New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-20
GEORGE MUELLER.
IN ECCENTRIC PHILANTHROPIST WITH
VNROUNDED FAITH IN PRAYER
Ills WORK FOR THE ORPHANS IN ENGLAND ANp
FROM his DIARY


biod I'm England at the advanced age OF ninety
two vas one Of the mos, remarkable figures
ever connected with the religious and charitable
work of that country. His guiding princIpl'
throughout his entire career was TO place his
reliance solely upon prayer. He never asked the
,rrtribution Of a penny toward his enterprises.
md vet there came to him. in the course OF
,vcr half century considerably more than
4 OcNOGG which was expended in philanthropic
works under his direction.
Miller vas a German. born near Halberstadt,
Prussia and his early years gave little promise
Of usefulness in any direction. As youth ne
acquired disslpatcd habits and was imprisoned
when sixteen years old FOR swindling an nm
Keeper Despite these decidedly unclerical ten
concies the lads father determined that he
should study for the ministry and he was en-
tered ut the University of Halle as A divinity
student There he continued his wild methods
Of life for some time. until he CHANGED to go one
evening with fellow student to a praycr-meet-
Ing a; a private house on this occasion. he af-
trrward declared. his thoughts were turned IN
different direction and from that day he began
20 devote himself To religious work. When ne
was twenty-thrce years old ne went to live in
free lodgings provided for poor divinity stu
dents and spent most Of his time in preaching
ard teaching
In 1890 h, decided to become missionary to
the Jews. and went to London to study Hebrew
ard to take UP the work under the auspices OF
the London Society for the Conversion OF the
Hebrews. But his peculiar attitude toward re-
hgiOn soon nterfered with this project lie
made up his mind that he was not justified In
paying allegie nee TO any sect or society, and
that his guidance must come directly from God
He gave up his studies in London and went to
Tcignmouth. where he became minister or the
Fhenezer Chapel. In conducting ii he received
no salary depending entirely upon voluntary
contributions and this practice, begun here, he
ECver afterward abandoned In 1880 he went TO
live in Bristol. where ne founded the Scriptural
knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad in
1874 One OF its objects was to assist in the
support If day schools Sunday schools and adult
schools Day schools. entirely supported 10y the
help of the institution. were established in Corn
wall Somcrsetshirc. Worcestershire, Devon, in
London and in Wales No teachers not "believ
ers' were employed. and no instruction opposed
to the principles of the Gospel" given An
other object was to circulate the Scriptures,
and Bibles were printed and sent out free to
many countries.
SUBSCRIPTIONS BEGIN TO COME IN.
In December 1880. after. he says season
Of prolonged and earnest prayer. he mentioned
70 his friends his plan for Orphan House.
He asked for no subscriptions. but it was not
long before they began to come to him. on April
H. Of the next year he made the actual begin
ming Of the work 10y taking in two or three or
phan children at his home. No So Wson-st..
Bristol. In month the number Of his waits
had increased to twenty-six. At this time and
b. gff.v ala
utely without funds. either for the maintenance
Of the orphans for his own family. He had
married. moreover at about the time that he
decided to receive no salary. his wife being in
iuli sympathy with his ideas. Since he made
no statement Of the condition Of his affairs his
rarishioners and acquaintanccs had no means of
knowing when ne SUI piled with money and
when he was in want. They judged somewhat
by his personal appearance. and on many an
oCC asion a friend meeting him on the street In a
particularly shabby coat would take him into
he nearest tailor's shop and buy him some new
clothes But through what must have been an
extremely trying period he was invariably cheer
full and it was remarkable that help usually
came before his household was actually suffer
ing from want. He never acknowledged dona
ticns except 10y initials. so that people who gave
for the sake Of having their names appear were
disappointed Many persons found it imposs- /
lie t. believe that - public apI Gals were made /
10y Miller This .del was strengthened by the !
appearance in various parts Of England Of huge /
rlacards. posted upon walls and trees. telling Of
THE Bristol Miracle" 1t was not proved how ,
ever, that Muller was resi- Onsible for these and /
i: may well have been that they were the work |
OF some enthusiastic sympathizor.
Help came to him in remarkable ways. checks
Or money contained in letters from anonymous