The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-09-13
From the New York Tribune, 11th.l
he Prayer Tcsf--Dr. MulIor's Great
'ns

Q&Etus
HOW AN ENGLISH PHrLASTHRoP1sT CARRIED on
HIS CHARITABLE WORK, RELYING on PRAYER
TO SUPPLY TIE MEANS.
The story OF a successful trust upon
PRAYER alone to procure the money needed
TO live and carry on charitable object was
told last evening by the Rev. George Miller,
ut DR.. Budingtou'S church, in Brooklyn.
Every pew was filed. The livcliest interest
was manifested while the English philan-
thropist told his story. In front OF the
speaker sat Mrs. Muller. an old lady, whose
pleasant face and child-like expression OF
countenancc characterized her as a fitting
companion to husband so strong in the
faith. She was absorbed in the address, and
often reflected her husbands earnestness OF
manner. When he said that after receiving
the needed funds in answer to prayer, the
orphans failed to appear because he hadn't
Drayed for them, she burst into merry lit
tie laugh, while the audience broke out in
substantial smile.
Mr.. Miller speaks with an energy that
does not often accompany seventy-two
wears, although he does not descend to rant
ing. He is tall, OF soldierly bearing, and
his gray hair is we'll brushed back from a
high forehead. His elocution is strongly
marked with German accent, but he speaks
with the carncstness OF thorough conyic-
ton. He is native OF Kroppenstadt, Prus-
sia. was graduated at Halle, and went to
England in 1929. In 1880 he became pas.
tor Of small independent chapel at Tcign-
mouth. He soon refused to receive any
salary, believing that Ged would provide
for all financial necessities in direct an
swer to prayer. This theory he car
ried out in 1892, when Il pastor at Bris-
tol, and his only salary consisted OF
voluntary contributions, and at the close OF
1888 four schools were under his control.
He soon enlarged the scope OF his benevo-
lent enterprises, and, after hiring house
for an orphanagc in 1896, by June, 1887,
over $4,000 had been voluntarily contri-
buted. The orphans quickly increased in
numbers, and in 1916 he began to pray for
$50, 900, with which to erect large build
ing and meet current expenses. Gifts be
gan to appear in December. when $4,000
came in, and in the following July $40, ,250.
BY January, 1S47, about $4,000, in addi-
ton to what was necessary for current eX-
penses, had been received, and in 1850 his
annual receipts reached in all $4,000,
which, Mr.. Muller said, came without soli-
citation in answer to prayer.
He kept on praying, and in January, 1851,
nc received $4,000; in 1852 $500, and IN
1853 S65.500. lie also received during the
year ending May, 1870, S1S9.575, with which
lS9 missionaries and 122 schools were sup
ported or assisted, 2,261 orphans main
tanned, 47,413 Bibles distributed. From
October, 1880, to May, 1874, he received in
all S3,095.000, by means Of which 3S,SO0
children were taught, 4G7, 900 Bibles distrib-
uted, 80, 100000 tracts circulated, 4,40S or
phans and 100 missionaries supported. The
five orphan houses are vested in board OF
trustees. but they have no endowments, as
Mr.. Mullcr's theory is that money will be
forthcoming when needed. He Is now pas
tor OF church with membership OF nine
hundred.
After the rendering of "Jesus, Lover OF
Nv Soul" by the choir, and reading OF
Scripture by DR.. Burlington, Mr.. Mdller
spoke, in substance, as follows:
| am not in the habit OF speaking thus
publicly of the institution OF which am
the founder, except when l am particularly
requested to do so, lest it be supposed that
am travelling in order to put the institu-
ton before the public. This is not why |
came among the dear Christian friends in
the United States, but simply so that, in my
feebly way, might seek to benefit young
believers in the Lord with the experience
which have had during the last fifteen
years in His service. / was brought up to
be Clergyman, and after studying at the
illogical institute finally made up my mind
to 90 to England, and came first to Ply
mouth. I labored there for two and a
half years, and accepted a call from
Bristol. After time it seemed best for va
rious reasons that / should have no salary,
but should leave the matter entirely in the
hands OF the Lord. So said to the church
in October, 1929, that / no longer ex-
pccted stated salary, but would leave it
TO their love to supply me voluntarily, just
as they pleased to do. l have been going
on now forty-scven years, simply depen-
dent on the Lord for my necessities, both as
pastor OF the church and director Of the in
stitution, to which have given the greater
part Of my time. But while say this, it
might be supposed that had not the least
income whatever. II any one supposes l
have been q loser and a sufferer, he will be
entirely mistaken. for the Lord graciously
supplied me with all I have needed,
and, generally speaking, / had abundance; !;
and assistance came not only from
England, but even from Scotland, Ireland,
Canada, and the United States itself, and
from New York, SO that in all parts OF the
world the Lord has touched the hearts OF
his people to supply any temporal necessi-
ties. So sometimes have been without any
money whatever; generally l have had
abundance, but sometimes nothing--not
only altmoney gone, but few times even
all provisions gone; and then ii childlike
simplicity fell on my knees and asked the
Lord to supply me, and often in the very
moment of prayer there was knock at the
door and there was some one with relief.
This was Aot only once or twice, but many,
many times, that the Lord proved that
though Elijah is dead, the GOD OF Elijah Is
still living, and that in the nineteenth CEN
tury He is as ready to answer the prayer OF
his children as 1000 years ago.
It came to my mind, when God answered
my prayer in this way, that ! might provide
for the many neglected orphan children by
trusting in God for the needed money. In
1884 founded the orphan asylum. Its be-
ginning was almost insignificant. but good.
The principles On which it was founded
were: That the living God should alone be
its patron; and that we would never 20 into
debt, but patiently wait on God to supply
the means for caring tor the children. SO
prayed for help. The expense now for one
day is as great as the expense OF the whole
first year Of the institution. We require
now on an average about 1920 q day,
or $226,0O0 year. At the beginning