The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-11-25
Report Made by Superintendent
Rev. Arthur b. Sharp Creates
Interest.
\ WIDE FIELD FOR LABOR
Material Aid Offered Along
With Spiritual Comfort-Its
Methods.

any otuer report read, and Rev. Arthur
Is. sharpe. the superintendent. received
congratulations on all sides. The report
was as follows.
The building and plant, which are to-
day worth $4,000. belong to the United
Methodists of the two Richmond dis
tricts. Incorporated as the Richmond
Methodist Mission Association. The work
undertaken there is unique, in class
10y itself. at least Us far as this confer
cnce is concerned.
Originally enterprlsed. IN humble imi-
taton OF Him who came to seek and
TO save that which was lost To carry
the gospel TO a class seldom reached
by ordinary church methods. the aim
and end OF every undertaking has been
10 save souls.
The varied needs of the large majority
of those who knock at our doors. how
ever. has neccssitated the use of many
material methods, whose increasing
weight necessarily binders the present
small force from paying fun attention
and giving fun time to purely spiritual
work. Ii is, of course. understood that
the material is regarded only as a means
90 the one and sole end. the spiritual.
which is kept prominently and continu-
ally In the minds OF those who come
within our gates.
The support of the institution. outside
OF the grant made by the conference mis-
sion board is undertaken by the Metho-
dist churches Of the city of Richmond
Each contributing church has repre-
sentative on the board Of control. who.
together with an cx-officio representa-
tive OF tile church extension society oc-
cupy relation 10 the superintendent
similar TO that of an official board 10
the pastor. This board meets in regular
monthly session To receive reports from
the various departments. to supervise
and audit accounts. and In general to
oversee and direct tie progress Of the
work. An the work of the superinteudent
is subject to their approval and endorse
meut.
he work among women and children
is looked after hy body Of ladies'. rep
resentns every church. and known as
tho board of visitors There is also n
ladies free dispensarv auxiliary. TO whom
has been especially committed the care
OF the sick and the provision of doctors
ana medicines.
The work engaged in cannot be tabu-
lated I'm the columns customarily used i'm
our annual conference reports. bur some
idea OF its character and scope can be
gained from the following figures and
facts
Since last conference. by actual count
taken from records which are carefully
kept report that the following has been
accomplished
At the chapel services at night which
at some seasons are held every night. az
others three. and az others two NIGHTS
during the week. there has been ia
men and women who have made profess
siouS of faith AT our Sunday morning
breakfast service last winter twenty-threc
men Were converted. IN tho Sunday
school eisht children sought and found
tle Savior.
Frr.f.
rupted by rainy weather.. six We're c0u-
Vertcd. AT the cottage prayer meetings
three ~ which are held weekly under our
auspices. twenty or twenty-five CONVEX
sions have been reported Two persons On
sick beds az their homes have found
peace with God. and "a number Of persons
at the Jail and at the state farm have
also declared for "a now and clean life as
a result az services held under our direc-
tin.
The large majority Of these have LEFT
the city. From some 7 receive am occa-
sional letter OF thanks and the assurance
that they are Still irving 20 wink I'm the
steps % thcir Saviour. The percentage o.
converts is small. ami the percentage Of
such AS I have positive KNOWLEDGE are
living Christian lives Is also small. But
after my first twelve months service in
this particular work 7 report that in nv
honest Judgment the results poor as tbCv
are. comparatively more than Justify tie
expenditure OF the necessary time and
money Thank God some brands have been
plucked from the burning.
call attention 10 the fact that most
Of tine conversions reported from the
chapel services are not men and boys who
drop iu for nights lodging and make
profession OF faith as an easy way OF
iugratiariug themselves with the super
iuteudcnt. and SO obtaining free accom-
Y|I AZ of Va IN
have been inmates OF the house for from
three days 10 three weeks. who have OBJ
tanned remuncrativ- employment and who,
So FAR as Tire priilege of the institute are
concerned. have nothing to gain by false
prctcnsious- There We're five cases Of
this character last Sunday night. ON the
sunday night previous four and on the
sunday night before that three. IN the
material work undertaken for the men
We have this year introduced a new fea-
turc. The employment bureau has been
quite busy. There has been all the year
brisk demand in Richmond for labor.
AT this time no man who IS able to work
need Dee unemployed. The problem how
ever, is not solved even when we find
employment for the men who come 70 as
seeking help. We house ana feed no loaf
crs
We allow no beggars to take advantage
OF our privileges The aim OF the fnsti-
tuie is 90 give q man who is down"
Go use "a phrase in common us. among
inenl ara opportunity to get on his feet
eW. II amy. men who come to us have
money. friends or even decent clothing.
Nork has been found for every applicant,
but in the nature OF the case a penniIess.
unkempt and moro often than not I'M
clean. stranger cannot find "A boarding
mouse Keeper willing 20 take him in. At
This point We step IN 10 his assistance for
q nominal sum per week We take care
OF him until he has saved enorob ,.,,,...,.
10 buy himself a decent suit Of clothes
ard pay a weeks board in advance. when
we require MIN to vacate his bed and
give another man a chance - GET On
his feet. -Four hundred and twenty-Ave
men ana thirty women have obtained reg
ular employment through our ef-,rte
] have kept no account OF tho fot
worn which has been found for PERTAINS
as many as one thousand men. Three
I hundred and nifty men have been taken