A MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
was called at my house for prayer. There were thirteen members present. The object of the meeting was stated by President Wheeler, a few of God's promises read from His word, and we went on our knees for prayer.
Each one asked for a suitable home to do the Master's work as seen and done by the Gospel Mission. It was noticeable that after the eighth person had prayed, each prayer took more and more the form of thanksgiving, as if we already had received the building, or money to build it.
There had been offered to us a very large double building which had once been used as the District Building, and upon which it was claimed that the government of the United States had once put $60,000 to make it fireproof. It is situated at 214-216 John Marshall Place, N. W., not far from the foot of Capitol Hill. After having the distinct answer to prayer that God was working with us, a letter was written to Mrs. John Hay, wife of the deceased great Secretary of State, asking her to purchase that building for $25,000 for us and to permit us to pay her a fair interest and pay the principal in annual payments. The letter was written about the first of March. Almost by return mail Mrs. Hay replied that she did not care to make so large an investment, but if we cared to go forward and purchase the building ourselves, that on April 1 she would give us $5000 on the first payment. Never will I forget the scene when that letter was read.
Mr. H. D. Gordon had received the letter just as he was starting for the Board meeting, his face was radiant. When Mr. Wheeler came in the letter was put in his hands without comment. As soon as he read the words, “I will give you $5000 on the first payment,” without waiting to finish the letter, he said, “Let us pray.” We, on our knees, each one thanked God for the gift dictated by His Spirit, and asked God's blessing on the magnanimous woman who had obeyed the Spirit's order.
The Building Committee eventually secured the property for $22,000, of which $5000 was to be a cash payment, and by agreeing to pay $1750 annually, and to pay semi-annually a 5½ per cent interest.
Think of the growth in spiritual power of a little organization which in September, 1908, shuddered at a bill of $25, in the early spring of 1911 joyously making itself responsible for $17,000 bearing a semi-annual interest amounting in the year to $850!
Since that time we have made three annual payments of $1750 each, and we have met all interest to date.
Probably in no civilized country was there ever a dirtier house. The building had been occupied by some foreigners until it had become so vile that the police condemned it and obliged them to move out. They took with them all gas fixtures, all sewerage, heating and water pipes; in fact, wrecked the building, but a mission band is brave, and went valiantly to work.
More than one hundred wagon loads of dirt were taken from the cellars. We know, for we paid ten cents a load to the dump. When we had put in $100 in glass, it scarcely made a mark, so large is the building. It has sixty-six rooms, some of them as large as the chapel of an ordinary church.
The walls have been scraped and calcimined and whitewashed; the entire woodwork inside and all the outside has been painted; new gas pipes and gas fixtures have been placed; new sewerage and bath-rooms have been prepared. Four new fire-escapes and an electric fire-alarm system installed; a splendid French steel range has been set in the kitchen; hot and cold water supplied to various parts of the building, etc.
The first meeting was held in our new building, 216 John Marshall Place, N. W., on the evening of April 15, 1911, Mr. Wheeler presiding.
We found the roof leaked so badly that in case of storm some rooms became uninhabitable. Again I was obliged to personally guarantee the payment of $500 for a new roof. Again, Mr. Ernest Gichner came to my help. He put on a good roof, built up and pointed the thirteen chimneys, put ventilators in many chimneys, saw to resetting, reglazed all skylights, and permitted us to pay him $25 per month till the debt was paid off.
When the possibility of completing the first cleaning seemed most hopeless, when heat, water and gas pipes had to be replaced, several members of the Board pledged $100 each. To some of us that meant great self-denial. Mrs. Richard Butler gave $500 and Mrs. Spindle $200; in all we spent $5000 in repairing and cleaning that building. Every step was made in faith.
It was wonderful how our people sacrificed to get all this done; women who do not do such work at home came and scrubbed and cleaned; many a poor man gave a day's work. Three men who readily command $3 per day, worked three months each at $1 a day with room and board. The people of Washington sent us piles of old furniture, for which we were deeply grateful. Then Superintendent Kline got a great quantity of furniture and many feet of piping for conducting heat, and secondhand radiators at the sale of the old Riggs Hotel. We secured a good mechanic, and with our mechanics at the Mission, installed the heating plant. The expenses during that time were at least $200 per week. At our Board meeting one Tuesday, Treasurer Gordon reported $4.84 on hand. All business was stopped immediately and we went to prayer telling our Father that we had but $4.84 and the bills of the week would be due on Saturday. We had each of us done all we could afford. The following Tuesday the Treasurer reported all bills paid and $284 in the treasury. Thus God not only supplied all our wants, but graciously relieved our anxiety.