Daily Republican., 1880-12-09
DECLAxKD A PkAUD.
The Rev.van Meters wsS Of Dsing
-SendiBE Circulars 60 Sym ps-
thetie Persoas, asking for Ard
Reeause his Poe ket was Ptek Cd.

Beeause his Pocket WAS Ptek Cd.
Four or five years ago Rev. W. C.
Van Meter, missionary stationed at
Rome, lectursd at the Second Baptist
church, in this city, and recsivsd q
large sum OF money by subscription
Since then ne has frequently oorres-
ponded with charilably disposed citi'
aens, asking them 10 aid him in his
missionary work. Last spring he visi-
ted Philadelphia for the purpose ofpro'
curing more funds, and upon his re-
turn to Rome had the following cir.
cular distributed throughou, this
country
STOLEN.
81 VIA CoRDoTTI, RoMR, Nov. a. 1850.
DsAR FRIEND: To-day lsrrived from
America after the most stormy and dan.
gerous voyage | ever made. The most
distressing part was crossing the chan
mel. We were crowded In the saloon.
| lay deathly sea sick. During the
sickness ,helplessness aud confusion my
pocket was picked. The money was
bringing for the work was gone also
the name Of the bank in London upon
which the draft was drawn. | immedi'
ately did what could TO detect the
thief, but the officers assured me the
search would be iruitisss. ! knew not
what 10 do.
FIRST l though OF rscrossing to Lon
don and asking those who had visited
Rome and who knew the work TO help,
and knowing how greatly was needed
here and that my Heavenly Father
knows all abou: 1t, said,'I will leave
all with Him and follow where he
leads" Fortunately my ticket and q
littls money were iu another pocket, 80
WAS able TO reach Rome without atop-
ping on the way.
At once called together my CO
workers and frankly told then all and
released them from any obligation 10
con tinus, that they might be free to
Geek employment elsewhere, | said II
must rot 20 into debt You are paid
" December lst, but unless help come
can promise yon nothing after that
time"
After a sad pause one said, "this is
Gods work-he is now trying us-l
will trust Him and whether you have
money or not ! will stand by you and
not fOrsake my pupils." Another who
has a wife and three children said 1--WE
know what poverty and want and trials
arc. We know that God has never for.
saken us. Now he is testing our faith,
our sincerity, and our love fer Him
&ud His cause.
will not desert my post. Zach
spoke in the same spirit. Grasping
hands, pledging TO stand by me and
By one snothe T 10 the work, they left me
TO trust, and pray, and work as never
before.
A gentleman has kindly offered &c
advance whA: may De needed ioF the
present.
Mt knowing inst the wisess csurss
to pur5ue and No, having time tc
write. thought | would make this
frank statement OF present embarrass
meut aud send it to some who have SC
kindly helped us and there leave it.
Should it be your pleasure to hsud OF
send this to some friend whom you
think might possibly help us, will bt
grateful to you.
For the information Of such friend
let me say If one thousand would each
send one pound, Give dollsrs) the
whole work could be prosecuted with
energy until July !, 1881.
Thirty pounds Zone hundred and MY
dollars) will support, until June first,
one of these dear fellow workers wbt
have pledged to stand at their posts,
money or no money. Five pounds
(twenty Rvs dollsrs) will support one
Of them tor month.
Friends in America viii. send to the
Treasurer, Mr.. ". Gulsger, 81 North
From. st., Philadelphia.
Nc 5srs. Galle & Son, 90 Bachsnnon
st., Glasgow. and Mr.. Henry Keen,
Ina High HolborD, London, will kindly
r. eceive aud forward contributions tc
us.
Drafts and P. O. Orders can be sent
directly y to our Bankers, Messrs. Msqusy
ana Hooker, 20 Plaza di Spagna,
Rome, or to me. Committing all to
our Father We will 60 forward. Pray
for us. W. C. VAE MErBn, SUP'r.
Italian Bible and Sunday School
Mission, q Via Condotti, Rome, Italy.
A reporter Of the Philadelphia Times
called at Mr.. Gulsger's Office, on Iues.
day, where it WAS aseertained that, not
withstandiDg the Teputed failure OF
memory respecting the draft, the money
the draft called for had been paid by a
banking house in Rome, so tina. the
circular is useless and its circulation
absolutely misle aiding. Mr.. Van Meter
has written Gulager that he has re-
ceived the money, aud yet the tender
sympathies of tle charitable are aWak-
asd by the belief, still giving pnblic.
ity, that he lost the several Thousand
dolIsrs secured him. Some Of the sal
lent features o! Van Meters Ite were
also learned and are hereby passed In
review. Originally Baptist clergy
man, presiding over q church, he drift.
cd into the Five Points Mission and
thence into the Howard Mission, at Az
Ne Bowory, New York city. He took
hold of the latter charity ina manner
charact teristic Of his ent!re life. Col
IeetinR q dozen or so Of ragged children
he had them dressed and taught TO
sing. With these he sSnvsssed the
country, representing them IS "litlie
wanderers from the Howard.
For several years he was exceeding.
| ly popular, and ingra1iat"d himself
into tho good grSces Of nearly ell the
! denominations. BY and by there grew
up some suspicious respecting him,
One day, according TO the story told q;
LnVa NlAI