Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-12
LOSES WOMEN'S BAND
Central Union Mission SUI
fers From Discussions.
CHARGES PREFERRED
OBJECTIONS TO SUPERINTEND-
ENT j. W. STEELE.
Mems Band Said to Be on Eve of Dis
scluticn-Fresident Browns
Statement.
CHARGES PREFERRED

Serious discussions are said to have
| arisen among the members and workers of
the Central Union Mission, which occupies
as headquarters large building on Lou
| isiana avenue between 9th and 7th streets
northwest. So serious has been the char
acter of the trouble that the Women's
Band which comprised active workers and
supporters of the institution, recently with
drew practically in a body from all con-
nection with the mission.
The names of those who have withdrawn,
as given to a Star reporter last night by a
former officer of the band, are: Mrs. II. b.
F. Mcfarland, president; Mrs. M. b.
Graves Mrs. Fred. Beall, Mrs. NJ. A. Phil
lips. Mrs. ]. A. Edgar, Mrs J. B. Rogers,
| Mrs. S. A. Carrigan Mrs. Craft, Miss Hat
| tie Craft. Mrs. L. Moores, Miss Fannie
| Stukey, Miss Edith Rowzee. Mrs Herbert
Kline. Mrs. A. H. Tyson and Mrs. J. II.
| Hitchcock.
! 1t was also learned that the Mems Band
| of the mission is on the verge of dissolu-
! ton, its president, Mr.. Philip Mauro, and
| several of it's leading members having re-
, signed In connection with these with
| drawals persistent rumors OF discord nave
| been in circulation for more than week.
| In order to get at the true inwardnesS or
| the matter a Star reporter yesterday called
| on several representative persons on both
| sides Of the controversy, besides making an
| investigation in other directions. 1t was
| learned that the grievance of the former
| lady workers was that the board of dfrec-
| tors had decided by vote to retain as super
| intendent of the mission, Rev. j. w. Steele
| against the protest of the band.
1t is said the proposition was squarely
| put TO the board of directors that either
| Mr. Steele must be separated from the
| work or the ladies would withdraw their
! support Tie matter of dispossesslng the
| ~f,,n dom
| Grafton by the board, and it was decided to
| retain him.
The ladies' led by Mrs. Mcfarland their
popular president, then withdrew In body
| TO the number of fifteen and have since
affiliated with the Christian and Mission
airy Alliance, with headquarters al n Grant
place northwest.
Denies Report Of Disruption.
When Mr. o. B. Brown, chairman of the
board of directors of the Central Union
Mission was seen by the reporter yesterday,
he denied that there had been anything
like serious disruption in the membership
of the mission. He intimated that matters
were running along smoothly. When asked
about the alleged resignation of the mem
bers of the women's band he replied that
a few persons had quit the mission work
principally ladies. but there were enough
active workers left to discharge success
| fully the duties the women's band had been
engaged upon.
| He added that certain sIanderous stories
| had been circulated against Rev. j. w.
Steele and that Mr. Steele might find II
necessary to seek vindfcation in the courts.
The board of directors, he said. had de
| cided that Mr.. Steele is the right sort of
man to conduct the spiritual side of the
mission and had continued him in that
| work relieving him of all effort on the
| commercial side of the institution.
One of the ladies connected with the mis-
sion subsequently said: The mission has
| both spiritual and a business end. The
first is devoted to eyangelistic services, and
| the other to a dining room, wood yard
| and dormtory or lodging department"
Several of the ladies' members of the
former Women's Band, were seen last
night by The sta" reporter, including MIS-
steele wife of Rev. J. w. Steele, who said
she is not now living with her husband.
! These ladies talked freely of why they had
withdrawn from the mission. and made
| charges against Mr.. Steele, which, they
said had been presented by them to the
board of directors, but had been practically
ignored by that body. Hence they decided
that their withdrawal was the only course
left open TO them.
Mr.. Steele Confident of Future.
When Rev. j. w Steele was seen he at
| first referred the reporter to Mr.. o. h.
Brown, president OF the board. Later he
said the mission was the eve of the
| beginning of a brighter history"
This matter he added, would have
long ago adjusted itself amicably had per-
sons who have no business to attend to
but other peoples let matters alone. Should
one person withdraw, or one dozen, for that
matter, this grand old mission is going to
stand As our Master said of His church
so we can say of this mission, Even the
gates of he'll shall not prevail against it, a.
An Editorial Stateue emit.
There is no mention n the wholesale
!
In the current number of the Mission Bull
letin, the official publication of the Central
Union Mission, but instead appears this
! editorial:
The board of directors for long time
| has felt that the care of the industrial de-
| partment of the mission and the religious
| work is more than one person can well at
| tend 10, and now has selected young bust
| ness man as manager of the industries of
| the mission. relieving our superintendent of
| this portion of the work, enabling him to
give his entire thought and effort TO build
| ing up and extending our religious work
| TO this end he will be in close touch will
the pastors of the churches, and in various
| ways Will endeaVor to interest more of our
| church people IN the mission to aid bot h
| financially and by service, IN doing a great
! er work than ever befOre-bOth at the mail
| hall and throughout the city. He will be
| glad to present from the pulpits of our
| churches the subject of city mission work,
| with view to arousing Christians to q
| greater interest in evangelistic work among
| the masses.
| The manager of our industrial depart
| ment, Mr.. Holman, will be glad TO have
! our friends remember that we have a wood
| yard to give employment to men i'll need
| and the more orders fer wood given the
| larger the number of men we can give
| temporary employment
I'VE are glad to have the old workers
| with us, also to extend a cordial welcome
| to the many new and valuable helpers who
are coming to our aid. We have had with
| us in the past week Miss Manettte Halan
| and Miss Young, who have volunteered
| services as organists. Mis- Mabel Reeve a
soloist, has rendered good service. Others
| will be heard from
| Auxiliary Formed.
| It is said an auxiliary. to take the place
! OF the mems and women's bands has been
| formed, to be known as 1.-THE Workers
| Union with Mr.. o. B. Brown in charge.
| One of the former members of the Wom-
ans Band said to The Star reporter that a
member of the mission board of directors
| had stated he was glad the Mems Band
and the Women's Band had withdrawn. as
| they tried TO control the working OF the
| mission, and that now the board would he