South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-10-11
RAISE FUND FOR
LOCAL MISSION
Churches of City Take Part in
Joint Meeting-S3,241.76
is Pledged.

rs a result OF the pledges made last
night at the joint meeting of various
churches Of the city at the high school
auditorium, $3.241.76 was raised for
the City. Rescue mission on Jefferson
blvd. for the coming year The
pledges were given by those present
on cards furnished by the mission
which were distributed through the
audience by workers OF the mission.
The highest pledge given was $500,
while the lowest was one cent.
Pastors of the various churches Of
the city were seated on the stage and
"A number read scriptures and took
part in the services. The choir, con-
sisting of so voices from the First NJ
T.. church, was present and rendered
several numbers.
G.. W. TrOtter Speaks.
Mission work and the great need Of
il in every city Of today was discussed
b. Rev. George w. Trotter. brother
Of Mel Trotter, the great mission
worker OF the middle west Rev
Trotter made a special trip TO this
city from his home in Pittsburgh, Pa,
TO speak at this meeting, which was
the second annual meeting of the City
Rescue mission. The mission was OPP
ened last November by Mel Trotter
who has AZ such missions In the
various cities of the middle west At
college taking the radium cure for a
cancer Of the nose.
George TrOtter, who was converted
by his brother Mel 5 years ago. told
of the way in which William. who is
older than Mel, was converted at the
Pacific Garden mission in Chicago
under Harry Monroe. Mel converted
George few years after his CONVEX
sion and through missions the entire
TrOtter family of 10 was converted,
four of them being drunkards.
The story of MeFs conversion was
told by his brother as follows:
Mel Tries Everything.
Mel tried everything possible to
become better man. He took the
cure. made hundreds of resolutions,
but failed in all. He had but one
child, who at the age Of six became
sick, and one night when Mel went
home in "A drunken stupor he found
his wife carrying the baby around the
room-dead. 1t died of starvation
and exposure. Mel promised his wife
that if he ever went straight in his
life he would from that time on. The
baby was buried in the afternoon and
while they were on their way to the
place of burial Mel was met by a
friend, who told him he needed a
stimulant and bought him one drink
which heightened into more and with
i'm p hours Mel went back to his wife
more drunk than before.
1T was only a few months follow
ing this that Mel wandered into the
Chicago mission, where his brother
William was assistant superintendent.
He heard him talk and pray for the
down and cutters. and when he fin
ished. Mel went forward and today ne
is one of the greatest mission men of
the day"
Bird Makes Report.
Rev. Ray A. Bird superintendent
Of the mission. gave a report of the
years work at the mission. in which
he said there were $2,271.71 pledged
TO the mission during the year, and
$40 in collections, while the expenses
of the mission were $2,647.22. leaving
a balance of S44.S7 in the treasury.
The institution has cared for more
than GOO people during the year.
clothing, feeding and lodging them at
different times The total attendance
for the year was 1881. and 332 peo-
pie have been at the altar asking for
prayer. The Sunday school has had
an attendance Of about 55 students
each week or 2,251 in all. Large
crowds have been at the park meet
ings and the mission workers have
and shops.
That rescue missions are not run
ming in opposition TO churches, but
are dependent upon them for support.
was the statement made by Rev.
Trotter in an address Sunday morn
ing at the First Presbyterian church.
in glowing language. Mr.. Trotter made
an eloquent plea for the rescue mis-
sion.
.syVo roach a class Of naoDIe +bo+
the churches are unable 10 reach he
said. we appeal TO the man who is
stepped in sin, whose life has been
wrecked who is desperate. who is
down and out the man that the
churches cannot reach. We are the
result Of the growth of churches. We
have our missions in the heart of the
city. usually where the lower element
hangs out ] mean those who have
trod the forbidden ways and fallen
into a life of sin. The rescue mission
is as much a part of the church as
are home missions or foreign mis-
sions.
we appeal not only 20 the man
who has never had a chance. but 10
the man who has had the opportunity
and failed In this latter class are
college men and professional men,
who. casting aside the admissions of
home and home ties. have flOundered
I'm the mire OF sin and evil doing. This
class Is not the majority. but often we
have the chance given us 10 save these
men. and restore them 10 a life en-
Jrely different from what they have
ever known"
At the close Of Mr.. Trotter's ad-
dress subscription cards were passed
around.