I lectured at the parks and chautauquas in the summer and fairs in the fall, and at the end of the year of 1902, I had the sum of five thousand dollars which I used to build a mission on Central Ave., Kansas City, Kansas.  In that vicinity were several dives and I told those poor criminals that we would soon run them out.  I had my brother, Campbell Moore, to manage the erection of this brick building.  The liquor men tried to buy the ground to hinder the work, but at last the building was finished.  I was offered seventy-five dollars rent for the hall but refused it.  Then I went to the Salvation Army barracks in Kansas City, Mo., and offered to give it to them free of rent if they would start a mission.  They did not see their way clear to accept it.  My brother told me of a property that would suit me better for the purpose of a “Home for Drunkards’ Wives and Mothers”, which I was trying to arrive at through the mission.  I went to see this property, and found it to be about two acres, with a twenty room brick house and a good brick stable on it, nice drives and forest trees, and while it is in the city, it is on a high elevation and as much retired from the dust and crowd as in the country.  Mr. Simpson, the owner, sent me ten dollars while I was in jail at Wichita, and he was anxious to let me have this home of his that he had improved himself.  I purchased this with the money I got from the other place, paying him five thousand five hundred dollars, owing the rest.  This place is situated on Reynolds and Grandview Aves.  It was not possible for me to begin this enterprise myself, and in speaking to Myron A. Waterman, of the Savings Bank of Kansas City, Kansas, he suggested that the “Associated Charities” of Kansas City, Kansas, would put it to the use I intended.  I liked the idea.  The society became incorporated so they could receive the deed, which was a trust, for should the property be used for other than what it was given for, it will revert.

The society took possession in December, 1903, and at this writing, February, 1904, it is full, the Home of many poor and destitute, who now have a good shelter, warmth and light free.  They are expected to make their own living.  Mr. Simpson gave forty dollars to furnish one room.  The local W. C. T. U. have furnished their room and have their two drunkards’ wives in it.  I here make a plea of help to enlarge this Home.  As stated there are two acres of ground and one who would give money to this would fulfill the command to feed the hungry and clothe the naked; these are the orphans and the widows; every dollar will be put in the bank of Heaven.

My motive for doing this was twofold.  I wanted to furnish a home for these, the innocent results of the saloon, whose sad condition is beyond words to describe.  The people burden themselves with taxes to build jails, penitentiaries, alms houses, insane ayslums, and reformatories to care for the guilty results of the saloon.  They pay millions to prosecute these criminals, the result of the saloon, but no one has ever thought of a building, or shelter for these women who are worse than widows, who are free from any fault in this matter, but are the greatest sufferers.