New-York tribune., 1906-12-31
MORE TALES OF SLUMS.
BOWERY CONVERTS TALK.
Tel Stories of Their RescHe to Fifth
I4fenue Congre cation.

For tire eecoz5 time EoTshippers st the Col
leeate Church OF 81. Nicholas. of which the Rev
Or. Donald Sage Maolsy IS pastor. listened last
night TO testimonies given h. men who had been
led from paths Of urrighteousness by missions in
The slums. Last night the men came from the
fsadiey Memorial Mission. in the Bowery- Two
weeks ago converts of the Herr McAuiey Water
etreet Mission spoke
In spite OF the incement weather tse large
church was crowded. DI. A1ackay. in introducing
John Callahan the superintendent of the mission,
who presided. praised the missions work
@Only last night he said, this mission turned
sxay over three hundred men who were unable 10
gain admission. IL is touching the great tides OF
Fife that flow along that world renowned thor
oughfare."
AS al the first services. testimonies given
chiefly by men who had been saved from drunk
ards deaths. but who had served a peni-
tentlary term also spoke That John Gala
han himself, and his testimony, pathetic and
now humorous listened to with the closest
attention. Worshippers would laugh one moment
and sob the Callahan touched their heart
strings. Speaking In more less the dialect Of the
Eowery, where he does his work, and using slang
expressions which seemed TO fit better than the
best English could have done, Mr.. Callahan told
his story.
Beginning a bootblaek, he said, he finally got
e job as sweeper at the Grand Central Station.
But. he said he began TO drink and lost his fam
Iy. friends and acqua:ntances.
Il drifted West, he continued, 'and got in with
a tough gang IN Chicago. And then became moth
Ing less than a highway robber and also robbed
houses. went TO the Cook County JAIL
Mr.. Callahan hesltated and slowly added:
And then went 10 Joliet, the State prison.
when got ont went to Minnea polis where
my brother vas a saloonkeeper-'
lie told Of working for him. but drank all the
time and gave liquor away. Twice he was sent to
the workhouse vagrant.
Callahan said his associates were pueiIists and
loafers Of the worst type. But day he hap
pened into a mission IN Minneapolis, and after
weeks OF wrestling was converted and had worked
& s bsa4fsS bbg0E9usg 9 tod q PTsy4g R for work and
@ tn eor 1t Of If Rood R he said
1T was not like Booth fuckers experience with a
told that as soon as bTeaast Vas ready nf he
So1ld be called But when he was called the man
yeq say me but you didn't see me saw ''''-
picture OF his return to New YORK after an ABSENCE
of twenty years and his sister meeting him the
were audible al over the large church he spoke.
toId Of b canyrsn no Is ana ba 10 M or 0aa9ah
He was q prosperous business man. but lost his
year ten months and eleven days ago he ssids s
that he entered the mission end found conversion.
Forest \. Kane particularly good looking man
he'd goo Jobs but LOST them ali through drink Enf he
Il finally ended on the Bcwrry," he said II re-
front Of my ,brother's house IN 5Srh street and
TYING TO catch glimpse of my mother. who
said he would have arrested
Mission.
II found conversion through the sanity help Of
Mr.. Hadley," he said
Thomas MorreIl said that three years ago he was
IN prosperous circumstances. out lost all. For
years. he said. he had been 4 drinking man. hut
finally became slave liquor
4 panhandled every friend and relative I had"
he continued: and was ostTacised ! got money
from my wife 10 leave the country. and went 10
England Ny reroittances were cut off bur I
begged money 10 come back. with the promise
never 10 see them again got the money, but
chun and spent IL I got back. however. as
stoTanay. And what did 7 do that very day but
80 right To my family. in spite of my promise.
"on AE1rl % Of this year, the tHenty-first ami
ZeTsar, of nv sons birth. passed Hadley Hall.
found oonH ersion- At that time of my
family knew where I Now have them alI''
n closing the service Dr. Mackay spoke of New
Years resolutions
-ThouEhtIessness is the beginning of soul
If2ecdy.' h said Think think that we may
begin Tie new year riEhteously.''
On January J. converts of the old Bowery Mis-
sion VIII give their testimonies.