New-York tribune., 1906-07-02

This Is bit from unpublished verses in
which Miss Rosalie Jonas. whose rhymed appeal
for the leftout little darkies. published In the Sun
shine column at Christmas time, brought tree and
plenty Of ''tuhzey for several hundreds OF the
lOTnest CT them describes one Of worst locali-
ties in New York. San Juan Hill lies just above the
TendeFoin. and is more generally known as 'Hell's
Kitchen
Il was here in West esd street, that G. D.
Sims. a Negro and clergyman, started a little
Baptist mission for his race seven years ago. 1t
was his theory that there were some good Negroes
around there, and that If he could organize them
he could by and by get at the had ones. Two men
had tried the work in that neighboThood before him
and had failed. Somehow Mr. Sims succeeded. The
mission was begun IN 1898 It grew into the Union
Baptist Church, which stands at No 2O4 West 63d
street, and which was dedicated in 1901 In 1905
q second church building at No. 2o6 was erected
Also the society has Of those much needed
things a decent employment agency for Negroes:
and M Sims IS laborng 70 found a company to ac-
quire renements and rent fats 90 the Negroes at
honest living rates.
But the church is in debt. There is a member
ship OF one thousand-odd but when a membership
consists of men whose wages are seldom more than
20 month and women who do laundry or cham
Der work az from sl6 to $50 MONTH the church re.
csipts cannot, naturally. be large.
Three mortgages burden the Union Baptist Church
rWo OF $4,000 at per cent interest, and one for
the same amount at per cent That the society is
staggering along valiantly under the load was .1
cent az recent Sunday night rally A sea Of blaeA
faces filed the church. Outside Negroes stood solid
ly packed together, drinking In fragments OF the
gospel which foated out 70 them in the stentorian
voice OF the Rev. Mr. Walker. who had come up
LaEvd! Help us Lawd' Oats right!'' "Yesser
CATS Tight!" resounded fervently AZ the close Of
The sermon Mr. Sims stood ,p
7 tor 20 las week, friends" he said ''dat 7
wanted a'OoO 20 pay the interest dat should have
been met las winter. Yo' 'spOnded uobly but
dere's SO needed 20 make up dat thousand. VIII
The friends who are standin' outside please come
forward nrst?''
They fled past the table with box on it; young
Races old faces, wrinlded mammies and knee
hish pickaninnies cutching a copper or two in
their little brown paws. All denominations OF
money went into the 'box-pennes. quarters and
not tew bills In envelopes Five dollars brings
TO the gfver one share in the Sims Realty Com
pany for providing flats for the Negroes.
When the box was opened and the contents count
ed the pastors face shone. BLESS de LawdI' he
said We've pretty nearly got dc thousand doarsv'
Taxing this nights receipts with those OF the pre-
sloos sfa5as nights rally he had raised little over
''Dis congregation ought 20 be helped..' one OF
terWaro, "Dere isn't but two three business
men in it: all de rest goes out to some kind OBJ
snenia service an dis constant givin 20 de church
But that the church and the allied societies which
ccE c SlIas mas @ formed among the young Negroes OF
: Alio Mdlis Ie5achinS the bad element through
q chqrcn organization is slow task. the leaven is
Mr. Sims believes in seasoning mercy with ms
tice. WI" JUS
7 keep in touch with the police sergeants in the
district he says, and if some fellow gets active
island It's sfonis1 sometimes e when @ deyTe esnT % Sees es
oar iii while an had chance think how much
more sensible dey come back the pastor added IN
MS drawing Nirginian speech.
mere Is nothing militant about this church or
tts leader, though. Even about a frequently Mig
headed police Mr. Simss tone is of the gentiest.
~ the police had been It'll more synpatheticl''
was the only structure he made IN speaking OF a
recent race riot, where two officers showed distinct
Oars one thing want to point out bout de peo-
Pc 90 my race, he said recently speaking OF his
Work and the locality. ''Deyre moved t'roo re-
Mslon when deY can't be reached any other xyay.
-9ke 3 real bad Negro. and peal to him troo dat
stae op MS nature, an sometimes YOU can wake
would FALL ~ -''Ou
10 you think your church will lve?"
nope so, II some would help US 1871 his
ith ce MORTGAGES! It's dat interest dat weighs us
eDens NnaC were hopin' is dat de Lawd II inspire
e1Leooag 20 lit some ob dat principal. Our mem
1sLs are poor De men gets small wages, an de
women smaller. An dey pay high rent NV peopIe
1--we 70 pay more Tor same acconannoda ations dan
&c sgnlee people" added Mr.. Sims with his kindly
s--.us. IN Two houses I know Of, which were
15,e9 Win white tenants last year. but are now
sllea with colored, the apartments which were
ttAleQ 20 the whites at S. a month, cost the col
cfea tenants sl5 month It IS so everywhere here
sStl3 tnat IS why we are trying so hard to estab-
hsn Htue realty company of our own"