New-York tribune., 1919-12-15

! saved. Another man who said he
mad been "a bum and loafer for fif-
teen years." confessed he had entered
the mission out of idle curiosity, but
had remained to get on his knees and
pray.
When Pennies Carried One Far
III went out with dime" he said
"A man gave me another nickel. I went
and got shave-two cents. | got
some bread and coffee-thrce cents
Then bought pair of shoes for 10
cents and went to work"
Concluding his testimony, he broke
into hymn, in which the audience of
converts quickly joined.
The record convert of yesterdays
meeting was clothing merchant Who
after making three fortunes and then
losing them gambling, mas come back
sufilclently now to nave {. 500. 600 husi-
ness. When the newest converts we're
called upon young man said he had
gone three days without backslidin% A
dozen others converted two weeks to
six months ago spoke likewise
During the session the audience, as if
directed, sat divided into two sections
On one side sat the down and -outc RS"
who looked and acted down and out
On the opposite side of the room were
we'll dressed men of all ages, with a
sprinkling of women visitors. Some cf
the men would have passed for Wall
Street brokers, merchants, statesmen or
| office helpers. No one would have
pictured them as having once stumbled
into McAuley's drunk and ragged had
they not risen, one after another, and
told their stories.
Knew Hymns by Heart
Although outdone in appearance. the
"down-and-out" section of the audi
enee had the strongest voices when
hymns were sung. Six of these in all
with every last verse sung, made the
auditorium echo, and the loudest echo
came from the men in old clothes
Many Of them sang hymn after hymn
without using book.
According TO Superintendent Wyburn
the mission may move before long, be-
cause it is in foreign section of the
city, where it is not so useful as it
might be elsewhere. Since July /, he
says, there has been a noticeable de-
crease in the number Of drunkards
coming to the mission. Drug addicts
are also fewer, he says, most Of those
who present themselves as such Aav-
ing started, according to their story,
as the result of taking drugs by dQc-
tors prescription.
Bishop Burch Speaks Friday
Since 1914 the reduction Of unem-
ployment in the city and country has
been reflected by the decreasing num-
bers fed by the mission at Christmas.
says Mr.. Wyburn. The 1914 total was
around 1,500, but this year there may
not be 500, he predicted, owing to the
scarcity of labor.
The speaker at the night meeting was
the Rev. George Alexander, Of the Old
FIRST, University Place and Madison
Square Foundation. To-day the Rev
Walter G. lsaacs, chaplain at the Bay
Ridge barracks. will speak; tomorrow
the Rev. William N. Hubbcll, of Marin
er's Temple; Wednesday, Miss Sara
Wray, perintendent OF the Eighth Ave
nue. Mission; Thursday, the Rev Edgar
Whitaker Work, of the Fourth Pres
byterian Church; Friday, the Rt. Rev.
Bishop Charles S. Burch Saturday, the
Rev Oliver NJ. Fletcher, Of the Graves
end Reformed Church; Sunday, the Rev.
John G. Rallimond, superintendent Of
the Bowery Mission, and the Rev.
J ohm w. Kelman, of the Fifth Avenue
Presbyterian Church. There will also
be special music and testimonials with
each session