The rise of rescue missions in the United States and the impact one individual can have on the lives of many.

Alcohol was used in abundant amounts in early America. It was as common and accepted as food and in many cases far more available. Beer and wine were a big part of the European diet and that custom was well evident in the colonies. By the end of the Revolutionary War and into the first decades of the 19th century the equivalent of over 7 gallons of pure 200 proof liquor was consumed yearly per capita in the newly formed United States of America.


Drink was everywhere. Available to anyone, of any age, who wanted it and had a capped bust silver dime to buy it. The cities and towns grew rapidly over the few decades. Westward expansion was continuing by hopeful seekers of free new land and of a new life.


In the 1820’s the resulting social disorder, family breakdown, loss of individual dignity and hampered economic prosperity was readily apparent. The ever flowing use of fermented, brewed and distilled drink was taking its toll. Alcohol use was on the rise. The increase in binge drinking and the public displays of drunkenness by a significant percentage of the population was all too common. Such was the world that spawned the founding of The American Temperance Society in 1826 and more than 1000 other local temperance groups within the next 5 years.


Throughout the remaining first half of the 19th century, clergy inspired by the revivals of the Second Great Awakening spoke out about the social, spiritual and cultural destruction due to the abuse of alcohol. Business groups in need of reliable sober employees for the new industrial economy held meetings, printed articles and exhibited cartoon characterizations in local newspapers. Their purpose was to point out the economic and societal harm due to intoxication and the ever present public displays of drunkenness due to “Demon Rum”. These displays of activism do not occur without cause. They result from the daily observations of abuse by everyone during that period of time. A major problem existed and it needed to be addressed, the ever present abuse of alcohol.


Another issue was also frequently linked hand in hand inside the dimly lit meeting halls and tent revivals of antebellum America, the abolition of slavery.


A Civil War was on the horizon. This eventual four year conflagration between governments, states and brothers resulted in the ending of one scourge yet the exacerbation the other. By the end of the Civil War in 1865 the abuse of alcohol and now the increase in addiction to opiates such as Morphine and Laudanum was as bad as it had ever been. Once again the focus was on reform.


During this time in a small town in Ohio the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union was formed in 1873. Other temperance organizations were also organized. Rescue missions were popping up across the seedier urban areas competing with the saloons, theaters and brothels of all the inner cities. Among them, birthed from the vision of a young woman from Iowa, was the beginning of a small rescue mission in the south side of Chicago.


The mission was founded in 1877 by Colonel George Clarke and his new wife Sarah. Sarah had the original vision and calling for such a mission. The new mission on South Clark Street in “Devils Territory” was immediately met with a positive response. Men were hearing the message given daily by Colonel Clarke and lives were being changed.


That first location out grew itself quickly. The building space could barely hold the kerosene stove and seat 40 people. By 1880 the Clarkes needed to make a move. The Colonel began the search and eventually found a new site. He discovered the perfect spot. A location recently vacated by the notorious Pacific Beer Garden, a rowdy saloon in the middle of the “Runyonesque” part of Chicago frequented by railroad workers, stockyard employees, meatpackers, hustlers and gangsters. Some nights more than a few members of the Chicago White Stockings professional baseball team would show up looking for the many diversions the area had to offer after a home game. All was perfect for the Clarkes, except the name in big letters above the door “Beer Garden”. Dwight L. Moody, the famous evangelist, suggested a minor change.


In 1880 the tiny rescue mission with a dream changed the Pacific Beer Garden into the Pacific Garden Mission. The rescue mission exists to this day. It is now the oldest continually operating rescue mission in the United States.
Through these many years the Pacific Garden Mission has saved hundreds of thousands of men and women from the hopeless existence of alcoholism, addiction to other drugs, gambling, prostitution, and other destructive behaviors. People of all races, genders, ages and backgrounds have regained dignity, relationships and positive productivity. Families have been saved and restored.