Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-04-17

.g,r,. And the disclosures Of the past year
havs be.n sufficient to send conviction into The
bosom of The doubling, misty minded seepfie that
/" TO them tina, believe all things are possible
or. in. other words, that whatever realizing
faith uilLs, the powerful reachings OF realizing
faith must soon accomplish.
Participating. il is hoped, in some good oe-
gree, in that spirit Of benevolen, daring "h'c'i
is now abroad in the world, - breathing ana
painting and ihrouing itself out, in efforts lorsty
and sublime, as are The objects at tohich II a'ms-
your Board of Managers, more than year ago.
felt themselves driUen TO the inquiry, Lo'u'
what wilt thou have as 10 do!'-impeiieo ~ d"
influence which they had no power 10 resist, 20
enter into a serious examination whe'her INC
attitude which they sustained were no' '"o
humble; and whether the ground when 'ncy
had hitherto assumed were not by tar 100 loD
70 NEE, The r.ouisitions of the hines in which
thew were called to act. The result was given
in their last Annual Report-an instant and
unanimous determination 10 take higher ground
TO stand side BY side with those who had as
sumed lofier and more commanding attitude
before them-apd, with them, to struggle hard
in the high and holy contest which was then
commenced, Of placing in ever! destitute iami>
" of our beloved country COPY oil me livery
oracles of God The feelings consequent on
this determination seemed almost universal
tina, the Lord had prompted it hat the hFst
step in advance having now been hrm'y taken,
the mountain, which had long been lowering
and frowning in distant perspective, as IL CID
ding defiance 10 a nearer access, was already
far reduced; and that, though the way miSn'
sill be rough and broken, and pr"clplous, yet
that, by the continued agency OF that presiding
Spirit which had caused the impulse, the work
commenced under such cheering auspices, not
only would, but, in due time, must, oe carried
forward 10 joyous eonsummafon.
The field which your Board selected Tor
themselves more properly, which the
Lord selected for them,--an which, by Divine
assistance, they plrdged themselves to occupy
during the course of that year on the margin 81
which they stood, is comprehended within the
geographical limits Of whs, is generally demo-
mira,ed the Northern Neck Of Virginia"
including all the counties except one, The re:
sponsibil,y of supplying which was cheeIiuily
assumed by kindred institution in the town of
fredericksburg With this deduction, which
seemed to have been providentiAlly made Tor
them on he very threshold Of their enterprise,
as an incentive, no doubt, TO take courage and go
forwdfd. there was still remaining, including
that Of Alexandria, eight Of perhaps as des'i
,ute counties as could be found in The whole
State Of Virginia. And when the hilleness Of
our Society is taken into the account, (compos-
ed of scarcely an hundred and twenty mrm5ers)
together with the smallnrss and precariousness
Of us means, i, must be acknowledged that, 10
he eye of sense, the prospect had fw features
other ,hap those which are calculated 10 ope-
rate sadness and dejec ion. Instead Of sis'on
your Managers found that they were "a led up
on to move and walk ny faith" They did
so, and faith, acting as a kver upon tina, nrc
cious promise of the Divine Record, " Your
labor in the Lord shall no, be in ,ain," drew
to their assistance not only "grace suffi lent"
and sufficiency Of moral courage, but, in the
result, an amplitude Of means, commensurate
with the increased demand which, they were
we'll aware, would be made upon them
4 discerning Christian public, always liberal
when the object presented is one of inleres, and
importance, were not appealed 10 in vain
Your Collecting Committees were not only
every where received with usual courtesy and
kindness, bu,, in most instances, their solicita-
tons were crowned with more than ordinary
success. And the remark made in previous
Report might, very appropriately, be renewed
here, tina, Ihe reluctance on the part Of the
people TO aid, is often exceeded by a backward,
ness and difhde nee on the part Of your Board TO
make the application. Thus multiplying the
evidence, that, in every great scheme, the deve-
Opponents of which are 10 operate results glo-
rious TO the Redeer.er's kingdom, the Lord
uniformly goes before, prepares the way, re-
moves distractions, and permits 10 remain only
such difficulties as are necessary TO continued
excitement, and 10 induce ultimate satisfaction
in the bosoms Of those by whom they are to be
met and overcome.
To succeed, however, in bringing your noble
en,erprize TO happy contamination, by the
kindly feelings and liberal contributions of the
Inhabitants of'his town merely, was what your
Board had never contemplated. They an.ici-
pa,ed the cordial and vigorous cooperation Of
those counties, on whose behalf this benevolent
movemen, had been excited: they looked for.
ward, with un,oaverng con- fdencs, 10 the forma>
ton of Auxiiaries, by which the weight Of re-
spon.ibili,y assumed by them should be greatly
ightened-which should occupy The ground
,hemseives-and cheerfnlly engage to meet the
whole demand within the limits Of their re-
.pec,ive counties. This being deemed an OBJ
iect OF importance too indispensable TO be ne