MEDICAL MISSIONARY OUTLOOK IN CHICAGO.
By David Paulson
THE expiration of the four-year lease on our large training-school building marks another epoch in the development of our Medical Missionary operations in Chicago. We are fortunate in having secured suitable headquarters in a commodious building on the corner of Cottage Grove Avenue and Thirty-third Place. This building is on the ground adjoining our Chicago Branch Sanitarium. It will add much to our convenience to have the headquarters of our medical missionary work in such close proximity to our Sanitarium work. In this building will be the maternity ward, and also medical and surgical wards, as well as temporary headquarters for our medical school, pending the erection of a permanent building for the Chicago end of this important enterprise. At the dedication of our old headquarters at 1926 Wabash Ave., four years ago, Sister Henry, with almost prophetic clearness, outlined the possibilities that were in store for the future of our medical missionary work in this dark and sin-cursed city. These years have certainly noted wonderful advancement in various lines. The Life Boat Mission had just then been opened in its present commodious quarters at 436 State St., which is within two blocks of one of the most active business centers that can be found in the United States. The good that this mission has accomplished, not only for those who have come there to be helped, but also for those who have gone there to help others, never will be and never can be written down in human records. Only eternity will be able properly to unfold the far-reaching results which have come from this gospel effort. This mission is, to-day, one of the best known in the city. It is crowded almost to the doors nearly every night of the week, and its audience is frequently composed largely of persons from the better classes, as well as from the more unfortunate strata of society. Gospel workers from other missionary enterprises in the city frequently visit it for the purpose of coming within the sphere of its inspiring influence, and also to speak a word of cheer and encouragement. It would hardly seem that any one who has ever attended one of these evening services could honestly raise the question, “Do you ever see any results?” It is the duty of the Christian Church to hold up a beacon light in these dark centers even if they see no results, but it is our fortune to see, night after night, definite results; and a goodly number of men and women are to-day rejoicing in the light of present truth as a result of this gospel effort. The Life Boat Rest for girls has cozy and home-like headquarters on South Clark Street, just adjoining a large Catholic church. Here a few faithful and loyal ones, in whose hearts God has planted an active love for their sisters, are working without any compensation, month after month. They are full of cheer, enthusiasm, and courage, grateful that the Lord has given them such an opportunity to labor even in a difficult corner of His vineyard. Perhaps the best evidence that could be cited to show how profoundly impressed the sin-stricken inhabitants of this dark portion of the city are with the Christian character of these workers, is the fact that in their errands of mercy into thousands of places where sin seems to triumph, they have never been spoken to disrespectfully except in one or two instances, and in each of these cases it was by some intoxicated person; and each time, some one instantly took their part. This shows what God in His providence does accomplish for those who are willing to sacrifice for the good of lost humanity. Young women are to-day living Christian lives in happy homes as a result of this work, and the interest and sympathy which have been awakened for our work in the minds of some of the best classes in the city can never be fully estimated. Another free dispensary will be opened in a few days in the thickly congested portion of South Halstead Street. This will plant another new center of our work in Chicago, and will furnish us an opportunity to reach a class of people who have so far scarcely come under the sphere of our influence. It will also furnish valuable medical and missionary opportunities for those of our students who assist at this place. For several years we have felt that we ought to have a good hygienic restaurant in this city, but various obstacles have hindered the opening of such an enterprise. However, this has undoubtedly been providential, for we should probably have established it in the business portion of the city, instead of establishing it, as we now have, almost within a stone’s throw of the University of Chicago. The interest in healthful living that has been manifested during the past year by some of the members of the faculty and by students of this great educational institution led us, a few weeks ago, to invite a number of representative educators and students from this school to a Sunday dinner, which we served at our branch sanitarium. Forty-four responded to this invitation. Among them were several of the leading educators of America. In his after-dinner speech, Professor Jackman, one of the deans of the school, extended an earnest invitation to us to establish near the University a restaurant that would represent sanitarium principles. The interest and enthusiasm which these educational people manifested convinced us that we must undertake this enterprise at once. We have met with special providences in securing a proper location and friendly co-operation, and by October the only pure-food restaurant in this great city of nearly two million inhabitants will be in operation. The rental of the rooms for this purpose will amount to forty dollars a month, to say nothing of all the expense necessary to their equipment. Are there not some readers of the REVIEW who would be willing to assume the entire responsibility of this rent for the first six months, or the entire year? Think of the missionary opportunities that are before us in coming in daily contact with several hundred of the best members of the faculty and the students. Several of our workers in Chicago have not only given their money, but have also given their work for an entire year, to assist in opening up new lines of work in this needy city, which contains more inhabitants than can be found in many of our States. Our large cities have been sadly neglected. They will soon be far more difficult to labor in than they are at present, and even now they present sufficient difficulties to discourage many. Our branch sanitarium at 28 Thirty-third Place has been well filled during the past year with a most excellent class of patients. A peculiar train of providences has so brought it about that many of the leading city officials have been among those who have come here for treatment, thus furnishing an unusual opportunity to present to them the real principles upon which we are conducting our work. For this privilege we shall undoubtedly be more thankful in the near future, when troubles thicken about us, than we can possibly be at present. We are thankful to be able to state that, although our work has now been in operation in Chicago for ten years, only two deaths have occurred among the hundreds of workers who have been here from time to time. The Life Boat still maintains its circulation at the ten-thousand mark, which is a matter of great encouragement to us, especially when we take into consideration that little effort has been made to extend its circulation. At the low price of twenty-five cents a year, its list could be easily doubled in a few months if our people would each select the name of some friend who would be benefited by this paper, and then donate him a year’s subscription. Our workers in this large city are of good courage, and appreciate the fact that they are being sustained by the prayers of God’s people throughout the world. DAVID PAULSON.