Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1923-02-03
Reporters Dressed AS Buns"
Test Welcome Churches Give
Wearing Tattered Clothes And Unkempt In Appearance
Human "Derclicts" Shuttle Into Edifices
OF Four Denominations.

Clad in ragged clothes, unkempt
wearing no collars and with hands
and faces none too clean, four human
"derelicts" Sunday went to church in
Baltimore. Each of the four-ra-
porters of The Sun-went to a church
of different denomination to test the
welcome given to a shabby stranger
The churches were selected as fairly
representative Of each denomination
The receptions, as described below,
were accorded the "derclicts" at the
First Presbyterian Church, Christ
Protestant Episcopal Church, Mount
Vernon Place Methodist Episcopal
Church and the First Church Of
Christ, Scientist.
They probably were the worst-look-
ing cramps" that ever trod wintry
street in Baltimore, The fat snow
flakes that made such beautiful bou.
quets and necklaces for the park
shrubs and trees only melted soppily
on their unpleasant rags.
A big brass safety pin tried pitifully
hard to hide great rent in ones coat
pocket; it only gave the rag fan
tastic loop. Their overlarge trousers
draped them in sodden folds and were
patched. Their shoes were too big, OF
ripped at the toes; one wore tennis
shoes of canvas and rubber. Their
necks We're grimy, hair unkempt,
hands and fingers unwashed.
At the front doors of the four
churches they stopped and looked a
round uneasily. There We're warm
lights in high stained glass windows
Organs hummed with easy majesty
swelling more loudly as massive doors
swung open and the people passed in
At the First Presbyterian Church,
Park avenue and Madison street:
None noticed disheveled Individual
standing near the curb. He might
have been derelict, an outcast of So
ciety. A faded worn gray cap on his
unkempt head, in need of shave, q
coat worn and torn, and trousers OF
another color patched. AS the first
strains of professional were intoned
by the organ, the tramp" slowly en-
tered the vestibule of the church
Three ushers stood near the center
door.
"Say, boz" said the tramp, can a
guy go to church here?"
Three ushers looked at the tramp
in surprise. They had not expected
this apparition. A young usher STEP
ped up to the tramp"
"Good morning, old fellow" he said.
taking the tramp by the hand. "I'm
very sorry there's not seat on the
first floor, but DR.. Henry Van Dyke
did you ever hear Of him ?-is preach
ing here this morning and there is q
large congregation. I'm sure we can
find a place for you in the gallery"
Not afraid of the dirty coat-sleeve.
the usher placed his hand on the
cramps" arm and then locked his
arm in that Of the "bum." In this
way the tramp" was led up the wind
ing steps to the rear of the gallery
adjacent to the choir loft. A large
number Of people were standing. The
usher paid no attention to these.
He went to the end Of the long pews
and asked everyone to move up
Space was made for the tramp
who reached his seat as the Rev. DR.
Alfred H. Barr, pastor of the church
read an extract from the Bible. Sieve.
raj persons nearby turned and scru'
tinized the tramp. His head was
bowed in prayer, but his eyes were
watching those about him. All stood
to sing another hymn and those in TIE
pew made more room. A young CIR
sat beside the tramp. For minute
she looked disguised, but the look
soon turned to one of pitys
The sermon over, the final hymn
was sung. The tramp" reached te
the floor, where he had placed his hat
and prepared to leave. The girl
still interested, touched him on the
elbow. The tramp" turned. The
young lady was smiling again. He1
eyes had peculiar light.
81 hope you enjoyed the service,