Jerry McAuley along with his wife, Maria, was the founder of the McAuley Water Street Mission in New York City. A self-described “rogue and street thief” who spent seven years in Sing Sing

Sing Sing

Sing Sing Correctional Facility is a maximum security prison operated by the New York State Department of Correctional Services in the town of Ossining, New York...

 prison during the 1860’s, McAuley’s mission became America’s first Rescue Mission and is now known as the New York City Rescue Mission.

Prison

In January 1857, aged 19, he was accused of highway robbery, convicted, and sent to Sing-Sing

Sing-sing

Sing-sing is a gathering of a few tribes or villages in Papua New Guinea. People arrive to show their distinct culture, dance and music. The aim of these gatherings is to peacefully share traditions. Villagers paint and decorate themselves for sing-sings....

. While there, McAuley heard a man by the name of Orville Gardner testify of his conversion. On March 8, 1864, aged 26, McAuley was pardoned and set free. He set out to associate with Christians

Christianity

Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...

.

Rescue Mission

Soon after this, McAuley met Alfrederick Hatch, a businessman. Hatch became McAuley's confidant. In October 1872 McAuley took possession of the Water Street house. The money he had raised was used to repair the building and soon after, the mission at 316 Water Street named "Helping Hand for Men" was open.

Years of service

In 1882, after twelve years, McAuley left Water Street to start the Cremorne Mission near Times Square

Times Square

Times Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets...

. Two years later, on a fall afternoon in September 1884, he died from tuberculosis

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...

contracted while in Sing Sing.

Further reading

• Arthur Bonner, Jerry McAuley and His Mission, Loizeaux Brothers, New York, 1990. ISBN 0872130606 ISBN 978-0872130609

External links

• New York City Rescue Mission - Water Street mission today
• Jerry McAuley - from the New York Correction History Society