New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-02-02
BOGUS BENEvOLENCE DESCRIBED.

SIRE Since the expose OF the bogus orphan affair
of Mrs. Lincoln in The TRIBUNE, the interest of the
public on this subject appears to be on the increase
Multiform the resorts of ingenious men, and of
women, too, in order to raise the wind. Gospel,
Union, United Brotherhood" and other kinds of
Churches; Mission, Union and Sabbath Schools, T"
and Industrial Schools with various other like good
things and good names are obliged for the time be-
ing TO father these grand Cuisines enterprises"
Long and numerous chapters could we write contain
ing the true histories of many of these movements and
ali differing but, perhaps, brief sketch of part of
one may for the present suffice. We shall not at first
take up that striking case wherein one Of these apt
persoDages not long since removed by the Teach
ers from the superintendent Of school for want of
confidence, and has now set up on his account
informed; though if he is not pretty quiet
shall take up his next perhaps. But we shall at
this time consider a case managed by an older and
more experienced hand.
The long wached-for opening presented itself to
argus eyes the removal some years since OF one Of
the many downtown churches, uptown. Advertise
ments were issued calling for young men for very
respectable business, and mono but Christian men
need apply, and those recently from he country would
be preferred. Numbers Of men accordingly presented
themselves and underwent the severe scrutiny of the
sharp man who was at the head of the movement, TO
see whether they could be nodded to the purpose and
trusted. At FIRST some business quite foreign to the
real one was presented for consideration until conf
dence was gained, and then by degrees the chosen
ones were initiated into grand plan to the dear
people who had been fOrsaken by the removal of that
particular church. A Church and Sunday School, and
Industrial School, and everything good, rose upon the
imagination Of these notwithstanding men. The same
shrewd process pursued toward some kind, benev
oent credulous ministers, and other weknown promi
nent men, and their sympehos were so enlisted as to
lend their lndOrsement-sOme by way of a letter.
by calling attention to it in meeting; by per-
mitted reference; while Others took the bait being
made President Secretary Treasurer, or Manager,
in this bogus concern. The next thing in regular
H. thn ~ ION of I'm nd nfna
black covered gilt letered subscription books, with all
the gotten-up vouchers, and these put into the
hands of the deceived but weH-prepared, wel-traned
collectors each was sent into separate district with
names Of men to call upon and the amounts they had
formerly given to exploded enterprises in other dis
tricts under the same distinguished auspices. Every
week returns made and moneys paid over to the
grand originator, and new names and new instructions
given for the more perfect prosecution OF this
work. SO perfectly was all this systemzed that no
two collectors allowed TO know each other, each
one always meeting their principal on different days,
hours and places, and none of them knowing IN what
part of the city their grand director lived. Money
flowed in freely-one man reported over one thousand
dollars he had collected, paid over within ninety days,
and whether each of the other three collectors realized
less Than that, at any rate II made III the az
gregate a nice business operation for man, after
leaving his collectors fourth for their commission.
BY virtue of most solemn and sympathetic appeal
O room obtained rent free in the old Church, or
near unto it, and the SundaySchool after considerable
delay was opened From ten to twenty and even
fifty scholars, at time, on an especial occa-
sion seen gathered sometimes only the head man was
there TO hum few tunes with the scholar aud at other
times saaIied superintendent and salarled secreta-
~ and two stray occasional teachers Were to be
seen but il was seldom and it was well declared to
be mere farce OF q Sunday-Schoo.
The whole expenses of the school, including an ex
cursion, saaried officers, &c, was said to be
sixty-seven dollars for something over four months
when the whole concern was removed to more
comInodious place, and by grand flourish OF
III. IN ~
FIVE places has this grand engineer dashed into the
dear people in the short space of year or two Con-
slant assurances were given in the old churches of
preaching and prayer meetings IN anticipation; but,
alas "piOcrastination is the thief of time, aud the
money was raised before il became necessary, and
none we are told were ever held.
ON the approach of Summer that man may probably
be seen at Saratoga and we should not be surprised
some Sabbath that same manfcould be seen as occa-
sona supply in orthodox pulpit, and of course
the confidence and eRdowments of that pastor and
people easily obtained, and new and vigorous
Oh this Newly ork is great city, and some very
smart shrewd people live III il, who ready TO
embrace any opening that promises to pay, aud of
course such confidence men have no hesitation to
subsdise religion and religious people and institutions
10 accomplish their ends, under the power of that
motto: "'rhe end iustfes the means" Some scenes
connected with this, part OF one movement, We omit
for want Of room simply adding, that not shade OF
that we have sketched above drawn from our
fancy; simple, sad fact it is. We have seen the
names of our Bank Presidents cashiers, telers, mer-
chants and men of fortune appended TO sums OF 80,
SO ard $50 each, III the aggregate OF thousands OF
dollars contributing TO swell these magnificent
schemes" If Mrs. Lincoln raise $4,000 in 80 short
time OF. Of the careless, creduouS, unnvestigang
New-Ycrk benevolent men, how much, let rs ask, can
n sbrt wd fellow such as have described, raise
In no respects can these things derGct from churches,
mission schools industrial schools, orphan asyums
any more than counterfes detract from the value OF
pure gold
As well might it be said the exposure of mock-auc.
tiops injured the regular trade the breaking up OF
counterieers destroyed our currency, as to pretend
that these exposures reflected the exceeding value
of genuine Mission Sabbsth-Schools.
The Young man who has recently commenced oper-
atoms ON the east side is well known and watched,
and wthal Is 80 green in the business TO be COM
peed probably soon to suspend but the old operators
IN town understand the business thoroughly, and
t6ev also understand each other Just as well. Almost
any day in some of our bank pariors and merchants
countinCrooms down town may be seen the principals
themselves begging for names, influence, or money,
and with the utmost horror denouncing the other well
known operators in the same line as the veiest rascas
in Newly ork all of which is undoubtedly true. .
The man who has set for his picture here WI eaSiiy
recognize his portrait, and many other readers wi
call to mind parcels of the farce here described fof
these and other like things not done IA corner
Benevolent men of New-York Be careful who you
choose for your am0ners. II will cost little personal
effort and caution to be really benev oent these stirring
times If need be, more anon. FRASKLIS.
Nets York, jan. 81, 1855
BOGUS CHARITIES.