Delaware journal. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1827-1832, 1827-06-22
MISCELLANY
ERA OF GOOD FEELING.-Bv request

i
circumstance occurred, during a late tour to
Vermont and New hampshire, to solicit donations
for the Wesleyan Academy. which deem worthy of
pubic notice. had letter of Introduction to Col
3. Of Hanover, Dartmouth College,) n. II. And
as hardly supposed that the people in that village
would be disposed to do much towards the object of
my mission, had designed to call on the Colonel,
and then 80 on my journey. In conversation with
the Rev. William W., Congregational minister in
N, mentioned my design and he suggested the
proprietyoi my calling upon the other citizens in
Hanover, and especially upon the officers of the
colleges and kindly offered to be my company,
and introduce me to such gentlemen, as he thought
would be favourable to MY object This was az
c0rdingly agreed upon. and in the course of few
hours, the next day, we took up subscriptions in
that small village to the amount of seUeta- fue DOL
lars Most of the officers of the college, including the
president, became subscribers; Il all seemed to wish
SUCCESS to the institution. The donations themselves
were not gratifying, than the spirit with viii Oh
they were given. No captious questions we're ask
ed, no long complaints of poverty were made, by
those who gave. Though complaints might have
been made with proprety, at that time if ever by
the good people of Hanover. They had but little
before, completed fund of $4,000 for their own
college, Of which very generous proportion had
been subscribed in that village. And bat Just be-
FORE about $1,000 had been collected in that place
for religious charity, BY Mr. c. of S. and in adj
ditlon, they had just started for fund of $4,000
for their college $4,000 of which had been suhscrb
ed, or would be subscribed, in Hanover. In the
midst Of this almost unparalleled levy of public be-
ncvolence, they gave rs dollars to an institutions
100 miles from them, under the patronage of another
denomination and of which, until that day, they
had probably had but little knowledge.
call this at least one good proof, that the present,
is an era Of good feeling. When men Of different
denominations, and of different local interests in lite
IL
of other denominations, and other local interests,
to aid the cause of religion and of science,
we may expect such holy alliance will drive sin and
/, error from the field. An alliance this, which can
= only exist among men of enlarged and noble minds.
e Another reflection grows out OF the above facts,
viz That men not less willing to give, because
they are often solicited, and have been in the habit
giving. As in Hanover, 50 believe it will be found
in other places. that where the objects for public
charity are the oftenest presented, there, their i'm
pOrtance is the most considered and the duty o
giving is the best understood. The yoke of bene
VIOLENT duties, where it is taken and ao0rl, is easy
and the burden therefore becomes light. 1t is thu
' man who seldom gives, that chates and complains
most, when requested to give. 1t has been intimat
ed by some of our ministerial brethren, that unes
we cease our public and private solicitations TO
at charity we shall people, and drive them from
lie u.s. This, however, believe is mistake. If W
u are careful to solicit aid TO- only worthy Objects
n if we prudenty expend the public charities, enrust
IT, ed to u.s. we need not fear We have been too fear
OH full of calling upon our people, to aid in the srea
works of bencvolcnce of the present day ; and thi
is why we are SO doubtful of their unwillingness t
give Are Methodist Christians different from othe
49, Christians, in their dispositions and feelings?
they are, Methndism has male them to differ for
D. has selected its adherents from the mass
" population, with the other denominations. An
are we prepared to acknowledge, that that modii
cation Of Christianity, which maintains universe
atonement, and offers free salvation to the who
ON human family, has tendency to lock up the soul
il him that believes it. within the walls OF self
the Shall those who believe in perfect love to God an
er man. in complete deafness to the world, in the e
he tire subjugaon of the unholy and earthly passion
ty be accounted less accessible to the pleas of benev
hat ence and the claims Of charity, than other Chr
on, tans 1t cannot be. Methodism is benevoie
ul religion 1t makes high professions of consstenc
the its very essence, OF that charity, which seeke
the not its own' Frequent appeals for audable char
:. ties to men under the influence of such reglo
til cannot drive them from US, but draw them to US.
= the strongest cords of attachment. We may indie
Iirritate the feelings of those who have connect
themselves with US, not because they have any 7
culiar attachment for US, but because they thu
t of ours cheap religion; and they can live with
,ex- without paving Tor it. Such men ought to be d
the turbed They have hung upon US, like dead weigh
ter and been spungng around our ecclesiastical gat
die long enough II they will not reform, it Is no nj
ew ter no soon they leave us-and 1t IS to he hope
with no one else will receive Them The least we oue
uae to do to such Narrow covetuous minds Is, 10 ma
allied them uneasy every where. Such souls will ne'
avis be admitted to the heavenly east' IN their presf
and state for there will not be found awedolhS garnie
tain in the qestry Of heaven, to mt them-they are all
soa large and they ought to have seat at the ia
more Of the church below hut, tha"k Hou, inc -
Mr.. body of the Methodists are not such II they
the deficient in their public charities, tits chiefly beca
place their attention has mas not neeh ote "a.