With great respect,
G. W. Wheeler, Chairman,
J. S. Mewshaw, Secretary,
H. D. Gordon, Treasurer,
Executive Committee.
These good men are at this writing (1913) yet connected with the work. Mr. Mewshaw is an employee of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and has charge of a station some distance from Washington, but contributes and comes with us occasionally. But no organization was ever more fortunate than the Gospel Mission in its officers.
TREASURER, MR. H. D. GORDON
is a prominent lawyer of the city. He really gives more time to the Mission than his business can afford. When we are under strain to make a payment on the building, he and Mr. Wheeler can go to their friends and raise $1000 more readily than the remainder of the Board can raise $100. They ask largely of their friends. The others of us ask for one dollar monthly contributions, and we each receive as we ask. Mr. Gordon's devotion cannot better be illustrated than by the following: Mr. Gordon is a most effective singer. I have heard many singing evangelists, but none with a finer pathos of voice than Mr. Gordon's. One evening in the fall of 1909, when each evening we were privileged to hold our outdoor meetings in front of the city post-office, I was passing on the street car when I saw Mr. Gordon with his guitar standing all alone, trying to sing salvation to some passing sinners. I found the tears coursing down my cheeks, so I got off at the next corner and went back to help him, but by that time other workers were on hand and it was less sacrifice for me to speak for him. I acknowledge here a mean pride (which the Lord has had to thrash out of me with many hard knocks) against speaking on the street. I have had to remember many times that Jesus was an outdoor preacher all His days, and all the Apostles, and who am I that I am ashamed to follow where He has led! But Brother Gordon can stand alone anywhere for Christ. He is greatly in demand in other cities as a successful evangelist.
I want to here bear testimony to the great good done by outdoor meetings. If all evangelical churches who believe in conversion and regeneration would hold their meetings outdoors in the summer, they would bring many souls, for which they will be held responsible, to Christ. If young people would hold alley meetings in the alley nearest their church they would bring sinners to Christ, there would be no slums and the young Christians would grow in grace.