The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-03-10
For the GALAXY.
MEMOIR OF THE LATE JONATHAN
WAINWRIGHT

circumstances OF the past, the present, and
the future consequences. The casual obser
yer may rest satisfied with acts of kindness.
provided they serve for the present to dimin
lsh human want or suffering, but ethics and
pure religion claim a more extended and
more enduring benevolence: a benevolence
which has respect not TO its present effects
only, but extends EDWARDS into future and fl
nal results. Temporary considerations are
insufficient TO determine the true character of
many well intended and honestly designed
actions.
Honesty ofintention, which is ever COM
mendable, and always palliates to a greater
or less degree human frailties, does not Oh
every occasion secure the most beneficial re-
suits. There may be perversion of the
best OF heavens blessing. Even charity may
tend TO the ruin OF the object of its bestow-
Gent. There is n charity which tends d.
rectly to destroy. To feed the hungry poor,
to raise up the depressed aud down trodden,
and to clothe those whom disease or misfor-
tunes have made real objects Of charity is
ranked by the pen OF inspiration among acts
Of the most exalted nature.
Among the christian virtues, charity sus-
tains the ple-eminence. 1t is, therefore, a
subject of no small moment to determine its
true purport and meaning. And what is it
Is it to pamper and feed the indolent and vi
cious, and other numerous pests to the COM
munity, and by thus doing encourage or sus-
tain them in their unfortunate condition =
Certainly, the proviGeniially poor, the sick
and infrm are real objects of compassion
But there is charity equally if not more
commendable than this. A charity which
ennobles and elevates. A charity which re-
Iieves passing wants by the removal of their
producing causes. A charity which in a
great measure suppressed vice by the reno
val of the incentives to its commission This
species of charity brings iuio action both the
| intellectual and physical man, and enables
him TO provide by his own exertons not only
for his present, but for his future necessities.
OF every species of charity this is probably
the most deserving. lie who enables others
by labor or honest exeriions to provide for
themselves and families is certainly as much
if not more deserving the plaudits of the COM
munity, than he who simply ministers to THEN
corporal requirements.
By these means vice and crimeare proven
ted and healthy state produced both in indi
vIdnalS and the public The position is gen.
orally admitted that there is no greater pre-
ventlve OF crime than industry, and by tho
admitted laws Of hygiene nothing so cfectu-
ally secures firm health as well regulated la
boz. lie, therefore, who, by his own exer-
lions promotes industry by securing its ade-
quate reward, deserves well of the public, and
is justly entitled to the appellation of bene-
| factor.
We have been led to these reflections from
consideration some Of the most striking
Taaf I'm If,e h Il
than WainN ght of Middlehury.
In this instance, it has happened as it often
does in analogous cases, that while we are in
the enjoyment OF eur possessions or friends,
we rarely fully appreciate their importance.
but when deprived of them, realizing sense
OF their value is generally produced. This
IS natural: Ii is human infrmity. When
Dorcas was dead her weeping friends felt her
loss and presented the garments she had
made.
Accustomed as we had been. for many
years, TO see the subject of this notice, noun
led OH his cOurser moving rapidly through
the streets, or passing quickly from field TO
held-no ole hardly thought, or imae ined Of
his usefulness. or of the impetus he gave to
business. His sudden arrest and removal
has, in some degree, dissipated the spell ant!
presented in strong relief his importance
and, also, the feeble tenure by which We have
our hO.d OH life.
Instances arc rare in which the death Of a
private individual so extensively affects the
community as that of Mr.. Wainwright He
was emphaiically an active aud uutring bust
ness man. The love Of gain which seems in
terwoven into the composition of the human
character for the sake of acquisition, may
have had its influence on him. to a certain
extent, yet it appears very evident that this
was for from being his ruling passion. His
amusements were his business; and, he
seems TO have desired gains more on account
of their enabling him to transact business than
for accumulation. He neither dotted on bis
possessions, nor boarded up his gains. These
he kept in constant use.
| In Illustration of the truth this, End TO
show his natural kindness, an incidental event
Of recent date may be mentioned. When ur-
gently importuned TO make an investment for
the double purpose Of accomplishing an ini-
portant object, and securing, also, hand
some income, he declined and assigned as a
reason, that he chad the need Of all the means
he could command. without distressing his
| debtors, in the prosecution of his business
| To his own engagements he uniformly ad-
| hered with the most scrupulous eXacfness,
and to the contracts made by his authorized
Agents be was equally attentive. To his
debtors he was generally kind and lenient.-
| Punctuality characterized all his business
transactions. These characteristics secured
to him almost universally the good will OF
those with whom he had considerable deal
ings. OF him, it may truly be said, he was
most esteemed BY those by whom he was
best known. He was strangerto fckleness
and inconsistency. Those he had employed
and found faithful were continued in his SER
vice. Several individuals had been in his
constant employment full twenty years. By
these he was much beloved.
In quite a number of instances, he impair
ted to those IL his employ an energy and love
for business which has proved to them a
source Of real advantage. We can recall TO
our minds a considerable number Of families
now in easy circumstances whose present po-
sition it will readily be conceded, has been
derived from the business habits acquired by
the head of the family while in Mr.. VAIN
wright's employ.
His extensive and varied business sustain