NOTES FROM OUR HELPING HAND MISSION.
[BRETHREN B. F. RICHARDS AND G. W. REASER IN CHARGE.] On the evening of April the 10th, a man was knocked down in front of the Mission, the object of the one who made the assault being robbery, but he was foiled in his purpose. The same night a Chinaman got into an altercation near the Mission, and with a dagger attempted to commit murder, but by the interposition of the bystanders, was prevented from plunging the deadly weapon into the body of his fellow-man. Not far from the same date, as we were leaving the Mission after the evening service, we heard the rattle of a policeman’s club on the stone pavement, on the opposite side of the street, and on looking around to ascertain the cause, saw a man running as fast as he could, and a policeman in hot pursuit. These incidents, and many more that might be related, are evidence of the need of the Mission, and also of the fact that the Lord directed in the matter of securing the buildings which are occupied by the Mission, in this particular location. It is one of Satan’s vineyards. There is as much need of work in the locality of the Mission, for fallen women as there is for fallen men; for it is observed12that, altho we do not see many of the former class on the streets during the day, nor during the early part of the night, yet from midnight onward till the dawn of day, there are many women of the lowest type out on the streets, some of them staggering under the influence of liquor, and fully demonstrating the depths to which they have fallen, by engaging in street fights, and in the use of such vile language as would seem impossible to come from the lips of womankind. We are glad that a home has been established by the Mission board for the purpose of saving some of these, “as brands from the burning.” Notwithstanding the fact that we are located in the midst of so much sin, confusion, and outbreaking crime, it is a subject of remark by many who visit the Mission that throughout the entire building there is an atmosphere of peace and quiet. One man, an unbeliever, said that the tranquillity of the home did not seem like hypnotism, but was to him an unexplainable influence. Truly “the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, . . . neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” A man with a powerful physique, made the following statement in a recent meeting: “I am satisfied that you have a power with you that I haven’t got, and I want it. I have given myself to the Lord to-night.” We are glad to have men see and acknowledge that God is the source of power, and that the Gospel “is the power of God unto salvation, to every one that believeth.” The same evening another said: “There is something that my heart longs for that I haven’t got. I think it is Jesus that my soul is longing for. I’ve come to-night to give my heart to Him.” Two other of the new converts gave the following testimonies: “I praise God, not only for His saving power, but also for His keeping power.” “I praise God for His saving power. I’m a sinner saved by grace.” In order to supply the demand for sleeping accommodations, we have recently added forty more beds, so that we now have 140 beds in which weary men can rest. The work is the Lord’s, the power is His, we are His, and to Him we give the glory for all that is done, and praise Him for the privilege of being connected with the work of saving souls.