The Hobo: The Sociology of the Homeless ManAnderson, Nels
General
The Hobo: The Sociology of the Homeless Man
Anderson, Nels
Chicago (Ill.) -- Social conditions; Tramps
The old songs are sung, songs with simple tune and words
as “He’s the Lily of the Valley.” Anyone hearing these
songs once can join in, and all are asked to do so, but
few respond. Yet it is inspiring to see some forlorn
looking bum concentrate on the little book and sing forth
earnestly, as some of them do. Very few, however, wish to
be saved. They are willing to attend the services, and
maybe to sing, but they will not volunteer to join the army
of God, and when personal solicitation is undertaken, few
remain in the room.
During warm weather the missions hold street meetings. Headed by
the mission band, the company marches outside to get the crowd.
A few songs are sung, several testimonials are given, and the
curbstone audience is invited to the hall.
Few mission workers are able to gather and hold a crowd on the
street. It is more difficult to preach on account of the noise of
passing street cars and automobiles. The crowd outside is less
stable and not so considerate as the indoor audience. Often the
meetings are disturbed by drunken men or by competing mission
groups on the same street. A mission band may not be able to
gather any crowd, even though hundreds of men are passing or
loafing on the streets. Sometimes their audiences will be stolen by
soap-boxers who start near by with the “economic arguments.”
PERMANENT, PERIODIC, AND TEMPORARY CONVERTS
Every mission has its permanent, periodic, and temporary converts;
its “alumni.” Some of these linger about the mission doing
odd jobs, others go to work or into business, only returning
occasionally to bear testimony. Many of these have prospered
both spiritually and materially, and assist the mission in its
work. Certain missions celebrate the “spiritual birthdays” of
these converts. A bouquet of flowers is placed on the pulpit
and a special program is arranged in honor of the occasion. The
anniversary of the conversion of a permanent convert is a time of
rejoicing. The “twice-born man” bears his testimony to the saving
power of the gospel that snatches “a brand from the burning,” and
asks the prayers of the saints that he may continue “faithful until
the end.” Each of the “saved” who are present wears a flower in the
lapel of his coat and takes advantage of the occasion to add his
testimony.
The following typical cases of converts were secured through
hearing the testimony of men in the missions and by later
interviews with each of the converts. The information given was
also verified by mission workers who knew the men.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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