New-York tribune., 1906-12-10
BOWERY TO 9TH AVE.
CONVERTS' LIFE STORIES.
Water Street Mission Men at Col
legiate Church.

one OF the most, unusual services ever held
fn one OF the larger churches in Fifth avenue
was that held last night at the Collegiate Church
Of St. Nicholas at Fifth avenue and 4Sth street
It was service in which the parishioners Of the
church. among them several of the wealthiest
men in the city. sat elbow TO elbow with those
az the lower East Side and listened TO stories
OF actual experiences OF conversion at the Jerry
McAuIey Water Street Mission. The large church
was crowded many standing.
The Rev. DR.. Donald Sage Mackay, pastor OF
the church. presided. He introduced John H.
wyburn. the present superintendent of the mis-
sion. who succeeded s. H Hadley at the lat
fer's death MI. Wybum SAID:
don't suppose any one here would take me
.or an ex-tank. Perhaps don't look like one
now It's a good many years since entered
the doors OF the Jerry McAuley Mission. It's a
wonderful fact that as Ear j am concerned
there IS not the slightest taint of the old life IN
me. Down I'm Water street we believe the Scrip
tures literally. Only this afternoon man was
induced TO come 10 the platform and pray for
conversion. He had big bottle OF whiskey
with him, but he first went outside and threw it
away. I verify believe he has been forgiven for
didn't have a bottle when I entered the mis-
Eion, but was full up TO my neck ! never
thought that / would be the wreck / was. !
was business man with lots of money before
] WIS tWenty-nin but / a confirmed drunk
ard. was infidel and schooed myself 10
a life OF unbelief AS I listened TO the woEder-
ful testimonies that first night God gave me the
power TO beli>Ve in Jesus Christ my Saviour.
A good many people seem 10 think II is inpos-
sble 20 be saved while drunk. but 7 was in that
miserable. drunken condition when saved.
Mr. wyburn called Joseph J. Rafter. and a
eTay-haired man, well dressed. walked up 10 the
platform from the congregation. He said:
II Was only October O. 1905 that ] had no
place 10 go. 7 am glad and proud to testify to
the power Of God TO save drunkard. 1
had been drinking man for twenty-one years,
and had lost every friend, my wife, my family.
a1,sv H,11I
keeper Of a Bowery saloon said I too much
OF disgrace for him.
I went down Roosevelt street 10 go to the
river 20 end II all, but, thank God. the watch
man saw me and put me of the pier. ! was
given a nickel by a cripple, who told me 10 get
somethlng-what I know not-and then go 10
thu mission. on Monday I went To the mission.
can say that since that time l have never
known what il is 10 want drink.
The testimony that caused the deepest interest
was that of Thomas ]. Farmer. the janitor Of
the mission. He said:
Two years, eight months and seventeen nights
ago ] first went 10 the mission. ] hadn't
friend in the world. 7 must confess that in my
hoyhood became thief. was one for over
thirty years I have served four different terms
altogether fifteen years behind the prison bars
And when came out last time had finished
serving eighteen months solitary confinement.
God has wonderfully blessed me
Thomas g AIiuerfck. who was introduced as
= former prominent Wall Street man. told Of
being saved from a drunkards life. Less than
nine years ago, he said, he staggered into the
Mission He said he had sunk so low that he
had gambled. stolen and done everything possi-
ble 10 get money 70 drink To-day he is in a
responsible position and respected by his
friends
Cyrus Mcbride. who was converted only six
months ago, spoke briefly and told of starting
at eighteen years Of age 10 be good fellow
and became a drunkard
DR.. Maczay spoke at some length on What
Is Conversion" following the testimony Of the
different converts. He said.
Christianity has proved its divine origin by
the power Of conversion. That church which
Where a church is failing save the lost, buried
in the ritual Of customs, listening TO essays, and
the people are content 10 sit ia cushioned pews
without a feeling Of compassion for the souls of
men, that church IS alien 70 the teachings Of
Jesus Christ am not attacking any particular
Church. | DO NOT believe they are dereIict in
their duty. one Of the saddest facts in the last
ten years IS that there has been an APPALLING
decrease In the number of recorded conversions.
Next Sunday night the services on CONVEX
sion viii be continued. The Rev. DR.. G. /.
Goodell, Of Calvary Methodist Church. will
preach on the last Sunday in this year con-
verts ~ the Wesley Rescue Hall on the F3o-very
VIII give their testimony, and on January 13 con-
Verts from Tie Bowery Mission viii speak