New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-03-30
'BOWERy BOYS GET
RELIGION VIA BROOKLYN
Five Hundred of Them Find Food
Also at First Of Two Weeks
Mission Services.
ALL PAY CLOSE ATTENTION
Show Real Enthusiasm, How
ever, When Led to Restaurant
After Church Course
Is Finished.

Five hundred sons Of the Bowery got
religion and food last night when they
attended the special services held In ST.
Paurs Protestant Episcopal Church, at
Clinton and Carroll streets. Brooklyn.
They came from out the side streets.
from lodging houses and from every
gathering place ainog the BoWery. A
shutting army OF rags and unshaved
chins. they wended their way 10 the
Manhattan end Of the Brooklyn Bridge
where they were taken in hand by their
religious mentors.
II was impossible 10 tell accurately
whether the Bowery waits were particu-
larly happy over their opportunities for
charging upon their religious knowi-
edge. In most cases their facial express
sions were hidden behind two or three
DAYS growth ~ beard, but they marched
along tractfully enough; nor did any
son Of them srumble.
The services had been especially ar
ranged for the benefit Of the Bowerys
homeless The Rev. Albert Elmer VII
son. pastor Of the church. felt that the
men would be the better for The course Of
religious treatment. and last night was
The first evening Of two weeks mission
work for Bowery unfortunstes.
The pstrolnen on post Al the bridge
entrance opened their eyes in astonish-
ment and Erirped their niehtsticks
tighter when they met the first flies ~
the advancing army. They thought tho
Bovcry was sending the flower OF its
manhood on some sanguiuary eSped'-
ton and prepared 10 meet the onslaught
in determined manner.
As the leaders of the oncomne horde
filed under the bridge esplsnade, how
ever. they were greeted by two mon in
clerical garh. John Carroll and the Rev.
n. T Upiohn. missionaries. Then the
guests wore paired off and hustled
aboard 81. Johns Place trolley carr,
which had been reserved for them in ad-
vance
Fully fifty cars hummed across the ZIG
bridge with their ragged burden and
dumped the visitors outside the church
doors. Here they wore Ushered within
the church doors and the services began:
Some of those who entered wore hats.
others had none but one and ell APP
rearcd duly impressed by the solemnity
Of tho occasion and bore their rags as
proudly as any congregation Of more
pretentious ambitions.
For two hours the dusty congregation
listened TO the words Of Mr.. Sey2ingcr
OF the order Of the Resurrection, who
came over from England 10 conduct the
mission meetings. The men paid close
attention TO the words of the preacher
and kept their seats until the last word
had been spoken.
great sigh of, II might have been
religious fervor. but il sounded more like
relief. arose when the order Was given
FOR the men 10 file from the church and
repair 90 restaurant IT. Smith street
where steamug coffee and rolls, With
other trimmings we're awaiting the At
tack Of the BoNery boys. Close attcn-
ton Was paid To this work by those who
had il in hand. and with frightened belt"
the Rowcry brigade left the restaura II
and prepared 70 start in on the next
course.
This consisted NJ the confessional. spe'
cial sermons and other High Church ser
vices. Up 10 on early hour this morning
the Rowery congregation sat back in
their seats and held tight II the sched-
ule was adhered TO the men did not
! leave the church until = o'clock this
morning. The same crowd will attend
services at St. Psuls Church, Manhat-
| tan. some night next week