The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-11-21

SOME IDEA OF SCOPE OF WORK
AND GENERAL REPORT OF Or
GANIZATIoN Is GIVEN FOR
BENEFIT OF PENSACOLA PEo-
PIE.

This commences the week of Thanks
giving, and the Mission believes it is
only proper at this time to inform the
good people of Pensacola and give
them some idea OF the scope of the
work, as well as to show a condensed
report of the finances Of the institu-
ton.
The first start made on the Mission
was on June 1 of this year, when it
was determined to interest the out
lying districts and get them to sub
scribe for the work. This was done,
r.. w. Simpson, the organizer, along
with Ed. ]. Landt, making trips to the
surrounding points and some good re-
suits were obtained; enough, anyway,
if all the promises had been fulfilled,
to pay a moderate rent and make a
fair start. 1t has been inquired fire.
quently who the organizer is and
where he is from; what experience?
In answer to these questions, r. w.
Simpson is an ordained minister of
the Baptist church and had been in
charge and lived for two years in the
Mission at Macon, which was after
wards merged into the Baptist Taber-
nacle, and which ne largely assisted
in organizing In all its branches of
rescue house, night school, etc, He
was asked by the executive board of
the state Mission at. their convention
at DeFuniak to come to Pensacola,
partly to look up Mission work. and
he did SO. Upon looking over the ter
ritory and realizing the great need
Pensacola had for an up-to-date Mis-
sion, he went before the local execu-
tive board of the state Mission and
suggested that one be formed here, of
an undenominational character. In
this the majority of the board coincid-
ed and hence the field was opened for
general work. The Mission house
ground floor was rented August I, pos
session being given about one week
earlier, and work. was at once started
to fit it for an auditorium, large
platform at one end, besides the thirty
or more benches being made, and the
first meeting was held August 10. On
September 1, the balance of the build
ing, situated at the corner of Govern
ment and Reus streets, together with
the grounds at the rear of the build
ing, were obtained, and then ctm-
menced the very arduous duty of
clearing, cleaning and making the
place a fit one for the purposes for
which 10 had been rented. To appre-
ciate all the amount of work thus re
quired, visit is necessary, and those
acquainted with Mission work will
now behold a fine writing and study
class room, reading room, with tier
after tier of shelves filled with maya
zines and papers, and across the hall
are two large rooms for the conven-
fence OF people who are stranded or
for other reasons. These rooms have
been of the utmost use, at one time
three women with three children hay-
ing been sent by the Associated Chair.
ties, two OF the women being stranded
and having to wait until they could
get a place. Another time they were
used by a woman and her gTandchiE
dren. driven from home by drunken
husband, and other cases as they ap-
peared. These rooms are also used
for rescue cases in the rescue of wo-
men from a life of sin. temporary
place to hold them until disposed of
elsewhere. The rescue part of the
Mission is always kept behind the
scenes and never published, the hope
being always to reform a life, not to
give publicity to it.
In addition to this class of work,
one great feature in view is the educa-
tional one, for which free night
school is instituted and meets Mon
day and Friday nights for both boys
and girls: in fact, not only boys. but
years OF age who are learning TO read.
Attached to this is the physical de
.partment and a gymnasium is in con-
tempIation. The grounds. otherwise
called the Mission Park" are beng
prepared for play and drill grounds.
In II are summer houses, rustic seats,
with a large platform at the back of
the building fo1 outdoor lectures, en-
tertainments. etf. and three gas lamps
tn give light foIl The evening services
and meetings. There is also sewing
school under thA direction of Miss Au-
sr,,sta Oerting. which meets every Sat.
1rdav at 2 o'cIo9kl and which is well
attended. The mission has also insti.
tl,ted a PRAYER rbom at No. North
Palafox street. where at noon each
dav except Sundayl a prayer meeting
sThere is Immediate need for a Res
enc Home for wdn1dn and children as
well as infirmarA. and the program
has been laid out for it. In fact, a
festival was held Oct. Il to 16. the
proceeds of which Were to furnish it,
but there was not enough money re-
eeived TO make the start, although the
festival filled one Of its objects in
bringing the work b4fore the eyes
and minds of the people.
The Mission desires to thank. the
people of Pensacola for their support
and below is a condensed report of its
receipts and payments The total
amount of money recei(ed from all
sources, including the festival. is
STI0II, in nearly six months period,
expended in the following way:
labor SIPS. 80
Travelling expenses ......-... 12.of
Material 92.S6
Gas 6xtures , 1888
Rents ,.f-....1 Toe. 90
Living eODepses atc 60 90