The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-21
Van Observation-Disclosures.

calling as city missionaries in one department
or another. The Rev. William c. Van Meter,
superintendent of the Howard Mission, in
Roosevelt street and New Bowery, is denomi-
nationally Baptist; but so much of cosmO-
politan Christian is he that it would be difficult
to tell to which of the tribes of Israel he really
belonged. Many years ago Mr.. Van Meter
was strongly impressed that something could
and should be done for the miserable masses
of the Fourth ward. Accordingly emission"
was started in Warren Hail. Henry and Oliver
streets. Subsequently this mission was trans
ferred to larger quarters in the Bowery, where
it remained few years, and met with such
decided success that the property on which
the present mission stands was purchased, and
after time the large and commodious build
ings which now adorn that neighborhoOd
were erected at cost Of more than
forty thousand dollars The Howard
Mission is now a recognized institution of the
Fourth ward and since its permanent establish
ment there it has proved marvellously success
full among the young, in whose behalf espe-
cially it was founded. For time Mr.. Van
Meter left the mission, when by mismanage-
ment during the bogus Water street revival it
fell into disrepute. But the trustees and
managers could find no man 80 we'll fitted to
superintend the work as he, and they gladly
invited him to resume his place again. He is
man of deep feeling and genuine sympathy
with poverty and suffering, and is looked up
to as a father by the children Of the mission
and as good friend by many poor house
| keeper in the ward. AS q preacher Mr.. Van
Meter is simple and pathetic. as becomes a
| minister Of Christ dealing with the poor and
ignorant. They need the gospel of sympathy
and love more than anything else, and hence
the tenderness and love of Jesus come to
them with tenfod more beauty and power
than they do to others not in such
lowly condition. In preaching to regu-
lar Church congregations, as he frequently
does, Mr.. Van Meter makes good use of
his experience among the Fourth ward slums,
and most effectively and readily reaches the
hearts and the pockets of his hearers. During
a late visit to Europe he secured number Of
annual cash subscribers to the mission, and
wherever he goes its claims are so clearly and
pathetcally presented that it is more difficult
to withhold than to give toward its support
The Rev. J. NJ Shaffer, Superintendent of
the Ladies' Five Points Mission of the MethO-
dist Episcopal Church, has been for several
years successfully appointed to this work by
the New York Conference. He, too, is emil
nently qualified for this field of labor, possess
ing both the parental affection and sympathy
needed to deal successfully with the young, and
the shrewdness and discrimination required to
guard against the tricks and impositions Of the
old Five Pointers. This mission has been estab-
lished about quarter of century in what
was once the ''Old Brewery in Park street,
and about which Mr.. Van Meter, now of the
Howard Mission, when he was Superintendent,
used to make such stirring anniversary appeals,
displaying large paintings of the Old Brewery as
it was and as it is. Mr.. Shaffer does not possess
the tact and talent for his work to the same de-
gree as Mr.. Van Meter does, but he gets along
more methodically, though more slowly. The
educational proficiency of the children of the
mission was complained of some time ago;
but we presume it has improved, as we have
heard nothing against it lately. Besides the
four or five hundred children cared for in the
mission number of poor families are lodged
there and provided with work, while the wants
of hundreds of needy households in the
vicinity are wholly or partially supplied from
day TO day. In bis pulpit ministrations to the
mission folk Mr.. Shaffer is simple and direct,
given to illustrating his subjects by incident
| and anecdote, and in his intercourse with the
churches this is also his style, and it is very
| effective. Tales of silent sorrow OF deep
| suffering and distress, have charm for us
all, because they appeal to our higher nature
and touch our common humanity as nothing
else can. And there are no men possessed of
such store of illustrations of this sort as the
men who go in and out, day after day, among
| the poor They can better appreciate the
| Importance of full and free salvation for
mankind than others, and they ought to be
practically better fitted to present it thus to
others, as we believe the Rev. Messrs. Van
| Meter and Shaffer and their assistants faith
| fully do.
The Rev. George J. Mingins is the Superiu-
| tendent of the New York City Mission and
| Tract Society, under whose auspices the Five
Points House of Industry and Calvary chapel,
| connected Herewith, were erected and are
maintained He is Scotchman, endowed
| with a good degree Of business tact and
shrewdness, which is needed to save him from
| imposition in his sphere of labor. He is a
very entertaining speaker to the young, and
| has fund of anecdotes and incidents, which
| he can relate pleasantly and instructively and
which the little people always love to hear.
! He was an agent of the Sanitary Commission
and the Evangelical Alliance during the war,
and has some interesting experiences con-
| nected with his travels during those years
| which he makes very effective in pointing and
| enforcing missionary appeals Like his two