Report of the Hospitality Committee Ecu me nical ***» I, - r . [r ri —1 rr n 'I “ J< * Confere nee on Foreign Missions New York April 2i - May i, 1900 / REPORT OF THE Hospitality Committee ECUMENICAL CONFERENCE ON FOREIGN MISSIONS : : : : New York, April 21 - May 1, 1900 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2019 with funding from Columbia University Libraries . -* tx * . J https://archive.org/details/reportofhospitalOOecum / New York, May 9 , 1900 . TO THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: The Hospitality Committee herewith presents a state¬ ment of its work in connection with the Ecumenical Conference. Special acknowledgments are due to the Vice-Chair¬ man and. other members of the Advisory Council, to the ladies of the Tea Committee, to the office assistants, and to many others who freely gave time and strength to the work of the Committee. In the labors incident to our duties as hosts of the three thousand delegates, missionaries and visitors, the Chairman sought the co-operation of more than a hundred men and women of all denominations, and save where illness or other unavoidable cause prevented, the response was so gen¬ erous and cordial as to give him an abundance of support. If our guests were satisfactorily entertained, large credit should be given to the working members of the Committee. The work of the Committee was three-fold: L ENTERTAINMENT* A sub-committee was appointed for each denomina¬ tion, and was requested to find free entertainment for the foreign delegates and foreign missionaries of its own and related bodies. These Committees did their work with admirable energy and success, securing free entertainment for 721 persons. The best houses in New York were hospitably opened to the Committee, while many people who were so situated that they could not entertain in their homes, gladly gave money to entertain guests in hotels or boarding-houses. At the outset we were told that free entertainment could not be secured in New York for strangers who were to stay nearly two weeks. But the Committee was ena¬ bled to provide hospitality for all the foreign delegates and for all the foreign missionaries and their wives. At no time were its resources taxed, and at any time it could easily have cared for more. Indeed, our chief embarrassment lay in the fact that some delegates whom we had assigned to homes did not report to us at all or preferred to care for themselves at hotels, so that in several instances hostesses who had anticipated the pleasure of entertaining were disappointed by the non-arrival of their expected guests. Delegates from the United States and Canada paid their own expenses, but the Committee found places for them whenever desired, and in all respects, except the payment of bills, showed them the same courtesy and co-operation as the foreign delegates. Accommodations, usually at reduced rates, were secured for 2,000 persons in hotels and for 1,000 in boarding-houses. This part of the work alone involved not only considerable correspondence, but the personal visitation of over three hundred houses. The Committee also arranged with restaurants in the imme¬ diate neighborhood of Carnegie Hall to provide luncheon and dinner for about 1,000 persons daily at the moder¬ ate cost of twenty-five to thirty-five cents for each meal. 4 The rates at hotels varied from $1.50 to $5.00 per day on the American plan, and from $.50 to $3.00 per day on the European plan, the average being about $2.50 and $1.00 respectively. The rates at boarding-houses varied from $5.00 to $12 50 per week, the average being about $9.00. Delegates were ordinarily assigned to places at about the average rate, except where they requested cheaper or more expensive accommodations. Save in a few cases, where there were special reasons for going to the Borough of Brooklyn or to a suburb, they were placed between Eleventh and Eighty-third Streets in the Bor¬ ough of Manhattan, as many as possible being located near Carnegie Hall. The Committee wrote in advance to each delegate and missionary, explaining its plans regarding him, and requesting on an enclosed blank form the information which would enable it to comply with his wishes. On the basis of the replies, a card catalogue was formed and the assignments made. We dare not assume that in every case the assignments were satisfactory. It was not easy to distribute so many people from all parts of the world, and whose personal tastes were of course unknown, among hundreds of homes, hotels and board¬ ing-houses. The average delegate wished to be “ near Carnegie Hall,” while the typical hostess had a pardon¬ able desire to be assured in advance that her guest would