The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-23
MIKE SHOWS TRAIL
OF HOPE is PRAYER
General Manager of Bowery
"Y" Tells How He Changed
to the Straight Road.
RECEIVES 'HONEsTwATCH
Presentation Made Feature of
Hickey's Seventh Anniver-
sary of Reformation.

Last night was Mike Hickey's night.
He sat up on a platform of the Bowery
Y. NJ. c. A., and because 1t was hot and
he was embarrassed he kept handker-
chief busy patrolling the grim oval of
his face. In the audience sat a con-
glomerate assortment of Mikes friends
whose pooled knowledge OF crime would
have covered the subject from A to z.
Stragglers drifted in and out all eve
ming, coming out of the rain and the
darkness from the underworld, that
place from which Mike graduated when
he got religion" They heard Mike tell
about his nineteen years behind prison
walls, how he decided seven years ago
to go straight. Some Of them felt that
Mike must be a trife on" Others were
impressed. Still others were there to
back up Mikes theory about being on
the side of the angels"
This was all by way Of an anniversary
of Mikes reformation, and there was
testimony and singing and something
more. Mike called it God. So did the
synonyms such as Power, or Strength,
or Hope. Whatever it was it vibrated
In that hall. and lighted up twisted faces.
1t set Mikes lips in a determined line
and fired his eyes and made his words
impassioned.
Whether or not those who came to
pay their respects to Mike believed in
his salvation idea, they knew Mike was
ION the lever when he was master
of the technique of the pickpocket, and
they listened. This sounds like joke"
Mike was saying, but people here to-
night know it's facts. I prayed to God
to send me a wife. Five months is quite
while to keep on praying without get
ting an answer. Well, l Kept on Tor
ten months and fifteen days, and ="
He pointed q finger toward woman
seated at the rear of the platform
there's the wife"
And l prayed to God for children"
Mike continued. He was in dead earn
est. In the silence of the hall the steady
beat of rain against the windows could
be heard. II asked God for boy"
Again he pointed. this time to white
clad youngster who smiled UP at him.
There's the boy" Somebody said
amen" Gray. tired, stricken heads
here and there in the audience went
down into gnarled hands.
When II grew too tense there was
singing Mrs. Hickey sang solo; Dr.
Frank Morris. who presided, called upon
his son, who sang the never falling
Hundred and One" A mission leader
spoke about Mikes work of salvaging
human wrecks. Joe McManimen. now
"Y" secretary, told how Mike had found
him "a pig headed Irishman" and per-
suaded him that he had chance.
At the end of the meeting gold
watch was presented to Mike. He'd
handled n good many in his day, he
pointed out, but this one was honest.
II was bought by the Make Good Club
with legitimate money. And every men,
Der of that unique organization was
once a convict. 1t Is distinctly Mikes
club. He Is president and general man
ger. Headquarters are at the Bowery
Y. NJ. c. A. No references are re-
quired That is where Mike comes in.
In the four years of his mission work
connected with the Bowery Y, NJ. c. A.
Mike has had 100 club members. He
has reformed them all and found them
work. Only two failed. And last night
Mike had in his pocket letters from those
two, both written from Sing Sing. You
were right, Mike" was the message in
each. He had another letter. It was
from Judge GRANGE of Brooklyn, who
once sentenced Mike. God bless you"
II said simply.