USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > Brief report of the Church of the Brethren Mission, Chicago, Ill > Part 1
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BRIEF REPORT OF THE
Church of the Brethren Mission
1523-27 HASTINGS ST. CHICAGO, ILL.
November 1, 1914 to April 1, 1915
UNDER. DIRECTION OF
BETHANY BIBLE SCHOOL 3435 VAN BUREN STREET CHICAGO
Church of the Brethren Mission
FIVE MONTHS AT HASTINGS ST. MISSION
If you were to visit Chicago you would be in a city which, along many lines, ranks first in the world. You would be one of about two and one-half million souls, also one of about half a million who came or departed on the same day you joined the multitudes. The city is twenty-six miles long and from about six to fifteen miles wide. It is the largest stock, grain and lumber market in the world, also the largest agricultural manufacturing center. It's water system and library circulation are the largest and best in the world. The splendid elevated and surface car lines makes all parts easy of access for a five- cent fare.
Education, manufacturing, industry, art, science and all secular lines have been for- warded with 20th century zeal and earnest- ness, while moral and religious effort in the interest of the people's highest welfare have been coming on very much in the rear. This makes a very unbalanced situ- ation and one which should call forth much concern on the part of all Christian people.
Prosperity along secular lines, in the absence of a corresponding moral and re- ligious development, always tends toward degeneration and ruin. This is true of a nation, a state, a community, a city, as
well as of an individual. For hundreds of years London grew as Chicago has just begun, and recently a terrible struggle is on to elevate the slums, which, unmolested by Christian forces for centuries, have for- tified themselves against virtue, morality, or religion. The opportunity to avoid such a condition in this great city is ours. Now is the time to work the fields which are new and fresh and ready for harvesting. The churches and missions are few com- pared with the number of people. Whole sections of the city lie unchurched, whole colonies of foreigners, where missions should be established. These will be slums in the years to come, unless they are evangelized.
HASTINGS ST. CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
If you visit Hastings St., near Ashland Ave., you will find a small Church where the Brethren have been located for a num- ber of years. By the consecrated efforts of the faithful ones of the past some very effective work was done. They have laid the foundation upon which others are building today.
The seating capacity of the little Church is about two hundred. Adjoining the church is a small frame dwelling which has been the property of the Brethren for some time. In this and the church, three times during the week Jews are being taught; and Sunday School classes meet
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here on Sunday-also some sewing classes during the week. Some of the sisters who are assisting in the work live here also.
Ten public religious services are held each week for the spiritual needs of those with whom we have to work. Industrial and relief work is going on most of the time, besides much visiting in homes in Bible Classes, Prayer Meetings and Per- sonal Work.
Within the past year another small house just next to the one mentioned above has been purchased. The Pastor lives in this. In his basement is the place where the offerings which our friends have sent in, and those in need, whom the Lord sends to us for help, meet. This is called our Store-Room. Every corner of space is utilized for some purpose.
You will be interested to know just how the hundreds were helped in a physical way during the past months. At the be- ginning of the winter earnest prayers went to the Throne for wisdom, help and the means needed to do what the Lord or- dained as our task. Little did we know how necessary were those prayers. We did not realize how tremendous was the situation with which we were confronted. How blessed it is that we must walk by faith. As the days came and went they found us deeper and deeper in the work. Many times it was a great question what to do next.
Private appeals were made by students of Bethany and others to friends in the
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country for help. Money and provisions and clothing began coming from eleven states, and Canada. We had at one time nearly 550 dressed chickens, and barrels and boxes of other provisions for the poor. The question on the minds of many was, what we would do with such a quantity of goods, much of it perishable? When the distribution began the question on the minds of many was, where will we find enough to supply the demand? The need always was ahead of the supply.
For some years this work of helping the poor has been in progress. In the base- ment of the small building recently pur- chased, the draymen were instructed to leave the barrels, boxes and sacks which come from all parts of the country. As a result of the many who were reached on Thanksgiving, the news spread through the large community like wild-fire that there was a place on Hastings St. where those suffering from cold and hunger could find relief.
