The Washington times., 1914-04-07

all other efforts at social better
ment in that 1t offers the only real
panacea to the worlds sin and sor-
row now known to man. All other
forms of social service only alleviate
the sinful. sorrowing, submerged
tenth.
The rescue mission does not allevi-
ate. 1t cures. As Prof. William
James. in THE Varieties of Relig-
fous Experience" says: Conversion
Is the only means by which a radi-
cally bad person can be changed in
to radically good person." So our
cure for sin and sorrow Is coming
into covenant relation with Jesus
Christ
While I was president Of a col
lege at Atchison, Kan, I taught
Psychology for fifteen years. could
not fall to notice that the books on
that subject say little or nothing
on that great psychological change
which turns men and nations from
barbarians to civilized human beings
and enlightened countries. When
was asked to assist In conducting
q mission where men and women,
broken on the wheel of life, might
be made whole and given another
chance. I was glad to avail myself
of the opportunity to study at close
range this strange alchemy OF GOO.
There He makes feet that walk in
the ways Of sin to tread the paths
Of Righteousness; hands that steal to
do His service; tongues that bias
pheme to sing His praises.
Costs To Keep Clean.
Then. also. / had a great sorrow
come to me In 1903, and In comfort
ing people even more sorrowful than
myself, / found consolation for my
own broken heart when I became
a director at the Gospel Mission, II
was little more than a hall where
evening services were held nightly.
Have you ever thought that 1t costs
money to keep clean? There Is no
place in this city but the missions
where an unshaven, unshorn, poorly
clothed man can clean up IL he has
not money. So the first Improvement
we began was securing a bath and
fumigator for the Mission. Then ap
industrial department where strand
ed men could earn lodging and
board, and yet have time to look for
reTnunerative work.
We put in a penny lunch where
the poor obtain food at cost. We
added q dispensary where annually
nearly 5000 poor receive medical as
SO, 900 men, giving them bath and bed,
with rolls and coffee in the morning.
charging 10 cents when they have 1t,
but turning no one into the cold. We
are the friendly visitors Of about 100
families; we close the eyes of their
dying; we are with them as they
bury their dead; we conduct religious
the mission, and once week in the
women's ward. At the jail. and in
several wards OF washington Asylum
Hospital.
Social Service House.
We have a social service house in
Missouri avenue, where we charge
low rentals for earning mothers with
children: we hold there our mothers
meetings and children's meetings.
We have a troop OF Boy Scouts to
help the boys of that part of the
city to become useful and good citi-
zens- .- s--..-
Now, what Is the result Of all this?
Well, we have changed the tone of
John Marshall place from being the
rendezvous Of harlots and thieves
into a more respectable part Of the
city: We have kept boys and girls
from evil habits. The Lord annual
ly there rescues about 500 men from
drink and other vile habits. and re-
turns them to their families good
men and. to the state, useful citizens.
We are the real protection Of the
and despair OF the down-and-out ele-
ment know that uncontrolled men
would destroy the homes and public
buildings II uncontrolled; SO we do
our best to feed, shelter. and COM
for them. We secure employment
for about a thousand men and wom-
en- annually. thereby making them
seff-sustaining.
Some women hate to be old; in
my case every gray hair Is an as
set Every sorrowful man thinks
look just like his mother, and,
as a mother deals with her sinful
child. deal with evil men and
women.
Burglar Now Constable.
We have one man who came here
as a burglar. Now he Is on the
mounted constabulary of a great
State helping to enforce the law
rather than breaking It We have
one man who was as low as a
man could be, converted now and
an officer in his church; he has a
salary in a great business Of $500
a year, besides stock in II. We
have converted backsliding
preacher, afterward the pastor Of
a church in Brooklyn, at least six
converts conducting rescue mission
in other cities; also at least one
hundred men who were down and
out, now filling positions OF honor