The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-11
A LIFE OF FAITH.
Wonderful Works of Charity in Our Own
Land Equal to Muellers 0rphanage.


story Of faith only equaled by that of George
Mueller of England, or Augustus Hermann
FRANKIE On Holle. The person telling the story
is so opposed TO his name in print lest it seem
like self -glorifcation-like claiming to be the
power where he is the instrument-that it is q
most difficult sketch to give; but he left no inn
preston of egotism or REORGANIZATION The
hearers minds were constantly turned from him
10 feel the compassion of God and to praise Him
for what was accomplished.
The truth of the narrative is known to all OF
ihe eightyseven ministers present, as they have
each helped the good work. The merest outline
IAN be given of most thrilling two-hour talk
The subject announced was the History of the
Charities of the Lutheran Church" The speaker
dwelt at length on Gods love and compassion
He said that the greatest power in the universe
is the life of Christ To live as the Master lived
is the only object worth having. The stranger,
the tramp. the orphan, the sick. the needy, the
oppressed, are the Christ himself standing be-
fore us. AS we would do to Him, should we
recognize Him, must we do to His representa-
tives If we do this it dismisses all question of
means, for will not Father of infinite resources
sake care of His own2
A young American clergyman in 1876 had
made a tour of the continent. and was returning
through England to his home. A sudden shower
drove him to take shelter in Jewish orphan
asylum. There on tablet he read, Built by
Abraham Moses to perpetuate the virtues of his
wife, Abigail Moses. Within, the orphan shall
find com passion"
He had stood before the work of the masters
he had worshiped in St Pauls, he had stood
uncovered before the renowned dead of West
minister Abbey. but this touched his heart as
nothing else had DONE and with streaming eyes
he read again, Within the orphan shall find
compassion" while the soul of great purpose
entered his life. He began TO save. That day
yet he walked to save cab fare of Il cents.
Again, he took palmer dinner. until these con-
seerated savings had amounted to $50.
He felt he could do nothing without the help
Christian women accustomed to the work He
went to Christian institution in Germany aud
laid down the money for the training of two
good women in English, who might come and
help him in this country.
On his return he rented small house in
Pittsburg. His first patient was wounded
filthy. exhausted Mexican soldier There is
Dne IN this house." said the speaker, who helped
me battle the poor fellow, who could not get
over his surprise that preachers should wash
aim"
From this has grown hospital which has
sheltered not less than 5000 people upon whom
has been spent more than 5000, 900 In the past
thirty-fve years.
''God took care. He did exceeding abundantly,
above all that we ask or think"
went to the market to get food for the sick,
with only twenty-five cents in hand. He had
gone over the ground many times but could not
anything sufficient which could be purchased
for that amounG. Suddenly a man said to him:
"Are you Mr. - of the hospitals"
Il am"
81 have three dray-loads of provisions for
you"
Thus God saved his own. The provisions had
been sent from Long Island by former cholera
patient
Another time when there was not a dollar in
the treasury a stranger passing through the city
handed him 500. saying it was slush money
from the United States ship, the Constitution
Slush money is revenue from waste fat from
cooking.
They were sometimes anxious but never dis
couraged; they knew in whom they trusted.
During the cholera the matron had put the last
shirt patient. She said to the director late
on Saturday night I'VE must have more linen. |"
He demonstrated; said it was Saturday night;
the stores were closed and no money; but still
she insisted, and he started to see what could be
done.
AS he descended the Hill little girl met him
and said: Are you the director of the hospital2
Here is bundle of shirts for YOU" The good
ladies of the city had prepared and sent them; as
ne returned he was overtaken by the carriage of
q skeptic, who took him back to the hospital,
and to whom he told the story.
From cholera times came the orphan asylum.
Swedish pastor in Chicago wrote the director
that with his own hands he was making collins
in which to bury the dead of the parish, but, he
said: What shall do with their orphan chill
drenW The director agreed to take twelve.
He went to meet them as they came on the
ears to the hospital at PittsbuPg. He expected
to meet neat, clean. fair Scandinavian children,
bat he found them dirty, tear-stained soiled,
begrimed, and the romance of the work few
out of the window. The stern reality of an
nninviting duty faced him.
Some of these children have made men and
women of mark, good honest citizens some of
them filing high stations.
On one occasion it was reported thirty or forty
people were starving at the outer depot Mr..
George Weyman went out to see them. He
found them Swedes, unable to speak one word of
English. Their wants were supplied and the
children were taken to the hospital Five of
them were gannt horrible skeletons, but they
were all saved. One is now the wife OF an emf
nent physician, herself one of the directors of a
similar institution in a great city.
From this came the Orphans Farm School, at
Zelienople, and the Home for Girls, at Roches-
ter. Pa.
Mr.. Basler, the local director at Zelienople,
went out every morning at 6 o'clock and read
and prayed for the workmen for daily aid, and
although they knew no money was on hand they
completed and paid for building costing $25, 600
1t was a matter of daily deliverance.
Afrer the house at Zelienople had been occu-
pied some time it was burnt in season of ex-
.reme cold in midwinter. Thus seventy five
honseless homeless children were on their
hands. They were placed in families for the
time, and in six months temporary barracks
were erected until the home was again COM
pleted.
From the Rochester Home grew a similar one
In New York Mr. Mueller, wealthy man, in
stead OF erecting costly monument in Green.
wood to his son, gave $4,000 and his brother
$4,000 for an orphans asylum, in which a
model home and school have been kept for the
past seventeen years. The Rev. G.. L. Holz, one
Of tho worlds most efficient teachers. has been
succeeded by Rev. G. Berkmeir. The house was
opened by colony of orphans sent from Roches-
ter and Zelienople. Pa
A letter was received by the director from
Milwaukee, from Pastor Muelheiser, asking him
to establish hospital at Milwaukee The letter
was not answered. 1t was followed by three
more letters more and more urgent.
The director inclosed him one dollar, and wrote
him: Begin your hospital. This is more than
we had to start with at Pittsburg"
The pastor labeled it, ''For Hospital" In