The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-12-21
UP FROM SLUMs
TO fine CAREER
LIFE OF GEORGE M. CALLAHAN "a
REMARKABLE ONE.
Man Who Died Yesterday Was Success
d lively a Wait, a Crook, and an Evan
gelist, and He Became Power for
Good as a Worker for the Union City
Mission. II

4 / Z {. II az
Death has removed from the mission
effective, as well as one of its most
picturesque workers, George M. Gala
han, assistant superintendent of the
Union City Mission. The end came
yesterday, terminating painful illness
which had confined him to his house for
three months.
Wait. crook and evangelist by turns;
first a iail-bird and then a street
preacher, Mr.. Callahan led q life varied
reaching in its effect for good. Born
in the slums Of New York, he began
life as a neWsboy and gradually drifted
from petty OffenseS to serious crimes.
Eleven years of his life were spent in
prison.
Came to Minneapolis.
Twelve years ago Callahan drifted
into Minneapolis. 1t was during the
hard times and he sought quarters in
the tramps' room in the old CITY lock-
up. With this as headquarters he
planned to look over the city and se-
cure money for dissipation by stealing.
Here, also, he heard for the first time
the preaching of James Callahan, him
self a reformed crook. Ten days in
jail for stealing an overcoat gave the
the words Of the evangelist. Later he
visited the old Bethesda Mission, where
he again heard James Callahan and at
last became converted to the Christian
life. s
Then came the struggle. His old
friends, and companions strove to draw
him back to the old life; his old habits
had to be fought and conquered; the
police, having him spotted as a danger
GUS crook, gave him no peace. For a
year Callahan fought against these adj
verse circumstances. He stuck to his
new principles and earned a precarious
living at odd jobs. At the end Of that
time the police were convinced that he
him alone; his old companions, those
who did not come around to his way Of
thinking, gave him up as a hopeless
case; his bad habits faded from his
memory.
Crude yet powerful Callahan IS street
preaching had quality which at
tracted attention. Businessmen and
church workers began to stop on the
curb to listen to him. Amongmen Of
his former trade, his influence was
ognized as one Of the factors for GOOD
in Minneapolis. A travelling man, who
admitted that he was one Of the un-
regenerate,' took Callahan to his ho-
tel and helped him by pointing out
some Of his errors of grammar and pro-
nunclation. Later he married woman
who was able to supply many of the de-
hclencles of his early education.
His Work in Minneapolis.
Of the work Of Callahan IS later years
=: y. Hughes, president Of the Union
City Mission says in his report for
1905: ~ George M. Callahan has. con
tlnued thru the year. doing commend
able work with his fellows. +. His mes
sage is both the gospelsof salvation and
the gospel of cleanliness, accompanied
by due proportion Of law coupled
c. NJ. Stocking, superintendent of
the mission. said Of him today. "Mr.
Callahan was one Of the most remark
able Christian workers / have ever
known. or met. AS a personal winner
OF souls, considering his limitations of
education, he had few equals. Untir-
ing his efforts, sacrificing to the last
degree. he lived only to help others.
since the date Of his conversion
MI. Callahan is survived by his
wife and three small children, who live
at IL University avenue S NE. The
funeral will be held in Wesley Metho.
dist church at 2 pm, Saturday.