Annette Mackay Pyle Ely's Description of her Father,
Dr. Donald Sage Mackay, Minister of St. Nicholas's church in New York City
Circa turn of the century 1899/1900.
Many of his parishioners have Problems, especially the rich and lovely ladies of his Parish. After a first meeting these problems (and ladies) are firmly transferred to his assistant. Patience is not one of Dad's virtues.
Not so with the Bowery Mission.
The Bowery is a part of New York. It is where the Bums live; the Down and Outers who sleep in gutters; their home is a park bench; they shelter in empty door ways from rain and storms. The Bowery is a place unfamiliar to Dad's parishioners. For Organized Welfare is yet unknown. Help is brought to impoverished families and the sick and needy by well meaning groups, donated, you might say, at arm's length. Poverty is deplorable. But boring.
Dad discovers this Bowery after one visit. Nothing stops him. His church, Wall Street and Business Politicians and Society are called, informed, exhorted. Money is raised. The Bowery Mission is born.
It exists. It's Dad that gives it life. He gives time; he gives nights for that is where they need him. Bowery "Mission"? Wrong. Dad is no "missionary". This is not giving. This is participation. He is tough, rough with their despair. He can make them laugh. and he gives them hope.
Profligate of vilolitry (vitality), he gives and gives. His eloquence which his church asks for; civic duties; Public speeches, addresses. He gave too much, and as you have seen, paid with his life. Which ended when he was 44.
(Submitted by Julie Pyle Nicholson, Annette Mackay Pyle Ely's daughter on going through her papers when she came upon the familiar hand writing of her mother and retyped it for easy reading.)
