Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-04-03

To the Editor of the n Y. 71ibrne Sir
In your paper of the 1911 inst, One Who Has
His Eyes and Ears Open warns the public
against certain religious frauds perpetrated in
your city. lie asserts that there are "bogus"
institutions among you, having no real exist
ence or object, except as machines" to sup
ply the Giving" OF fraudulent managers. He
advises those who are called upon to contrib.
ute TO such institutions to assure themselves
that they are not duped, by visiting them "as
soon as convenient" The advice should be
needed, and for more reasons than the writer
states. Not only may unworthy persons de.
ceive the ignorant, but worthy charities may
be injured through the private spleen OF inter
ested opponents. An anonymous writer in a
widely circulated public journal can easily
mislead persons who do not know either him.
self or that of which lie writes. For this add
ed reason L would therefore repeat the advice
TO investigate and inspect, where there is rea-
sonable doubt; for it would give greater pain
IA. tn 80 ''H lloss hearts vearn TO do good to
appeal, than that they had given encourage
menl 10 an unwoi thy one
In accordance with this advice and mainly
because of the article III question, | have
spent the past three days in visiting the
"Howard Mission and Home for Little Wan
derers, at No. 26 New Bowery. The Rev.
Howard Mission, spent last Sunday in our
city, and was well received and well reward
ed. Not too well, however, in either respect.
Being stranger to most of our citizens, al
though rot to myself, and his work not gener.
ally known, ii is not strange the article in the
Tribune, over signature supposed TO be that
OF the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, but in this
case known TO have been used by very diff
ferent person, should excite attention. When
Mr.. Van Meter, on Monday, learned that a
prejudicial feeling had been awakened, he de.
cllned TO take either the money or goods do
mated until the donors were satisfied of his
Veraclty. lie requested that some one might
come, at his expense To investigate and re.
port For his sake and theirs | volunteered
TO do the service. have performed it to the
best OF NY ability, in the time stated, and am
confident that your correspondent should ex.
cept this from mis- list OF suspicious institu-
tions.
have been in the Mission at all hours OF
the day; have visited every room | have
examined all the books | have seen about
2oO childten present morning by morning, and
have heard them in their exercises | lave
seen parents give their children to the Mission,
and have seen persons apply to the Mission
for children have seen ladies who came TO
work in the wardrobe, in mendin5 and altering
garments, and have examined the discrmina-
ting plan by which these garments are dis
trlbuted; have looked at the quality of food
used, at the manner OF its distribution, and at
the way in which exchanges of food are male
with city dealers; l have observed the alIec.
ton OF the children Tor their instructors and
OF tLelr instructors for them; | have seen this
and more, and in it all | have wondered and
been glad.
The Howard Mission is, am confident.
doing great and needed work and that too
In the only spot where the work can be done
lor the antldote is applied precisely where the
poison Is operating. 1t is worthy, and lis SUI.
perlntendent Is worthy, of the confidence and
peneiactiohs Of the Christian public
But have not contented myself with SEEING
and hearing at the Mission only. l have con.
suited with prominent cergymen and Iaymen
in the city, eminent business men, of yarious
denominations, met incidentally and visited
Tor the very purpose. They have testified AS
to their personal knowledge, and their ,esti.
mOhy is as one voice in confirmation of
my own impressions and convictions. The
police reporter of the Tribune, necessa.
rily familiar with the police statistics
OF t9e ward, and intimate with the work
done by the Howard Mission, in a long
and Tree conversation bore emphatic testimony
10 Its good management and its good fruits.
WIN itauiiy give the address OF these gentle
men upon being inquired Of
repeat the advice of your corresnondent
and would cordially say to my brethren in The
and to others visiting the CITY. that
a forenoon could not be more proftably spent
than in the Howard Mission and Home for
Little Wanderers
LEhUEL MOSS
Pastor Pirst Baptist Church, Worcester, Mass
March q, 1862