Atlanta Georgian., 1912-06-29

um hall and class and reading rooms, but
was not what in these rapidly moving
times would be called modern. Presiding
over its activities and seconded by pale
but earnest young man recently ordained
was Holders first assistant, the Reverend
Mr.. McCrae
The results accomplished seemed strange
ly disproportionate to the efforts for they.
labored abundantly. The Italian mothers
appear%.s stolidly appreciative of the altru
ism of Miss Ramsay, who taught the kinder
garten. i'll taking their charges off their
hands for three hours of o morning, and
the same might be said OF the Jews and
Germans and Russians. The newsboys en-
joyed the gymnasium and reading rooms;
some of them were drafted into the choir,
yet the singing of TIE Deums failed some
how to accomplish the miracle of regenera-
tion. The boys, as rule, were happier,
no doubt; the new environments not
wholly without results. But the rector
was an deast
He strove hard to become their friend,
and that of the men; to win their conf
dence and with a considerable measure of
success On more than one occasion he
threw aside his clerical coat and put on
boxing gloves and he gave a series of lee
lures. with lantern slides collected during
the six months he had once spent in Eu.
rope. The Irish-Americang and the Ger
these were for the most part young working
men and youths by no means destitute
They liked and trusted him-on a tacit
condition. There was boundary he
might not cross,
One night as he stood with his assistant
in the hall after the men had gone, Holder
could contain himself no longer.
Look here, McCrae," he broke out
these men never come to onurch-or only
a very few of them"
mo more they do McCrae agreed
Were not making Christians of them
said Holder. beginning 10 walk up and
down. Why is it,
TRY to teach them religion" said Nc
Crae-he almost pronounced it releegion
-'and see what happens Yell have no
classes at all. They only come the best
of them, because ye let them alone that
way, and they get little decency and So
ciety help. It's somewhat to keep them
out of the dance halls and saloons, maybe.
What's the use of reaching them, only
to touch them? In addition to being helped
materially and socially and kept away from
the dance halls and saloons they ought to
be fired by the Gospel TO be remade They
should be going out into the highways and
byways to bring others into the church"
The Scotchmans face changed a little
For an instant his eyes lighted up, whether
in sympathy or comm.seraton or both
Holder could nor tell
I'm with ye Mr. Holder if yen show
ne the way But oughtnt we to begin a.
both ends?"
"At both ends" Holder repeated.
Surely. With the people in the pews?
Oughtnt we to be firing them, too?'
Yes said the rector You're right"
He turned away, to feel McCrae's hand
on his sleeve
"Maybe it will come, Mr.. Holder he
said There's no telling when the light
will strike in"
1t was the nearest TO optimism he had
ever known his assistant to approach
"McCrae,' he asked, have you ever tried
to do anything with Dalton Street,"
Dalton Street,
Yes" Holder forced himself TO go on
and it came to him that he had repeated
virtually the same words to Mr.. Parr, III
is at our very doors. a continual reproach.
There is real poverty in those roomins
houses, and have never seen vice so de
fant and shameless
IT'S a shifty place, that McCrae Te-
Piled They're in it one day and gone the
next, a sor of catch-bas!n for all the rub
bsh of the city. ! can recall when decent
people lived there, and nov it's all llgh'
housekeeping and dives and what not
but that doesn't relieve us of responsl
hility" Holder observed.
I'm not DENYING il. think yen find
heres very little to get hold of.