MISSION hALL ON THE CORNER OF WEST AND THIRD STREETS , FEATURED ON THE COUNCIL’S OWN HERITAGE WALK, IS LISTED FOR DEMOLITION WITHOUT PUBLIC CONSULTATION.
Extract from The Advertiser 1909:
“ BROMPTON MISSION.
THE MCBRIDE MISSION HALL,
FOUNDATION STONE LAID.
Some time ago Mr. H. G. H. Piening bought a block ot land facing Third-street Brompton, having a frontage of 50 ft with a depth of 18O ft., on which a hall was built for a boys' club. He has secured the adjoining piece of land, 130 ft. by 100 ft., on the corner of Third-street and West-street, and through the generosity of Mr. J. McBride, who gave a donation of £600, he has started to build a hail for a girls' club. The inside measurements are 50 x 35 x 16, with a rostrum 6 x 17.
A class-room, 20 x 10, a lavatory, and a bathroom are provided, tbe cost of the land was £106, and when the building is completed the total, inclusive of land, will be £688. Messrs. Cowle and Cowle are the architects, and Mr. T. Iseley the contractor. The foundation stone was laid on Wednesday afternoon by Mrs. J. McBride.
The Rev. W. A. Langsford said the Mayor of Hindmarsh, for some reason
known to himself and possibly to those present, had not attended, and in conse- quence Mr. Piening had asked him to preside. It was out of respect for Mr. and Mrs. McBride that he had consented to do so. Mr. McBride was noted for his liberality, and was always ready to help any good cause. The gift wouid be used beneficially for those for whom it was intended, and they all had good wishes for tlie mission and the girls who would have the use of the hall. Mr. Piening had done good work in the past, and wanted a wider scope for his efforts, and he de- sired to benefit tne girls as well as the boys. He wished him every suceess.
Mr. Piening reported that it was five years since tae Girls' Guild was started in a small hall in connection with the Sisters' Home. Its purpose until some 12 months ago was to teach the girls singing,, elocution, and Bible study. During the past year the girls had had one night a week set aside in the boys' ball for in- struction in mass work and gymnasium exercises, and as they were growing into young women, with 30 on the roll, it was necessary that they should have a hall of their own. With that object in view he wrote to Mr. J. McBride, who, with his wife, had visited the neighborhood, with the result that Mr. McBride had given £600. which practically was enough to pay for the building. The extra amounts re
quired were necessary to make it suitable or tlie giris. The first and foremost aim was spiritual and moral training, and practically all the girls had decided for Christ. Other things taught were gymnasium and dumbbell exercises, sewing, cooking, and millinery. For these different departments teachers had volunteered their services. He felt that this training would better equip the girls for future life. At present the girls met on Monday evenings, and were instructed bv Mr. L. N. Gooden, and on Tuesday evening Mr. VV. T. Davis was the teacher in singing. The trustees' were Messrs. Peter Wood, W. C. Hooper, and himself. He said the trustees felt it incumbent to ask Mrs. McBride to lay the foundation stone, and she had consented to do so. The inscription on the silver trowel was, "Presented to Mrs. J. McBride by the trustees of the Brompton Mission Girls' Club, 1909."
Mrs. McBride laid the stone, and gave the girls some good advice. Miss Dorothy Piening presented Mrs. McBride with a bouquet.
Mr. Peter Wood, in moving a vote of thanks to Mr. and Mrs. McBride, said they were worthy citizens and charitably disposed. When written to for help Mr. McBride did not place the letter m the waste-paper basket, but he brought down his wife with him, so that tbey could spy out the land for themselves. Mr. McBrido had seen that there was room for good work. He would say that Mr. McBride had succeeded bv enterprise, and recognised the great responsibilities that rested on him. He was a faithful steward, and felt that it was a pleasure as well as a privilege to give for the benefit of others. He exhorted those in the neighborhood to assist in the mission.
Mr. W. Auguetil seconded, and said it augured well for the future of the Girls'
Club that it had friends like Mr. and Mrs. McBride. The motion was carried.
In reply Mr. McBride said he was not a public speaker, and he was not ashamed to say that there was a time when he could not have done what he had done for the mission. For the past 30 or 40 years he had been giving, and the more he gave away the more he got.
Mr. Langsford-That's encouraging for us.
Mr. McBride said he hoped God would bless that day's work, and that many would live to enjoy service in that hall.
At the insistance of Messrs. W. C. Hooper and W. G. S. Richardson, the other donors were thanked. The sum of £8 15/ was laid on the foundation stone.
THE ANNUÂL MEETING.
The annual meeting of the Brompton Mission was held in the Boys' Club hall, | Third-street. Brompton, on Wednesdayj evening. Mr. W .C. Cooper presided. The sixth report, presented by Mr Piening, showed that the mission has
numerous active workers. The sisters made 610 visits to the homes of the sick and poor and many visits to the hospitals. Temperance meetings in connection with the mssion were always largely attended, mid many useful articles were sent to the Pooni Mission in India. Useful work had been done by the Girls' Guild during the year. The guild has a roll-call of 30. The Sunday morning open-air meetings were carricd on under the leadership of Mr Swcnnson in connection with the workers' band. The work of the band was made much easier by the assistance of Mr. W. J. McBride and à gift of a portable organ by Messrs. S. Marshall and Sons. The result of these meetings -was that 36 signed the Pocket Testament league card, promising to read a portion of Scripture every day. During the year l8 conversions among the young men and women were made. Among the poor of the neghborhood were distributed about seven tons of fruit and one ton of vegetables, besides numerous gifts of meat, flour, wood. eggs, groceries, and clothing. The receipts amounted to £98, which had all been expended.
An address was delivered by Mr. .J. E. Delehanty. A good programrae was carried out by the Girls' Guild.”
The Advertiser Thursday 9 December 1909
