The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-13
Is Again In Midst of
a Snarl.
KL0NDIKE MINES
Are the Source of Present.
Difficulty.

N ~ oi'A4l3oOH VEO0rnAn, Go1s~
merry pastor Of the Salem Square
Church, who acquired a somewhat nm
enviable notoriety in this city I'M CON-
nestion with the you See Me" societx
scandal. which resulted in the loss Of
many thousand dollars Of WOroeHces
money, is again in tFoubla
This time 1t ts In connection WITH a
Klondike mining company, Of which Ia
is president. A portion Of the stock.
holders of the company have ertaped
suit against il. claiming that the funds
have been misappPopriated by Mn.
Vrooman. The story promises to bo
one of unusual interest and to devotion
some startling situations.
The following has been received from
Chicago, where tho headquarters of the
company are, and where Mn vrooman
now resides:
the klondilte. Yukon and Copper River
Company. Of which Frank Burlington
Vrooman is president, have filed a bill
In the circuit court, asking FOR q re-
oelver AN injunction restraining the
company from disposing of any OF its
assets, an accounting and the dissol1,-
ton of the company.
A receiver Is sought on the ground
that the company Is insolvant, and In
ORDER That pro rata division Of tho
assets remaining should be made. II
Is charged that President Vrooman has
disposed of money paid into the coppo-
ration for stock amounting to over A0,-
"squandered, used and misused by
Vrooman"
Henry NJ. Wallace, one Of the stock
holders, is the prime mover in the suit.
President Vrooman. who is a son-in-
law of John G.. Black, ax-district at
torney, was formerly pastor Of the
Kenwood Presbyterian Church OF this
city He came 20 this city from Bos-
ton.
The company claims to have fields in
Alaska and Northwest territory worth
many millions of dollars, and tho preei-
dent declares that a conspiracy amiBts
among number of the minor stock
holders to obtain hold on come Of this
valuable property.
Frank b. Vroornan who, according
to a Chicago dispatch, is charged with
the misuse of money subscribed by the
stockholders in a Klondilse company,
was formerly pastor Of the Salem
Street Congregational Church in Wor-
oesteP Those who know him do NOT
express surprise that he has embarked
in commercial enterprises, but nothing
adverse TO his character is heard in
this vicinity.
Mr.. Vrooman is about % years OF
age, and was born la Port Huron,
Mich. He has attended Wasbburn Col
lege, Topeka, Kan; Beloh College, in
Wisconsin; the Chicago Theological
Seminary and Harvard University, and
he also studied in Berlin and at Glass
gov, his work being mainly in the
eclectic courses. He wes ordained 10
the ministry of the Congregational
church, at Independence, Kan, In 1887,
and performed missionary work in that
state for some time. He then became
pastor Of the church at Upper Mont
clair N. j., thence coming to this city.
where he was installed as pastor ON
May 2, 1893. In 1S94-5 he supplied the
pulpit of the Hohway Church In Lon
don. He Travelled a great deal and in
1895 was living In Cambridge, Masa.
His father-ln-law, Hon. ]. s. Black.
was commissioner OF pensions at
Washington in President Cleveland's
administration; was formerly a mem
Der of congress from Illinois, and made
a. distinguished record in the civil
war.
Rev. Mr.. vrooman has a large CIRCLE
Of acquaintance in this city, not onIv
in church, but IN commercial circles.
who remember him with great Vivid
ness. For two years ne was the pastor
of the Salem Square congregational
Church and during That time be won To-
cal distinction for his pulpit oratnry.
The odd Salem Square Church had at
that period another pastor, who has at
traoted as wide attention as Rev. Mr..
VroOn8n. About 1891 the Rev. Isaac
j. Lansing, vino had a noted pastoraae,
resigned from the church in this CITY
and removed TO Boston to accept a cali
70 the Park Street Church. Rev. Mr.
Lansing had attracted the eyes OF thA
state to Worcester by his strong stand
on religious tolerance, and when ne was
succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Vrooman
Worcester continued TO be the cynos,lre
OF the commonwealth as previously.
For Short time after the departure
OF Mr.. Lansing the pulpit was vaca nj.
and then the can was extended to tho
Rev. Mr.. Vrooman. Who at that tirne
Yves an associate pastor with the Rev.
IHOHlaS y. B9tCnef OF Blmdrn, N. H.
Rev. 7. K. Beecher was one Of mo
members Of the brilliant Beecher fa1is-
ny, and while not Of the Same reputa-
tlon as his brother Henry Ward
Beccher, he enjoyed more than local
renown. While associated with him al
Blmlra, the Rev. Mr.. Vrooman was dis
tnguished for his learning and oratory.
and these qualities made him very
popular during the first part OF his
charge Of this Salem Square Church.
His discGur~s were marked by a pro-
nouneed breadth Of thought and his
eloquent voice made him a leader from
his entrance here. lie was most ener-
getic, aggressive and interchangeable In
his labors. Always studying he was
a man Of more Than ordinary ability.
His evening discourses often attracted
exceptionally large houses
However, after the novelty Of his
position had paled upon the people OF
the city. there began TO be fractional
sides taken, pro and con- - regards
his novel methods OF cularging the re-
ligious life OF the people until at the
close OF his stay, there were influential
forces opposed to him. As his ministry
here progressed he formed the plan
fs..t.. g.