New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-07-18
" ChapIains for the Poor."-Are they not already
Provid
NEw-YoRx, Tuesday, July Is, 1851.
:, a.. y<,,,rs of The Tribyue

NEw-YoRx, Tuesday, July Is, 1851.
TO the Editors Of The Tribme:
On the 18th inst. there appeared in your
paper letter addressed to the Mayor, requesting that
he would recommend the Common Council TO ap-
poin, Chaplains for the Poor the respective Wards,
and that the writer of that letter might be the Chap
lain OF the First Ward Who that writer is does not
appear but as he speaks of himself as a Clergy
nan OF many years standing and much experience III
Missionary matters and Of his having, some years
ago. "made thorough exploration by visiting every
family IN the XVIII Ward, lam not at liberty TO re-
gard him as stranger IN the land, and am therefore
att loss TO account for his not knowing that all that
practicable and valuable III his plan is already per
formed as fully d.efhcently by the New-York City
Tract Society, II is likely ever to be by any other
organization.
That Society, in ITS infancy, did but little more
than distribute Tracts; but IT gradually enlarged
It's plans, and during the las, seventeen years mas
supplied the City with Ward MISSIONARIES men OF
pety, prudence, energy and industry, who are aided
BY gratuous visitors IN going from house to house
and room to room among the poor, advising them for
their spiritual and temporal welfare, inducing them
TO attend the ministry OF the Gospel holding prayer
meetings their habitailOnS gathering their children
into Sabbath and Public Schools, promoting Temper
ance visiting the sick, AMI IN every practicable way
doing good TO the poor They also, as alnoners OF
the New ork Bible Society supply the neceSSltouS
with the sacred Scriptures, and they hold a relation
to the Association for improving the condition of the
Poor. that enables them to relieve the destitute AT
present there are 81 Tract Missionaries, Il OF whom
are Ward Missionaries, attends 10 Sealnen, to
resident Germans, and To newly arrived Immigrants.
THIS number Will be enlarged by the appointment OF
Missionary 10 the recently constituted NNth Ward,
soon II can prudenty be done, and further adj
ttions may be expected as the increase OF popula-
hon may require.
the poor having failed through the Indulgence of too
Nea, desire TO dlfuse UNCONVENTIONAL sentiments,
and recommends experimentation different denom
nations. This cannot apply 10 the City Tract So
clety, for continual prosperity has marked Its pro-
yess, and its organization is strictly unsecran. Its
Board of Managers is composed of about 400 gentle
men, who are representatives OF churches OF all the
Evangelical denominations IN our City. Its officers
Also, and lis Missionaries are connected with differ
en-, branches OF the Church OF Christ. The Cler-
lyman" would have preaching stations IN the differ
snt Wards but he probably has overlooked the fact
mai Clsrgymen are UNCONVENTIONAL and give de-
0ominationai character 10 the worship IN which they
Saiedy othciaie The CITY Tract Society is aware
Nat IN the first six Wards OF this cry there has been
N the last ten years an increase OF 2SdeS or about
oaeihird of the whole 10 The roSdcn, population and
mai The floating population OF those Wards Is iar
greater than can Dc found IN any other part oi the
Siy yet IN the same ten years, many Churches and
saboath Schools have been dissolved or removed
nom those Wards 10 the upper part Of the City, ANA
ssad deS;iiutlon of religious privileges has thus been
created and they earnestly commend 10 the sober
alton religious bodies. and especially those
Who have contributed ~ this destutOn, 10 take eff
HVieh' measures LOT suptN ing II oY NE opening ana
SUSTAINING Mission ChurchCS. This is a work that
nghteou>ly devoheS upon unconditional bodies
but II would be inappropriate 10 an Unsectaran So
Getty and II, most unQuesnonahly, does no, devolye
upon the Corporation
Seeing ths. these things are of what use would
he proposed ChaplalnS be- Would they single
handed. accomplish more than the same number of
Tract Missionaries, aided by twelve hundred visitors
True that which Is now done by voluntary conribu-
Ton, might then partially be done al the expense OF
the public but would the lrrcgious part of the COM
nunlty like TO be taxed for this purpose Or would
Ne religious part be willing that Christian efforts
should De subjected to political control
In former days the Corporation appointed Chap
am tog the criminal and humane institutions. and
ad ihe Clergyman asked Tor appointment To that
Nce. he might have urged very powerful plea. o.