REACHING MEN'S HEARTS.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4574, 1 September 1883, Page 4

REACHING MEN'S HEARTS.

A tall, stout man, with beetling brows, keen black eyes, and mutton chop whiskers white as snow, walked into the open space in front of the Roosevelt street ferry house. He was in fashionable dress, with a shining new silk hat and kid gloves. Following him were roughly dressed men bearing a bench, a hugh bread basket, and an immense red can with a brass cover, which glittered in the sun. A crowd of men gathered quickly round the group. Some were dirty and nearly all were ragged. '7

"Now, form into line !" the stout man shouted with heavy voice, and slowly and awkardly the*men shuffled into an irregular body extending for some distance along the street. - The line was formed ana a basketful of cups and saucers was produced and set out upon the bench. Then two men were selected to fill the cups witL hot coffee from the can and serve it along the line. The stout man filled his arms with* bread, and, advancing, offered a half loaf to each man. All took a piece, and many gnawed it eagerly as if they were hungry. Policemen kept the increasing crowd in order. A throng of spectators gathered. A group of richly-dressed young women pressed through the line and gazed with curious eyes on the men who stood with coffee and bread in their hands. The stout man them silently for a moment and shrugged his shoulders.

"Give those ladies some bread and coffee," he said.

The speaker was Dr. J. W.Kennion,of Christ's Cleft Mission, Brookyln. " This is the opening day of our eight year," he said to a reporter. ''We now have nine stations in New York and Sychar Mission in Brooklyn. We have Sunday services similar to these on pleasant Sundays during the summer, at, Catharine Ferry and at Five Points, and I preach every evening in the week. I aim to reach men's hearts by combining eleemosynary, temporal, sanitary and cleansing efforts with the preaching, of the Gospel in the highways and hedges. I found situations last year for 317 of these idlers and tramps. An organ and a choir will assist us at our meetings dnring the summer." The young woman turned scarlet and walked rapidly away. Then the can was empty and the last piece ef bread had disappeared the stout man said:

•• Now that is all. Next Sunday, at 2 o'clock, we shall hsve hot coffee and a double supply of Jirrs-class sandwiches. There will be some talking afterward. Physical bread and the bread of life all at once/ ■■■■■'. ':.'■■■-'■'■. ■■■■■;■■ y'