The Workingmen's Home in Chicago
By David Paulson
THE Workingmen's Home is one of the oldest of our Chicago institutions, and through it thousands of men have become acquainted with our work and with the principles we advocate. The idea of the Workingmen's Home was God-given, and some who were influenced by purely worldly motives have been quick to see and adopt these principles. This institution has the best facilities in Chicago for men to wash their own clothes or to have them fumigated, and there is no other place in the city where it is possible to obtain so satisfying a hygienic meal for a few pennies. For several years this institution has been self-supporting, paying all its help, and most of the time the salary of a chaplain. It would be difficult to conceive of a better opportunity for substantial, all-round, Christian men than may be obtained in this work—in helping to carry its responsibilities, and assisting in its extension as the way may open. The majority of those who have come here with a desire to connect with the Workingmen's Home have been without any business experience, or were in ill health, or otherwise incapacitated for bearing burdens in this part of the work. We are earnestly asking God to put it into the hearts of capable and efficient men to come and do hard, thoroughgoing work for God in this institution. We feel that it is not right to do as we have been compelled to do for some time in the past—employ men of the world in some of the departments of this institution. It is impossible to maintain a missionary spirit in the work without missionary workers. A few months ago a good brother left a successful business in one of the northwestern States, and connected with this work. He is now filling an important place. We are in need of four or five others like him,—men who are not afraid of hard work,—men who are missionaries to such an extent that they can love the unlovely,—men who do not lose heart and interest in the work as soon as the novelty of it wears off,—men who are missionaries seven days in the week, the entire year round. It would be difficult to imagine a broader field of usefulness than can be found for half a dozen men of this kind in the Workingmen's Home. Not only could they earn their expenses, but they could earn a moderate salary as well, and also gain an experience which would enable them to found similar missionary enterprises in other portions of the earth. Shall we not hear from some one in regard to this matter at once? In order to fill these places acceptably, it is not necessary to possess an ability to preach or to be a State canvassing agent. From a recent Sunday issue of one of Chicago's largest dailies, among other good things spoken of this institution, we quote the following:— “A workingman in Chicago can live and enjoy all the necessaries of life for twenty-five cents a day, with the attention of a nurse and a physician thrown in, if he happens to be a little under the weather. For this insignificant sum, he cannot sleep on box springs, nor eat fried chicken every day for dinner; but he can obtain good, comfortable lodging, and wholesome food served in a tempting manner.18 “This cheap living is possible at the Workingmen's Home, located at 1341 State Street, in the heart of the district where evidences of poverty are to be seen at every turn. The home is conducted under the auspices of the American Medical Missionary Association, and its popularity is shown by the fact that the number of lodgers averages more than two hundred nightly. “The price of a night's lodging at the home for workingmen is ten cents, and the bed is in reality one of the smaller considerations of the modest outlay. In the first place, a guest in this low-priced hotel must take a bath before retiring; then, if he chooses to do so, he may place his clothes in a fumigating room, and have them thoroughly disinfected before he gets up on the following morning. Then he goes to sleep in a warm and comfortable room, and enjoys all sorts of conveniences, on a more modest scale, perhaps, than those in larger and higher-priced hotels, but nevertheless meeting all of his requirements. “In the morning after he arises, he is given a check entitling him to the use of the wash room, where he may cleanse and dry his shirt and underclothing, and goes away from the place presenting a changed appearance. “This is not all a lodger gets for his ten cents. If he is ill when he enters the home, or is taken sick while an inmate, he is treated by physicians, and has the attention of nurses who visit the place every day, making the rounds of those inmates who are suffering from some ailment. “In connection with the home, a vegetarian lunch counter is operated, and the prices on the bill of fare are so low that a man can obtain a good, wholesome breakfast for five cents. For this amount he can have two boiled eggs, rolls, and coffee (caramel cereal). For lunch he can get a bowl of soup for a cent, different kinds of sauce for one cent each, milk for a penny a glass, and other articles equally reasonable. “A man's meals for the entire day need not cost him more than fifteen cents, and for twenty-five cents he can live comparatively well. The number of patrons of the place average over six thousand a month. “As a money-making proposition the home is not a success, but it is operated in the name of charity, and the financial end is therefore a secondary consideration.” This expression in regard to the work of the home was entirely unsolicited, but it shows the public sentiment concerning this institution. We feel that its usefulness will be increased fully one hundred per cent if a number of self-sacrificing, earnest men will assist Brother Williamson in developing its possibilities. We should be glad to open up correspondence with some one in reference to this immediately. Address me at 28 Thirty-third Place.