CORRESPONDENCE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 145, 21 June 1909, Page 8

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE HOMELESS. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Will you kindly give me space for a few lines about the homeless and half-starved in Wellington ? Last Saturday night I was at a small missiou in Taranaki-street. The door is open every night in the week for the poor and needy, and they get a hearty welcome ; also help as far as funds will allow. But, best of all, they hear the story of the Christian life from plain men and women, and many believe it and enter upon a new life. Last Saturday night five men came out to be prayed with j three of them professed to be saved-. But the sad par. l, was we found out that they had no home to go to. We asked them to come to the free breakfast on Sunday in the same hall. They were asked where they would sleep that night. "Oh, we will just have to keep on the move," was the reply. 1 took them up to the Army Hotel in Bucklestreet. I asked for three beds. "No room" was the answer; "all taken up by 7.30 to-night." I pleaded for the men, who were standing by my side, but the officer in charge could do no more. The men were very grateful, and thanked me for my trouble. As we stood at the door the Post Office clock struck 10 p.m. I w-as ou my way to my happy and comfortable home, but there they were — homeless. I could not but give them something to try and find a bed somewhere, but it was, I fear, too late then. I called at the hall this morning to see if they had turned up to the free breakfast. They were there all right, and twenty-two more men with them. They had by that time (10 a.m.) all bee^ well cared for. This, it must be confessed, is good Christian work. And as I listened in church that day to my good minister speaking about the evidences of being saved, I could not help but think that one strong evideiice was wanting —viz., our Christian care' for the poor and homeless. The present time is a great opportunity for our wealthy churches to do something *or the homeless, as I am sure we need the poor to save us from our selfishness quite as much as the poor need us to save them from the pinch of hunger, just as the rich man needed Lazarus, the begger, whq lay at his gate to save him from his selfishnes. but he missed his chance. How shall we escape if we neglect ? Will some one answer ? —I am, CHURCHGOER.