The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-03-15
MANUFACTURERS
 VISIT CHRISTIAN
 UNIONS MISSION
Observe Workings of Bank Street Enterprise That
 Seeks Funds.


 ports representative citizens, the list including the munition city's wealth. jest men, swooped down upon the Christian Union Tuesday night The visit was a tour of inspection of the inner workings and ramif1cations of Bridgeport's lighthouse for the salvag- ing of human derelicts, and was in accordance with a pre-arranged plan. The men, of whom the little Bank street mission houses several scores, were taken entirely unawares as they were in the act of retiring to their beds in the dormitories. The descent was made in automobiles, and was sponsored by a score or more of Bridgeport's leading clergymen.
 Interest in the ten-day whir1wind campaign to raise $135,O0o with which to erect a modern, fireproof building, adequate to the needs of the union, is city-wide, and the city is stirred from center to circumference as never before. Citizens of every walk in life have been aroused to their civic duty by the appeal of the union, and 1t was for. the purpose of seeing for themselves conditions as they are that last nights excursion was plan ned by men who stand high in the commercial activities of the city. The visitors were met at the building by committee composed of officers and directors of the union, and conducted through the several departments, where they saw the actualization of the several processes by which men who come to the union down and out, friendless, Respondent, out of work, hungry and without a place to sleep, are lifted to their feet and their souls and bodies cleansed, clean and warm clothing provided, the needs of the in- ner man provided for, pain and sick ness alleviated, grief assuaged and spiritual wants ministered to. The process of reclamation-the remaking of not only Bridgeport's unfortunates but transients from every city and state, and even foreign countries, the metamorphosis of life's fotsam and jetsam to useful citizenship-was vis- ualized before the eyes of scores of Bridgeport's most astute leaders, men who, having heard of the wonderful work being done by the union, wanted to see for themselves just what is be-. ng done and how it is being accom- plished.
 Stories of mfsspent lives, wrecked homes, families torn asunder, but, un- der the guidance of an intervening Providence, happily righted through the agency of the mission. were listen ed to with moist eyes, by these same commercial and industrial giants, all visibly affected by the soul stirring, heart-rending narrations. Tears streamed down the cheeks of the narA rators as they told of their missteps. their toboggan down lifes course. un- til their footsteps were arrested and directed ito the mission, where they found succor, concluding with fer vent prayers for their redemption. Something akin to an indignation meeting was held by the visitors af ter the conclusion of the tour of in- spection.
 James G. Ludlum, president of the Manufacturers association, the Rev. John R. Brown, pastor of the First Baptist church, and George l.. War ren, of the Charities Organization so- ciety, made talks, in which they ex- pressed themselves as dumbfounded at social conditions as they found them
 
 Bridgeport's institutions for the suc-s coring of distressed humanity. The urgent need of more commodious quarters and increased facilities was the keynote of the talks. The police station was also visited and conditions which made it necessary for the de- partment to house those whom the union was, unable to, accommodate were witnessed Some of those in the visiting party, who rubbed shoulders with their more unfortunate brethren, but brothers in humanity, neverthe- less. and who grasped the hands of the men in sincere interest and friend ship, were James G. Lud1um, Charles L. Beach, Albert B. Lavery, John $. Wooster, Newton H. Hoyt, of the Sing CT Manufacturing Co.,; George H. Edwards, vice-president of the Bridgeport Chain Go. and manager of the International Silver Co.,; F. F. Whitehead, the Rev. John R. Brown, George L. Warren.