be “an angel unawares.” The difficulty in mak¬ ing intelligent assignments was thus so great that un¬ doubtedly some mistakes were made. In these circumstances we have highly appreciated the delicate courtesy of our guests. Not one made 5 us trouble ; not one asked unreasonable things. Every¬ one, so far as we know, refrained from criticism even where criticism would have been justified. Without exception, we found our visitors men and women whom it was a privilege to serve and whose kindness afforded us ample compensation for our labors. Many letters were received from those who wished to attend the Conference as visitors. All were promptly answered, and the Committee endeavored to do every¬ thing in its power to serve the convenience of friends who manifested their interest by coming to the Con¬ ference. The whole correspondence of the Committee has been very large. As many as 215 letters have been received at a single delivery, while the mail sent out aggregated tens of thousands of pieces. IL INFORMATION* While delegates and missionaries who were known to be coming were assigned to their places of entertain¬ ment before their arrival, they were not as a rule noti¬ fied in advance where their assignments were to be. This was partly because they were journeying to New York from all parts of the world, so that in many cases assignment cards could not have reached them before they left their homes, partly because every mail brought announcements of altered plans and partly be¬ cause daily changes had to be made in our list of places, as some boarding-houses were filled and others vacated, and as domestic emergencies recalled offers of 6 homes. Save in special cases, therefore, the Committee reserved announcements until arrival in order that it might be able to avoid blocking some places with people who did not come, and sending those who did come to hosts who could not receive them. Delegates were therefore requested to report on their arrival at the headquarters of the Hospitality Committee. To aid them in this, attendants with conspicuous badges met all trains and steamers, so that no one might have difficulty in knowing where to go. At Carnegie Hall, the headquarters of the Commit¬ tee were opened in the large Banquet Hall on the first floor. Separate tables, suitably designated, were pro¬ vided for each class of delegates and visitors. Each delegate could find at the proper table his assignment card already made out. A guide book of the city was given him, pages were ready to assist him in finding his place of assignment, while a fully equipped infor¬ mation bureau, with several attendants, was prepared for all questioners. There were also a pay telephone station and a stenographer and typewriter for the free use of the delegates. Sub-committees of prominent men took turns in superintending this room, so that hosts were in evidence from 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. throughout the Conference. The Committee also secured the two handsomely furnished reception rooms on the second door, with the two adjoining toilet rooms and two check rooms. Em¬ ployed attendants were in charge of the toilet and check rooms, while sub-committees of ladies alternated as hostesses in the reception rooms and each afternoon served tea. These teas proved to be a delightful 7 feature of the hospitality and were greatly enjoyed by the hundreds who daily thronged the parlors. Tables and stationery were provided, so that delegates could use these rooms to write their letters, read their mail, meet their friends, etc. The city Postmaster very kindly complied with the request of the Committee by establishing two post- offices in the building, so that all mail could be sent directly to and from the Conference. The following figures show the magnitude of this work : Amount of mail handled, 55,000 pieces ; distributed, 40,000 ; re¬ directed, 10,000 ; unclaimed, 5,000 ; stamps sold, $311.17 ; number of men employed, 6 ; hours open to the public, 8 A. M. to 10 P. M. IIL SOCIAL FUNCTIONS* Realizing that the delegates were our guests, the Committee had pleasure in arranging a National Wel¬ come Meeting on the evening of the opening day. Mr. Morris K. Jesup, President of the Chamber of Com¬ merce of New York, presided; prayer was offered by the Right Rev. Henry C. Potter, D.D., LL.D., Bishop of New York; addresses of welcome were delivered on behalf of the nation by the President of the United States, and on behalf of the State by the Governor of New York. Response was made on behalf of the Con¬ ference by the Hon. Benjamin Harrison, Honorary President of the Conference and ex-President of the United States. Engraved invitations were