Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-01-11
Leader in Social Work Among
Poor Boys for Twenty
one Years.
WILL COMMEMORATE
ANNIVERSARY TOMORROW
Has Directed Thousands Upon
the Way TO Decent, USE
full Manhood.

For twenty-one years Charles ".
Edwards has been associated with
religious and social work among the
poor children in the Ironbound Dis
trict. He will hold anniversary serV-
ices tomorrow in the ChildTen.s
Temple at Nichols street.
During his twenty-one years sery-
ice Mr.. Edwards has been the means
of molding the character of many Of
oursow prominent business men and
has directed along. the path OF tenn
perance and self-respect children
born of incorporate and immoral
parents.
He places Utmost faith in forming
correct Impressions in children dur
ing their childhood, and his efforts
have resulted in forming upright
characters in those who were already
on the downward path.
Almost every day some of his for
mer pupils now grown to manhood
grasp him by the hand and thank
him for being set on the right road.
One of Mr.. Edwards's most prom
Using pupils was John j. Gaffney, who
met such a tragic death recently
Gaffney at first. Mr.. Edwards says
was one of his most miscellaneous
boys That was sixteen years ago.
The martyred policeman was a
leader among his comrades. His ac-
tions were initiated by the boys in
the neighborhood.
After long struggle the boys mis-
chievous traits were finally curbed
and he led his playmates along
right lines. The first book Gaffney
ever read, Daddy Edwards says,
was a history of the United States, in
the boys reading room in South
street. Later Gaffney told Mr.. Ed
wards that history helped him more
than anything else in his civil service
examination.
There are many other successful
men now living in Newark who, Mr..
Edwards says, owe their success TO
him and to his guidance along the
stormy career of their youth Its
all in starting the child right is his
theme.
Among his most priced relics is g
revolver presented him by man who
intended to use the gun to. kill his
wife. He met the man staggering
under the influence of liquor and
took him home.
Later he made several visits to the
mans house and finally induced hin
to stop drinking. During one of these
friendly visits, the man presented Mr.
Edwards with gun and told him hi
had intended to kill his wife with II
on the very night Edwards took hin
home and gave him his first temper
ance lecture.
The man had never been inside
church during service, and was al
habitual drunkard.
Now he conducts successful bust
ness in this city and is a regular
church member. Not drop of liquol
has passed his lips in Is years. &C
cording to Mr.. Edwards.
Mr.. Edwards started in social anc
religious work as director of the
Boys Club, then located in Market
street. There he had charge of 25(
bows, mostly bootblacks and new.
sies.p Seven of the former member:
of this club are now doing duty or
the Newark police force and four are
working. for Uncle Sam in the post
office.
From the Boys Club Mr.. Edwards
went to the reading room at 124 Soutf
street. This was in 1892. In 1899 ht
was asked to take charge of tht
children's social work at Hops
Chapel, then located at III East Kin.
ney street.
There he became associated with
Joseph Wilde and opened the ole
Chestnut street station as chill
dren's temple Since then the tenn.
pie has been a permanent institution
although it has moved its headQuar-
ters several times. 1t is now located
at Nichols street
Mr. Wilde has been associated witt
Mrs. Edward in his work since the
establishment of the Chi.dren's TEN.
pie. The religious work has always
been mons ctarian, and both Mr.
Wilde and Mr. Edwards have giver
their services free to the cause.