru gra
~ -. was able to overcome his fierce appeti
I. and once more become, Christian ma
9r Jesus" JESUS" he said. 1T was a slave to t
Is drink habit, but Jesus set me free, iu
d . as he can set you free
T. Following the address subseripti
:, cards were passed thru the audience f
L. the mission. The music at the servi
X K, was led by male chorus Of 100 voic
,H " under the leadership Of Charles
VI: VI: Miller.
1e Mr.. Trotter spoke in the evening
T. = Westminster church, on "The O
q. Thing That Is Lacking.' The audien
m m was Composed largely of women. T
ne one thing that is most lacking,
speaker said is Jesus Christ in the liv
ne ne Of in Individuals, and he invited all
~. ls- accept his grace.