New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-14
OBITUARY..
THE REV. CHARLES LORING BRACE

I1E KEW. OhAhLES LOhlINO DhhSH
A cable dispatch received in this city yesterday
from CAMPER, in the Tyro, switzerland, announced
the death on Monday of the Rev. Charles Lorng
Brace, the founder and for thirty eight years the
secretary of the Chldrcns Aid Society of this city,
Mrs. Brace and unmarried son and daughter were
with him. He had gone to the Lyrol for his health.
A married son and daughter are in this country.
Mr.. Brace was born in Litchfeld, Conn, in 1926.
At the age of twenty he was graduate from Yale
University and afterward attended the theological
seminary in New-IIaven and the Union Theological
seminary in this city. Though an ordained minister
he accepted position pastor OF church, out
spent his life in nonsectaran work for the poor and
criminal classes of NewYork
In 1850 Mr. Brace made pedestrian tour through
Britain ireland and the Continent where he
spent the winter in study at Berlin. After leaving
Berlin lie went TO Hungary, where he was arrested OH
suspicion Of being a revolutionary spy, but was soon
released by the Austrian Government with an apology
During his tour in Europe he had made study OF
the Various institutions of charity and reform, and on
his return in 1852 at began series OF voluntary
labors on Blackwers Island and at the Five Points
with hope of benefting the unfortunate
classes of those places. After more than
years trial, he became convinced that
this method could not succeed as permanent work
Of reform. The hopeful field was among the young
where crime might be checked in its beginning and the
seed Of future good character, order and virtue be
work. which had already been started by W. c. Gil
man, W. c. Russell, b. j. Rowland, Judge Mason and
others in the boys meetings" The following year
he founded the Chdrens Aid society, the outgrowth
Of these meetings.
While engaged as secretary Of the new society, in
1894. Mr. Brace much impressed with the need OF
practical charity for the street boys that slept at
night near the newspaper Offices. When he suggested
lodging house for them the proposition was looked
on as mpracticabe, the boys were said TO be per-
feet bandtt But Mr. Brace was not to be discouraged
and after numerous rcfusas from property owners 10
lease their buildings for such purpose, top lott IN
a building at Nassau and Fulton SITS. was obtained
the saying that he could have the room for tho
experiment if every other tenant left the building
The experiment proved great success and is now one
Of the most important auxiliaies for the help OF the
young.
Another feature of practical reform which MT Brace
began which he made his special work for the REST
Of his life providing homes for destitute Children
where each child could have the benefits OF family lfe
instead Of being brought up by machinery lhS
was embodied in his scheme Of immigration. which.
simple and effective as it seems, was strongly op-
posed by many persons interested in asylums and other
institutions and by large class who thought that 1t
would be scattering the germs Of disease widespread
through the country Then there the uncertainty
10 whether the farmers would accept the children.
and at first attempt made to obviate this By
allowing the applicants 10 state what kind OF childch
they wished But as the applications were all for
perfect children, and the children 10 be benehted
were intensely human. the impracticabuty OF thls
method was soon apparent and II abandoned for
the in that Of sending party III charge
Of An agent 10 neghborhOod and allowing the Farmers
to select the children whom they prefer
Early I'm 1873 stranger from New England gave
Whtclaw Reid Fl 900 to De expended for the benefit
Of The poor in a manner that would yield the best
result, and which would make necessary the least
outlay Of money directly upon the person. Mr.. Reid
adopted the method OF emigration proposed by Mr.
Brace and In March. 1879, scventysX children were
sent 10 Kansas IN charge Of an agent Of the society
I'm the next two months two other parties were sent
West in the same manner. making In all l39 persons
benefited by this money and $500 additional which. II
| applied In placing the children In an asylum, would
have been exhausted in one year, and could nave
! sustained only ten persons. -,
! Nr. Brare wrote number Of books, most Of whicn
dealt with different phases OF his life work Among
/ them ar. " The New West "GeSta Christi" The
! UargrrouS Classes Of NcW-YOrk,' The Unknown
| cod and a collection Of short sermons 10 News
boys The last book consisted OF hi, regular SUNDAY
! MINT addr.-sc, at the boys lodging houses. Mr..
Brace travelled and spoke extensively at charity con
| vcntOns throughout the world