The Washington times., 1935-08-19

year-old superintendent of the
Central Union Mission, sat in his
small office at the mission build
ing and discussed his 20 years
as head of, the organization. He
said:
Twenty years ago this place
was a tumble.d down rat trap"
But the "rat trap" now is a
seven-story fireproof building,
modern in equipment and santa
ton, with a chapel on the main
floor, free beds for 10 men and
four floors devoted to single
rooms which converts Of the
mission may rent after they find
work for less than they would
have to pay for a bunk in a flop
house.
Started q Salesman
Mr.. Bennett started out in life
as a salesman. For several years
he was the Sunday night leader
in the old Jerry McAuley Water
Street. Mission in. New York.
when a superintendent was
needed in Washington at the old
Central Union Mission, Mr.. Ben
nett and his young wife came
here to take the job. And behind
them they left the fresh grave
where their little girl was buried.
He said:
"It's been q struggle since,
but an upward struggle. We
have a new building, we
have established the Chi1dren's
Emergency Home, and we have
a 234-acre farm where the
men have a chance to re-
habilitate themselves.
"We've built a children's
camp which is considered one
Of the finest in the country.
Some day we hope to have a
herd of cows to give them milk,
a flock of chickens to give them
eggs, and some thoroughbred
pigs. So you see, we always
have something in the future
to work for"
WIFE CREATED HOME
Mr.. Bennett said that So chill
dren go out to Camp Bennett
every two weeks. One particular
child, he said, gained II pounds
during the brief time she was
there.
Ada Jean Bennett, his at.
tractive wife, who in addition
to her volunteer work for the
Central Union Mission, is prom.
inent in club and social work of
the city, established the Chill
dren's Emergency Home in 1917
when it became apparent that
there had to be some place
where children could be placed
temporarily without going through
the technicalities of organized
charity.
So with $3.50 cash "and the
confidence of Christian inSpira-
tion," words of Mr.. and Mrs.
Bennett-she rented an old
twelve-room house on c Street,
and the Children's Emergency
Home, under the auspices of the
Central Union Mission, was a
reality.
Then came the day when all the
dreams Of the couple were nearly
shattered. Both the old Mission
building and Mrs. BENEFITS cher
ished Emergency Home were con-
demned as fire hazards.
GIFT OF 100000
But at the moment when help
was most needed, a gift of 100000
was received from a Mrs. John j..
Duff, in memory of her dead sis
ter, Mary Farr Perry! The money
was to be used in establishing a
new children'S home.
Now, under the same roof with
the Central Union Mission, yet a
separate building, stands the pres.
ent Emergency Home for Children,
a fine, Seven-Story modern, brick
structure, where thousands Of chill
dren have found security and help
fulneSS.
Mr.. and Mrs. Bennett were re-
Gently in New York where they
attended the funeral of Thomas
j. Noonan, bishop" Of New York's
Chinatown. The bishop" left be-
quests Of $3.50 each to the Ben
netts in appreciation of a friend
ship extending over many years.
From his files, Mr.. Bennett
drew Q brief biography written by