, 1874-03-01
Mrs. TAN C0TF Ia BALTIMORE.
4 Great EeyiFal in an Independent
Church.
Warm Commcndation and Cold Criticism
Of an" Extraordinary, Woman.

Of an" Extraordinary, ,Woman.
Correspondence ef The Chicago Tribune
BALTIMORE, Feb &C. 1874.
For the last three weeks Baltimore has boe1
blessed with the persuasive eloqueuce and tn
glowing piety OF
CR REV. MRS. NAaG1E VAN CoTT,
= lady who is not entirely unknown in tht
West. Although she protests that she ia not I
- eensaiionalist," and that her only deH1o is tt
be instrumental in saving souls in quiet, hum
Bile, Chrietian-lke way, she certainly has excited
religious enthusiasm, among portloI
Of the people Of this city, border
ing On that Btata OF frenzy which
tho professes to be most anNous
to avoid This Is the more remarkable for the
reason that there ere traditional prejudices here
against all aggressiveness on the part OF women
and especially against TINT courageous self
assurance which is generally exhibited by women
wbo declaim from the pulpit. The e1traordi-
cary impression that Mra. Van Cott has made
must be taken "a III indication that the spirit ol
5rogress nas touched even this conservative
atty; aud that resolute woman can obtain {
bearing although her assumption Of the clerical
Office shocks the prevailing ideas concerning the
peculiar duties, occupations, and capabilities Of
the gentler ser.
Az EDEpENDENT CHURCH.
Before say auything in regard to afts. Van
Colts iabora deEiro to correct wrong impeea-
zion that has gone abroad concerning the con-
g1cgation that has secured her services for .
brief seeson. The dispatches relating to her
meetings. which have been sent from here, have
admirers; from which strangers very naturally
infer that she is laboring in q Methodist Episco-
pal church, And is indorsed by the clergy and
ialty Of that denomination, so numerous and
influential in Baltimore. This is very far
from being the fact. The church in
wl;ch she holds her meetings is called "St
Johns Independent Methodist Protestant
Church." It formerly Was under the jurisdic-
lion Of the Methodist ProteBtants "a body that
seeded from the regular Methodists in the year
1626), but, for the last thirty years. the congro
cation hss been entirely independed Of III eccle-
:iassica1 supervision, and is amenah1o to no
Conference for any OF its acts. In the first
years Of its independent existence, 3 minister Of
the Methodist Protestant denomination Was en-
plo;ea but The present pastor, and the Que who
immediately preceded him, we're obtained from
tho Methodist Episcopal Conference.
another Eingular fact in connection with this
church is, that it is incumbered With mighty
trust.
TIE LATE JOHN CLARE,
President Of tho Citizens National Bank OF Bal
simore, and Pension Agent for Maryland until
his death in 1867, was one Of the most induen-
tial members. He WAS very pious man, but
witha1 d very prudent man in his Investments,
sn1 he accordingly accumulated s. large estate.
He WAS an ardent supporter OF the Government
during the War, and had but little patience with
.acso who we're not His hcirs-at-law we're three
grandchildren, who would have inherited his es-
late it he Ind made no disposition Ct
hls property in his lifetime. It hap
pened, however, that these prospective heirs
were sympathizere with the South, and for this
reason the patriotic old gentleman determined
that their influence as disloyal persons should
not be enhanced By the wealth which he had &C.
cumu1ated. He gave each Of them a lne-estate
in certain lands which he owned (quite sufficient
to secure them a competency. and the remain
der Of his property, 100000, he devised to
Trustees. the annual revenues derived there
from to oa expended in "contributions towards
tie current income Of Christian and charitable
time to time; in aiding feeble Protestant ESan-
gehcal churches; ministers Of the Gospel
with inadequate salaries; and worthy female
mcmbera OF the Church OF Christ in needy cir
cum stances; and in carrying out any special
p1nns in connection with 81. Johns Mothodigt
Protestant Church, or otherwise, which thcy The
TIustees) may devise."
It will be seen that these are exceedingly
VAGUE AND INDEFINITE DmEcT1oSsj
and that no court OF equity could enfoxce} them
ii fact, there 1s charitable society, OF minister
NTH inadequate salary, or "worthy }femaIo
member u tie Church Of Christ" in exil3tepco
Hho could show such an interest il the incoAne Of
:his fund az would support petition for la de-
cree to compel distribution. There ia tabso-
sGtc1y no one who can enforce the provisions
u the will, or mako complaint it the im1hense
!und is sq1andered, OF if the income is uot( dis
+. outed. Everything tests in the discretion of
Tue Trustees, and Mr.. Clark took care to have
them made an incorporated body in his lifetime,
aud invested with power to take this bequestA to
eglslat.ge enactment. The disappointed graA.d.
children first tried the courts, bus could get A1o
:e!ief. They then went to the Legislatur\,.
.rd made an effort to have the aA:
although they made powerful appeal, both on
TITO merits Of tho case, and the more potential !,
ground that they are disinhe1ited because they I
s'1,pnthlzed with the South, that body refused |
to Interfere. !
St. Johns Methodist Protestant Church is.
thet efore, obliged to continue it's independent |
existence for the sake OF administering most |
burdensome trust. It has not heretofore been |
more PROSPEROUS. in q spiritual sense, than the |
churches which have less money to handle.
Tbs present pastor Of the church, the Rev. I
Mr Jooen, invited, or rather engaged, Mrs Van |
Colt 10 essst in conducting aprosrac;ed meeting. |
She preached her first sermon on the 6th inst, |
Services were held evcrv evening during the fol-
owing week, and the attendance was always be-
,oud the capacity OF the house. Under the in
luance Of her stirring e1hortat1ons, . great many
'ouna persons came forward and knelt at tho
'mourners' beueh"; and at each meeting there
sas great rejoicing over those who profeseed to
ave experienced change OF heart. Mrs. Van
;ott sung, and prayed, and e1horted, with
much farvor; and the story Of her wonderful |
uccess in bringing sinners to repentance began
. be noised abroad. On the following Sunday |
0 many persons came TO hear her that the street
] front OF the church was blocked up with the
1owd that could not gain admission. Tickets
'ara distributed to the members Of the congre-
alton and the penitents seeking religion, and,
Il presentation Of theso, they were admitted st
le private entrance. During the next week the
1citsmenr increased, A11s Van Cott grew more
o9uent, aud the "conversions multiplied.
he l,all OF the Maryland Institute (the largest
the city) was engaged for Sunday afternoon,
order to accommodate the thousands who
ere anxious to hear her.
DIsINTEKEsTED CRITICISM.
THIS Tas very unfortunate move for Mrs.
an Cott because it subjected her to the test Of
1blic criticism As long as she e1horted At St.
'bn's Church, and had her prayer-meetings,
Id children's meetings, and converts meetings,
q sacredness OF the place and the work pro- |