Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-01-28


t,n &c every moral and religious Obgatlon on
the mart of the parent entails want and misery,
"a alI the dreadful consequences OF vice, on
their offspring and renders them ut subjects IN
deed of such an Asylum OF the destitute as THIS
Still your Managers have not CONSIDERED tnem-
selves Justified in extending the aid such cases
seemed to cali for: they are not orphans, strict
Nv speaking; and they have felt themselves COM
PEELED to refuse applications they would have
ioyfully received had their funds lustlhed them
in SO doing Extend these funds little fufther
and not only the child bereaved by death OF the
fostering care of parent, will be sustained ana
supported by your charity, but many little IN
nocent. now daily subjected to the contaminat-
ing influence of the grossest lmmofallty ana
vice will be rescued from their influence, and
nlaced in a situation where all its associations
will be favorable to virtue-Where those now
trained to crime, and doomed to become the
scourges of society, may be MADE useIul anu
valuable members. Policy, as well as charity,
would seem to make this duty in institutions
such as ours, and very smalradditlon to our
funds, would enable us to accomplish much OF
this work.
During the past year, fourteen orphans have
been entirely supported in the Asylum, two have
been placed in situations OF comfort ana re-
spectability, one has died, and two new MEM
beers have been received But in estimating the
value of this charity, it,would be indeed par
tial view of the subject, to consider only the
comfort protection and instruction given to
the HELPLESS beings whom God has thus commit
ted directly to our care. To rear one child IN
habits of vrtuous industry-to lead one immor-
tai soul in the paths of piety-to comfort and
sunport a single child who has been left in des-
titution and want would be work worthy of
all our labor and care: to sustain fourteen such
unfortunate fellow creatures and to train them
up for usefulness in society, and happiness IN
heaven, may well excite our utmost gratitude
and zeal. Still, this is but a small portion Of
the blessing conveyed to the poor by the eff
forts and intentions of Societies like this. The
thoughts and hopes of many widowed mother
are turned to our Asylum, when she contem-
plates the weak and helpless little ones around
herr and as she labors for their support and feels
her whole soul engaged in her delightful work,
she is conscious that the duty of the present mo-
ment may lawfully engage all her thoughts;
that all anxiety about the future may be dlSpei-
led: that, though death may soon separate her
from her little ones, kind and affectonate friends
are at hand to supply all a mothers care, to
give all mothers love to her offspring; that
the love of Christ is constraining the hearts Of
many to initiate the example he set Of doing
good that in the peaceful walls of the Orphan
House, they will find refuge from the storms
of life, and all her care could have provided
all her love could have asked for her child Who
that reflects upon the anguish of widow strug-
4
only equal to the supply of her daily bread
who that sees her sinking under eXertions to
support her offspring greater than her strength
can sustain,-can calculate the amount of hap
piness the establishment of such an institution
must bring with it, when it promises thus to sup
ply her places thus to supply a mother to her
motherless babes. Who that thus calculates the
happiness of the orphan, directed and sustain
ed by Society like this, and the relief it must
bring to the widow in every hour of her toll
the weight it must remove from her heart in her
hour of death, can for moment withhold all
it may be in his power to give to accomplish
such work? Who will refuse to extend its
means of usefulness, until it shall be proclaimed
that the wants Of all are supplied, and no claim
offered that is notfully and efficiently met?-We
answer, none who consider the obligations they
owe to the great Father and Benefaetor of our
race, and respect his authority, his example and
his commands. If the necessity of any duty is
to be estimated by the frequency with which it
is inculcated, and the sanctions by which it
is enforced,--if the great Creator may be sup
posed to regard in a particular manner the OBJ
servation of those commands which seem to be
repeated, only that they may be strongly i'm
pressed on our hearts, and secured from viola
ton and negect there is scarcely any virtue
that we ought more diligently to exercise than
that of compassion to the poor, the fatherless
and the widow His providence is continually
presenting such objects to our benevoence, and
his word again and again enforces the duty Of
carrying out our feelings of benevoence to the
actual work of benefcence
Nor is the Importance offs such benefcence
left to be measured by the mere duty resulting
from the command of our God. He has enforc-
ed the obligation by the highest considerations
of selfinterest and self-love.-" Blessed is he,
that considereth the poor and the needy; the
Lord will deliver him IN the time of trouble."-
What stronger Indictment to the performance
of any duty should man require, than the prom
Use of the Lord, that he will deliver him, in his
own hour OF trouble-in the day when the sha-
dow of death shall compass him about and all
the vanties of the world shall fade away and
all the comforts of life forsake hm-when plea
sure shall no more delight, nor power protect
HMM that hour to fad favour with God is
recompense indeed. Yet to those who, from
reverence to God. and faith, or confidence in
his promises, perform these duties, the Saviour,
in the hour of Judgment will say, "Forasmuch
as ye did it unto one. of the least of these
We did it unto me: Come, We blessed of my
Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you
from the foundation of the world" Nor is it only
by these direct appeals to our own interests and
happiness that our heavenly Father seeks to en-
Slro otton fIot, oh l,,tiac