The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1907-01-23
Olive Branch Mission.

feel sure the many friends in Forest
county of Miss Mary j. Eyerhart, will be
glad to hear something of her work in
Olive Branch Mission, 95 s. Desplaines
St., Chicago. Thirteen years ago visit
ed the mission for the first time and all
these years have read with much inter-
est the vivid pictures Miss Everhart has
given in her paper. Yet l had no idea
the conditions were as bad as they are.
One would have to come and stay some
time to really know all sides of their
work. But you would not have to stay
long to be fully convinced that the only
reason why she and her faithful band of
workers are there is for the love of Christ
and lost souls. There is not one re-
deeming feature to it all until you pass
into that dingy old hall and see the glad,
happy faces of those workers, and hear
one after another of those men tell what
they have been and see how clean and
decent they are now. You would say at
once, "Truly, God has done this" They
pick up men who have been we'll raised,
college men, doctors, lawyers, etc., in
fact men of nearly every profession, who
have gotten down through drink or mis-
fortune of some kind, but when brought
to see that there is pardon for such as
they, accept 1t with all their hearts.
When they come back again, cleaned up
and their faces bright with a new light,
how it makes ones heart rejoice. Then
the spirit that exists in the mission and
home is all that the most critical person
could ask of any christians. For in
stance, one Sabbath afternoon at the con-
verts' meeting, an aged gentleman got up
and pointing to man few seats back,
said; "Brother, you are all wrong; you
are trying to fight the devil in your own
strength and if you don't stop it and let
God do that for you, you will fail"
Knowing the characters some of these
men have been l naturally looked for
trouble. l glanced at the leader, Miss
Winn, and as l did so she coolly said
"Amen." After len or fifteen minutes
nub BuooOuI buO buuS diuI6oScu dIOS6
and reaching for the other fellows hand,
said: Brother, 1 thank you. 1 believe
you are right and by the grace of God I'll
take your advice" Again, in the Rescue
Home they have Catholic girl who has
been there about four months. Said she,
~ have never seen such folks as tLese.
They are always happy and they treat
me just as if were one of them. 1 ex-
pected at Thanksgiving and the holiday
time to be very lonely. but some way
forgot to be. When everything goes
wrong Miss EVerhart says, Praise the
Lord In fact" said she, "I came near
saying it myself the other day when
something happened in the kitchen"
Della IS noble girl and no one could be
more kind and respectful than she is for
all the kindnesses that haYe been shown
her. A friend and / went Summing
with some of the workers one sabbath
morning. At the police station lodging
houses and saloons a hush would settle
over the room as soon as they entered,
and those men would listen with much
interest to the prayers, exhortstions and
songs. Then they gave each tract or
paper and invited them to come to the
mission. Many of these men and women
are not only dirty and filthy but are cov-
cred with vermin, yet those girls kneel
beside them anywhere in the hall they
can get one to pray and plead with God
to save them as If they were the most re-
spectacle. / think If they show any par
tiality it is for the "Old Bum.'
When the roll is called in heaven and
all those who have been brought from
darkness into His marvellous light answer
to their names, then and only then will
we know the good that has been accom-
plished through the prayers and self
denial of this noble woman and her band
of consecrated workers. We esteem it
great privilege to live near enough to
Chicago to occasionally visit this part of
the masters vineyard. While all can not
have this opportunity, all can help them
to carry on this grand work by your
prayers and means.
Cordially Yours,
HATTIE G. LITTLE.
Oak Park, Illinois,