sent to dele¬ gates, missionaries, honorary members, members of 8 committees, city officials, leading clergymen and mis¬ sionary workers. The Committee also assisted in arranging, through various private organizations and individuals, for most of the following receptions, dinners and luncheons: A reception by the Congregational Club of Brooklyn, at the Pouch Mansion, April 23, at 5.30 p.m. A reception by the Presbyterian Social Union of Hew York, at the Hotel Savoy, April 23, at 8.30 p.m. An afternoon tea by Mrs. John S. Kennedy, at her home, April 25, at 4.00 p.m. A dinner by the Methodist Social Union of Hew York, at the Hotel Savoy, April 27, at 8.00 p.m. A reception by a Committee of the Society of Friends, at the Meeting House, April 27, at 8.00 p.m. A luncheon by the Congregationalists of Yew York at the Hotel Marlborough, April 28, at 12.30 p.m. A dinner by the Presbyterian Union of the Oranges, at the Essex County Country Club, Orange, April 30, at 7.00 p.m. A luncheon by the International Medical Missionary Society, for medical missionaries, at Calvary Baptist Church, April 30, at 1.00 P.M. A luncheon by the Hew York Juvenile Asylum, May 2, at 1 p.m. A reception by the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, in the Presbyterian Building, May 2, at 3.00 P.M. A dinner by the Baptist Social Union of Hew York, at the Hotel Manhattan, May 2, at 7.00 p.m. A dinner by the Lutherans of Hew York, at the Hotel Savoy, April 28, at 8. p.m. 9 A reception by the British and Colonial residents of New York to the British and Colonial delegates and missionaries, at Sherry’s, April 30, at 8 p.m. Several other receptions were given which were not reported to the Committee, while the American Museum of Natural History, and the rooms of the Church Club (Episcopal) and of the Methodist, Presbyterian and Re¬ formed Boards were cordially opened to delegates and missionaries throughout the Conference. The attend¬ ance at the receptions, dinners and luncheons ranged from 100 to 800, and the invitations were so distributed that each delegate and missionary was expected at one or more of these functions. These social events afforded opportunity for reunions of friends and for personal acquaintance with fellow delegates and the Christian people of New York and its vicinity, which made them of great value to the Conference and of marked enjoy¬ ment to our guests. None involved any expense to the Committee. EXPENSES. When the Finance Committee first asked for an esti¬ mate of the expenses of the Hospitality Committee, it was impossible to tell how much free entertainment could be secured. The original estimates of the Com¬ mittee were therefore large, as it was deemed prudent to be on the safe side, and risk a surplus rather than a deficit. Accordingly we replied: “ The expenses of the Committee for clerical assist¬ ance, printing, postage, Information Bureau, attend- 10 ants, guide books, and other business will probably be about $2,000. “ If we must send the foreign delegates and foreign missionaries to hotels and boarding-houses, the cost will be approximately $15,000—500 delegates for thirteen days—and a total for all purposes of $17,000. It is hoped, however, that many of our citizens will welcome these visitors to their homes, and that others who cannot do this will pay for the entertainment of a delegate at a hotel. The Hospitality Committee is making a diligent canvass for this purpose, and it will call upon the Finance Committee for only such portion of the above estimate as the result of the can¬ vass may necessitate.” While, however, this provision was suggested as a protection against emergencies, the Committee steadily labored to meet its own responsibilities, in the hope that the hospitality of New York would prove amply adequate to the demands of the Conference. This hope has been more than realized. It is impossible to state in precise terms the contributions for entertain¬ ment purposes, for the reason that in some cases the money was not turned into our treasury, but was directly paid to the hotels by the givers. One whole denominational sub-committee preferred to care for its own representatives in this way. But the main facts are quite clear. Shortly before the opening of the Conference our plans were so far advanced that we were able to notify the Finance Committee that the original estimate of $17,000 for the Hospitality Committee fund could be safely reduced to $3,500. 