The small rivulet of people who had been coming for years became a river, whose tides have been surging against the door for months. Poor, ragged, hungry men, women and children were coming, day and night, with some of the most pitiable stories which human ear has ever heard. The Lord was sending the help from His saints and sending His poor to receive the same. This kept going continuously from Thanks- giving to Christmas, when it was evident that it was necessary to set apart a day
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for the distribution of help to the needy. Cards were printed announcing the time of all the Religious services and also that those who were in temporal need should come to the Mission on Monday. We had the addresses of many homes into which we sent a Christmas dinner accompanied by this announcement.
The Mondays especially will long be re- membered by those who have had the privilege of caring for this work and by those who were fortunate in receiving help. In the morning boxes, etc., which came in during the week were opened and the con- tents gotten in readiness for the work of the day. This is very interesting work, un- packing all these goods. Much of the clothing was new, while the second-hand goods showed much care and work in its appearance. The underwear, shoes, all kinds of children's clothing were especially in demand.
We are glad for the painstaking work of our Aid Societies and individuals which is very manifest from the contents of most of the boxes received. We had a young man who was recently baptized, along with some others, who was wishing for a Breth- ren suit. A suit came from a sister, who expressed an earnest desire that some worthy one might receive it. You would think a tailor had made it for the brother.
Some clothing, such as underwear, stock- ings, etc., and the groceries, were pur- chased at wholesale with the money re-
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ceived. The groceries consist of rice, flour, beans, potatoes, dried fruit, and other sub- stantial articles.
These are unpacked and measured into sacks and put on shelves ready for filling baskets. People are now waiting, each with their story: "Five months back with the rent," "coal box empty," "husband sick or without employment," "widows with large families." The pale, sallow look on the face, the frail, poverty-racked body, thinly clad without underwear and in sum- mer dresses, soleless shoes, thin scarf on their heads-all this and more than we cannot express in words was evidence that help was much needed. One family was without soap for a week; some burned the children's beds and others furniture to keep warm. A mother who was distracted be- cause of poverty took her small child and leaped into the river. The child was drowned, mother saved. A look of joy shone through all this miserable picture when some of the people would leave the base- ment with a basket of provisions on one arm and a child holding the other hand, with a bundle of clothes in its possession.
The work had not gone far until it was evident that we could not help all who came, and that some were more worthy and needy than others. The floors in the base- ment were in very poor condition, shelves were needed for the protection of the pro- visions, shoes needed repairing, boxes had to be opened and cut up for wood and other repair work in the other buildings.
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People who came were asked if they were willing to work in part payment for what they received. This was the first and best way to test and select the worthy ones.
Second-hand lumber was purchased at reduced prices. One man who was with- out work was a shoemaker. He repaired shoes and earned groceries and provisions for his family. Some men were carpenters; they put new floors in the basement. A large box with partitions was made by one, in which we keep scriptures, tracts, etc., to send along with the temporal dona- tion.
The rooms in all three buildings needed cleaning, paint and paper. Under the di- rection of a painter who donated most of his time and skill a corps of men repapered and cleaned the three buildings. Women were given washing, ironing and cleaning which had to be left undone by our sisters who were caring for the spiritual and tem- poral needs of the poor. There is now a wood yard in the rear where we can give wood cutting to men who are willing and able to work in part pay for what they re- ceive. 1 Those who came and would not work, by their own attitude helped to de- cide just what should be done for them. The experiences of life teach one that there is a class of people who will not work if they can live on charity.
Over a thousand dollars in cash, and in value more than that much clothing
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and produce, all donated to the Mission, went through that basement in the past five months.
The sick, widows who had all they could do with the cares at home, were looked after to the best of our ability without anything in return.
One Saturday afternoon during a snow- storm a young man came to us very much in need of help. His general appearance was good. Enough help was given to tide him over Sunday and an invitation to come and work on Monday. He was very faith- ful about all his work and regular in at- tendance at the religious services. Just recently he has secured permanent employ- ment and is very appreciative of what has been done for him. A number we are reaching and following in this way.
