VISITS THE SLUMS.
REV. MR. M'GURK MAKES TOUR
OF THE NORTH END.
Rev. Daniel McGurk, pastor of the Grand Avenue Methodist Episcopal church, accompanied by Terrance Brigham, superintendent of the Helping Hand institute, and two policemen, made a slumming tour of the North end last night. The object of the minister's visit was to see conditions there at first hand.
"Several days ago Rev. Mr. McGurk came to me and asked for information about the North end," Mr. Brigham said, before going on the trip. "I told him the only way to understand the North end was to see it at night. That is what he intends to do now."
"Last Sunday I told a number of my church people what I intended to do," said Rev. Mr. McGurk. "I am gathering material for my sunday sermon. there has been much said in the newspapers about light for the boulevards. That suggested to me the question of what is being done for light -- moral light, in the North end. All the churches in the North end have been sold out. The Helping Hand, the Salvation Army and one little chapel are all that remain.
"It has been the history of this section of the city that as the need of churches grew the churches moved away or were sold out because the property became valuable. I am told that thirteen have old out in the past few years because the church people thought they were getting a good price for their property. In the two and one-half years that I have been in Kansas City I know of five churches that have sold out because it was believed a good price was being obtained. I think that the churches are moving in the wrong direction and that more light is needed in the North end.
"I want to see conditions here that I may better understand them. I am not making this trip for publicity. I may not even mention it in my sermon. It's purpose is that I may unerstand and be sure of my facts."
Rev. Mr. McGurk made mention of the fact that within a radius of six blocks from the Junction his was the only church remaining. He expressed regrt that the tendency of the churches was to move south and east, away from the North end.
