The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-24
TIE E0WaRD MISSION AND HOME.
Return Of tho Rev. w. q. Van Meter-Nnrrsi
tive on His Experience Abroad.

Return Of the Rev. w. q. Van Meter-Nurra.
tive on His Experience Abroad.
The Rev. W. c. Van Meter, whose name IL so familiar
in connection with one of New York's proudest of
charities-the Howard Mission and Home for Little
Wanderers-devered q discourse at the mission,
New Bowery, yesterday afternoon on the subject OF
his experience abroad, particularly with reference
to the hospitals, prisons and reformatories Of
European continental cities. After the singing Of
the hymn 'WelcOme Home" and the usual intro
duct0ry exercises,
Mr.. Van Meter addressed the large congregation
OF the children and their friends. Having alluded
~ his experience in Naples he said he next went to
Rome, which he bad visited not 80 much to see the
ruins Of her departed magnincence and glory, but 10
see the effect OF Roman Catholicism upon those who
received the word OF the Pope and the DEGREES Of the
Church more binding than the Bible itself and who
dare not question their iniallibity or oppose
their decisions. There he saw the whitening,
bghting curse II had robbed the people OF civil
and religious liberty and crushed them beneath load
OF ignorance and superstition. They believed what
ever the priest taught. however absurd. They rem
dered homage to the bones and garments which they
were told once belonged 10 some whom they called
saints. They worshppcd the saints more frequent
~ and devouty than they did the saviour AS an j.
ustratOD he gave them the following from the Church
OF st. PraXIde copied from the Official list OF
elics:"rooth OF st. Peter, finger OF ST. Philip, arm
81 1 pa piece S 81 s Clothes n i e
which our Saviour was wrapped ut his birth, the
reed that bore the one one Of osa the
rod ~ In the Church OF ST. Maria Maggore
they showed the cradle OF our Saviour and some
OF the pay, ON which He was laid on the manger.
In the Church Of st. Crocc among other relics.
were three pieces OF the true cross, one OF the
nails the title which Plate placed on the cross a
part OF the seamless vest OF Christ piece of the
stone on which the angel stood at the Annuncation
ms 81 I e part ' of the v
| hair OF the Virgin. bottle OF Christs blood and
l ~ n
| they were taught to believe. Rome contained
enterprise OF whom were seen in the fact that they
had but two daily papers, each OF which was abou
the size OF one page OF the HERALD and the morality
OF the people was seen in the fact that every fourth
child born was child Of shame. To work more Ell
GENTLY upon the superstition of the people and to in
| ana nuns assured them OF extraordinary merit and
also of the special aud eternal blessing OF the Holy
Mother vino felt than ordinary interest In all
| children not born in lawful wedock. Because of
this they called the child "Ifg,td detd 1ddonnd'-
Child OF the Virgin In Florence the great prison
any other he saw In Europe. The 'prisoners spent
| from an hour 10 an hour and half day
| in school. Only one In twenty OF those COM
| mitted could read and write, and experience
| had proved TO the government that nothing they
could do truly reformed and elevated the prisoner
as to open q world OF thought and knowledge
70 him by enabling him to read and write. Instead
of booming the children OF the poor house to the po-
ston OF tramps and worthless dependents they etc
| waited them In one department the more talented
OF tue boys were taught geometry and architecture
| The Secretary Of the Interior and the Super.
| intendent NJ the Prison Refugees aud Re-
| formatores IN Italy sympathized deeply with
him in the object OF his VISIT and gave him letters Of
authority to go everywhere IN Italy and visit their
institutions. He was received and treated In the
same manner by the project and other officials In
Paris Many OF the institutions in that city were far
superior 10 any he ever saw. lie visited other coun-
| tries OF Europe. AZ for Ireland IL was the most
| beautiful country he had ever seem aud would be
the most prosperous, Intelligent and honored were
il NOS for roman Catholicism, laZiness and whlskey.
!
| closed the exercises. The school rcopens next
| month.