Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1890-10-19

lowed the sound of the bells until he
reached Grace Church. He was ushered
into n comfortable seat, and In lew
minutes minister, with a clean cut
face. broad forehead, and the air OF
man who knew what he was about,
stepped forward in the pulpit and be-
gan to preach his morning sermon.
Although il was summer the church was
filed. and the discourse was listened TO
with attention, for the speaker hap
pened TO be an orator as well as theo-
Logan. After the sermon Mr.. Wander
bilt pushed his way toward the preach
er's room, said he was a stranger In the
city, but the sermon had made such an
impression upon him that he thought 1t
was his duty to give the preacher word
of announcement. He did not tell his
name, and the preacher never dreamed
who he was. The next Sunday, and
the next, and the next, Mr.. Vanderbilt
was an eager listener in the same church,
and then one morning the preacher was
surprised to receive a polite note asking
If he would not like TO take charge OF
St. Bartholomew Church on Madison
avenue, in this city, the church where
the Vanderbilts worship, and conclud-
ing by saving that the church needed
lust such man, and that he could name
his own salary, and have all the money
he wanted to aid the poor, in establish
ing missions, etc.
The note was signed simply Cornelius
Vanderbilt. Finally the gentlemen
met, the preacher, DR.. David ii. Greer,
accepted the offer, his salary was put at
SIS. 900 a year, and he came to New
York: but il was not on account OF the
nav. for DIR. Greer is himself a wealthy
man, and his yearly salary is always
given over to the poor. lie accepts
nothing for his services. His preaching
has made him very popular here. The
reason he came to New York was that
he could work in a larger field, and Mr..
Vanderbilt wanted. beside, "A man TO act
as the dispenser of the enormous sum
that each year he gives to those who
need it and who are deserving. So, al
though DR.. Greer breaches to one OF the
largest and wealthiest congregations in
New York, his main work is TO dispense
the Vanderbilt charities.
He has just perfected plans for novel
purpose, mission somewhat like the
Peoples Palace, in London, called into
life by Besant's "All Sorts and Condi-
tions of Men"-a mission, by the way,
that is of some use, for during the
months from January to June this year
2O4. GAS persons used it, and the issue of
books amounted to $4,000. On Sundays
nearly 10000 persons availed themselves
of the library and reading-room. The
widow of William II. Vanderbilt and all
the other members of the great family
were pleased with the idea, and Cor
nelius Vanderbilt gave the preacher
carte blanche to go ahead with the work,
and now the plans are all drawn up and
adopted, and soon the great work Will
be fully under way. 1t must not be I'M
derstood that this is the only missionary
work DR.. Greer has taken up since he
came to New York. Not only have the
Vanderbits contributed largely to other
needs, but scores of our wealthy men
and women have aided DR.. Greer. Mis-
sons have been established in different
parts of the city, and in his tender So
licitude for the safety of other peoples
souls and their bodily comfort even the
much despised ''heathen Chinee' has
not been neglected.