The interior of the buildings are bright and clean, . walks around them repaired, many have been fed and clothed and many helped in religious ways. All who have helped to arrange and distribute the pro- visions have had much joy, and those who have made all this possible through the grace of giving have joy and a reward awaiting. Those who have had fellowship with the workers here in the work of the Lord.
All this physical ministration has made religious opportunities almost un- limited. Men who have been drunkards have been given employment and under good environment have gotten new visions
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of life. Men who are honest and have been out of work have, while associating with religious people, seen new ideals of life. Children who have been clothed and fed are open and ready to be interested in Sunday School. "Whom shall we send? Who will have fellowship with us in help- ing to support workers to care for these pressing needs?"
Our Sunday School is now overflowing into the basement of the church, into the kitchen and bedrooms of our workers. We have ground for a larger building. Homes by the score are open for spiritual help and pastoral work. More helpers are needed to enter these fields. We have the work- ers if we can secure their support. They will rejoice for just the necessities of life- just a living.
We are eager to continue this great work of helping the poor. Our fund for this is about exhausted. Many do not know how to live, how to work or manage a home. We will be able to teach them these things.
This little report is sent to inform all who have helped just what disposition was made of their offering, how your money was spent, and to tell you of other oppor- tunities to carry on the work. We ask for your continued fellowship in the work.
The report is also a testimony to what can be accomplished when those who have means join hands with those who will give their strength and time directly to the work.
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The work is under the direction of Beth- any Bible School, whose students have the privilege of studying and exercising in the work, in open air services, public speaking, teaching, home visiting, etc. It is the prayer of the management to establish a work here, where the many who come for Bible study, may get experience along all lines of Christian activity, better qualify- ing them for their life's work at home and abroad.
The need will be enough house room to accommodate the work, and a few sup- ported, trained workers as leaders in the various lines. The students can thus get their practical training under efficient leadership.
Shall we as Christians have as much zeal as those in secular life, and with united effort by the help of the Lord advance the Force which should lead instead of being in arrears, as it now seems to be? Shall we permeate all this temporal growth with the Gospel which shall destroy the evil before it is fortified? Shall we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick, release the captives, open the eyes of the blind, set at liberty those who are bound, and preach the Gospel to the poor?
Shall we continue our fellowship in the work of the Lord, in the advancement of His Kingdom, the Salvation of souls for whom Christ died, and hasten the coming of our Lord Jesus when His will shall be done on earth as in Heaven?
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SUMMARY OF GOODS AND FINANCES RECEIVED AND DISTRIBUTED DURING FIVE WINTER MONTHS
O
Chickens. All donated 589
Meat. Part donated .
190 Lbs.
Lard
66
45
Butter 66
520
Noodles. All donated 210
66
Dried Apples. All donated. . 50
66
Prunes. All purchased . 300
150
66
Apricots
60
80
Nectarines 66
100
66
Dried Corn.
All donated 50
66
Beans. Part donated 540
Rice. All donated .
930
Flour. Part donated .
810
Oatmeal. All purchased
110
Cornmeal 66 66
200
66
Hominy
66
70
Sugar 66
·
223
66
Coffee
10
Potatoes.
Part donated
33
Bu.
Sweet Potatoes
66
4
Apples
66
19
·
·
11
·
. 50
Raisins 66
Peaches
.
66
Nuts 66
50 Lbs.
Candy
66 50
66
Bread. All purchased .
175 Loaves
Large Cakes. All donated. 40
Cookies 66
100 Doz.
Pop Corn. Part donated. 1 Bu.
Jellies, etc. All donated . 40 Glasses
Canned Fruit "
110 Quarts
Dolls, Scrap Books, etc., donated. Cloth-
ing, number of articles-thousands. Cash donations, $1,100.
Money used to purchase clothing and pro- visions which were not donated.
Address all communications to the Mission, as well as all clothing and provisions.
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