11 We now have pleasure in reporting that the Hospital¬ ity Committee itself raised and turned over to the treasurer of the Finance Committee, exclusive of the sums paid directly to hotels and boarding-houses by the givers, as explained above, the sum of $7,527.15. Though the Hospitality Committee provided free en¬ tertainment for 721 persons instead of 500, so far from requiring $15,000 to supplement home entertain¬ ment, we used only $2,653.33. The Hospitality Com¬ mittee has therefore been able to refund to the Finance Committee all the sums drawn for the maintenance of its large work and correspondence through a period of many months, to pay the bills of all the delegates and missionaries who were entertained in hotels and board¬ ing-houses, and to leave with the Finance Committee a surplus of over $3,000. A few reports yet to be received may slightly change the exact figures, but they will not affect the funda¬ mental fact that the Committee has carried its own responsibilities and turned over a considerable balance to the general fund. We now close our work, not with the feeling that our task was arduous, hut with gratitude for the oppor¬ tunity of performing a duty which has brought such rich compensations that it has been a privilege and a delight. Kespectfully submitted for the Hospitality Committee, Arthur J. Brown, Chairman. 12 THE HOSPITALITY COMMITTEE. Rev. Arthur J. Brown, D.D., Chairman . Mornay Williams, Esq., Vice-Chairman. Advisory Council. Rev. Arthur J. Brown, D.D., Chairman Rev. Henry Evertson Cobb, D.D. Rev. A. Woodruff Halsey, D.D. Rev. William R. Huntington, D.D. Mr. Alexander M. Hadden Mr. William B. Millar Mr. George P. Moller William E. Stiger, Esq. Mornay Williams, Esq. Office Assistants. Rev. William W. Coe, Hotels and Boarding-Houses Rev. Paul Martin, Card Catalogue Committee on Serving Tea. Mrs. Lucien C. Warner, Chairman Mrs. William G. King Mrs. Arthur J. Brown Mrs. John DeWitt Knox Miss Louise Henken Mrs. J. Edgar Leaycraft Mrs. William M. Isaacs Mrs. Seabury C. Mastick Mrs. George Zabriskie Committee on Visitation of the Sick. Mrs. C. Irving Fisher, Chairman Mrs. Howard Agnew Johnston Mrs. Robert Harris Mrs. Theodore Weston Mr. Alexander M. Hadden Committee on Bureau of Information and Meeting Trains and Steamers. Mr. William B. Millar D. E. Yarnell, M.D. Mr. Hans P. Andersen 13 Committees on Free Entertainment BAPTIST. Rev. John B. Calvert, D. D., Chairman Rev. John Humpstone, D. D. Rev. R. S. MacArthur, D. D. Rev. Charles L. Rhoades, D. D. Col. Alexander S. Bacon Mr. O. R. Judd Mornay Williams, Esq. Mrs. James B. Colgate Mrs. William A. Cauldwell Mrs. B. F. Clark Mrs. Barak Coles Mrs. George H. Fox Mrs. I. M. Hal deman Mrs. Robert Harris Miss A. Hope Mrs. William M. Isaacs Mrs. R. V. Lewis Mrs. R. S. MacArthur Mrs. J. W. Perry Miss Pettus Mrs. Stephen Smith CONGREGATIONAL. Rev. Chas. C. Creegan, D.D., Chaiman Rev. Elliott W. Brown Rev. H. A. Stimson, D.D. Rev. Josiah Strong, D.D. Rev. William H. Ward, D.D. R. A. Dorman, Esq. Dyer B. Holmes, Esq. Mrs. Elliott W. Brown Miss M. C. E. Barden Miss Emma L. Bridges Miss Cecilia Jennings Mrs. C. E. Mitchell Mrs. H. A. Stimson Miss Susan Hayes Ward EPISCOPAL. Mr. Alexander M. Hadden, Chairman Rev. Percy S. Grant, D.D. Rev. David H. Greer, D.D. Rev. W. M. Grosvenor, D.D. Rev. William R. Huntington, D.D. Mr. H. H. Cammann Mr. J. P. Faure Mr. Francis C. Moore FRIENDS. Mr. Robert I. Murray, Chairman Rev. M. M. Binford Mrs. Joshua L. Barton Mrs Robert W. Lawrence LUTHERAN. Mr. George P. Moller, Chairman Rev. R. Anderson Rev. H. W. Hoffman Rev. J. W. Loch, D.D. Rev. J. B. Remensnyder, D.D. Rev. Mauritz Stolpe Rev. S. G. Weiskotten Hon. Charles A. Schieren Mr. E. F. Eilert Mr. James Fellows Miss Emma Allers Miss A. E. Downing Mrs. E. F. Eilert Mrs. James Fellows Miss Louise Henken Miss Lillie F. Middendorf Mrs. C. Armand Miller Miss Cecilia Moller Miss Lillian Moller Mrs. J. B. Remensnyder Mrs. Albert H. Studebaker Mrs. Edw. Yoege METHODIST. Rev. Andrew Longacre, D.D., Chair'an Rev. S. Parkes Cadman, D.D. Rev. E. S. Tipple, D.D. D. E. Yarnell, M.D. Mr. William B. Millar Mrs. J. M. Cornell Mrs. Anderson Fowler Mrs. J. Edgar Leaycraft Mrs. Ed. M. F. Miller 14 I PRESBYTERIAN. Rev. A. Woodruff Halsey, D.D., Chair¬ man Rev. A. J. Brown, D.D. Rev. Wilton Merle Smith Rev. J. H. Tate Mr. Allerton W. Kilborne Col. John J. McCook William E. Stiger, Esq. Mrs. W. Barbour Mrs. Fred. A. Booth Mrs. R. R. Booth Mrs. Arthur J. Brown Mrs. L. Duncan Bulkley Miss A. L. Denny Miss A. M. Davison Mrs. S. Derickson Mrs. H. R. Elliot Mrs. J. S. Kennedy Mrs. Titus B. Meigs Mrs. Payson Merrill Mrs. Theodore Weston REFORMED. Rev. Henry Evertson Cobb, D.D., Chair¬ man Rev. J. Douglass Adam Rev. Joachim Elmendorf, D.D. Rev. John G. Fagg Rev. H. A. Kinports Rev. Donald Sage Mackay, D.D. Rev. Roderick Terry, D.D. Mr. Gerard Beekman Mrs. William L. Brower Mr. James G. Cannon Mr. A. A. Raven 15 THE WILLETT PRESS 142 FIFTH AVE., NEW YORK