The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-03-28

last will and testament, large and sometimes
munificent requests are made by persons OF weatn
and means t. churches Bible societies, missionary
societies, religious corporations OF all Kinds, and
to priests ministers and parsons OF all sects. IheFe
Is scarcely day that do not hear oil such b.
quests, and we are confident that there are buStew
Of our readers who have not known OF large gifts
having been made in this way, frequently by will,
executed short time previous to death, and
covering sometimes the whole of the property OF
the testator or tesatrix, the case may be; leay
ing nothing tor the heirs KIN of the deceased by
whoee exertions perhaps, the property constituting
those requests was accumulated. ,tJ.-.
Now, we find no fault with contributing to the
support, maintenance and usefulness OF religious
corporations, or religious enterprises. We would
like to see them all succeed, and rival each other
In the good work OF Chnstianizing and clvilzing
the W orld but we do think that although much
good Is done In one way, much harm Is done in
another, IN great many OF those cases. II fire.
quently happens that men, by death-bed wills, be-
quea,h all OF their property to religious corpora
tons, leaving their family and dePendents-those
whom they are morally bound to provide form
penury and want. Under the influence OF newly
awakened zeal IN the cause of Christianity and reli-
gion and when about to enter into another state OF
existence, worldly matters OF all kinds are OF
secondary consideration to a dying man. His
mind is enfeebled his thoughts are on eternity and
eternal matters, and family, friends, neghbors,
and relatives, are passed as if of account.
IL is the duty OF the attending clergyman to inquire
if the man about take his departure has disposed
by will, of his worldly goods, and if he has not,
to impress upon HIM the necessity of SO doing.
The lawyer is Immediately called, the dying man.
with thought intent on other matters, and with a
view of propitiating grace and salvation, offers as
a sacrifice his property and his means. The will
is drawn up accordingly, duly executed according
to the requirements Of the law, and after reading
1t the family of the deceased find, to their aston Ssh
ment, that the bulk of the property Is bequeathed
to some religious enterprise or other; and that 1t
they have not been entirely left on the cold charity
of the world, they have been cut of with bare
pittance. We do not mean to say that cases like
this are frequent, but that they do occur, no man
can deny Indeed, requests by will are calculated
upon by all religious societies as a source OF re-
venue; and lest the subject might be overlooked or
forgotten the form Of bequest is printed on their
tracts, papers, and annual reports, SO as to keep
men of property constantly in mind Of what Is ex-
|
, few days, which will bear us oct in all that we
say on this subject A person possessing some
ten thousand dollars died; on her death.bed she
made will, devislng different sums of money to
different clereymen, to be expended in religious
services for the benefit of her soul, after her
DEATH These devises covered all but a
fraction of what she was worth, and the
balance, say thousand dollars, was set
apart Tor the benefit OF her nearest rela-
tives, whom she was bound not to leave in
penury, as much as she was to provide for her
| own salvation, when she had the means. Now
IN this case there was great moral wrong COM
mltted; but it cannot be remedied. She gave
away her property, and her family must suffer-
unless the devisees give up portion of the pro-
perty thus left to them. This is the latest case Of
the kind that has come TO our knowledge, but In
the course OF our experience we have heard OF
many similar Ones
We think, therefore, that the law should step IN
and prevent those wholesale requests by DEATH
bed wills, and improvldent dispositions of property
| in this way 1t was similar state of things which
gave rise tothe celebrated statutes of nort.maim.
| in England, under Henry the Third, Edward the
First, Richard the Second, Edward the Second,
and other monarchs. The necessity of passing
those statutes was obvious, for requests for p,us
uses, as they were termed, had not been stopped,
the clergy would have, long this, been possessed
Of all the landed property in England We do not
suppose there Is any likelihood ofthe priesthood Of
this country ever attaining very extended inAu.
cree in this respect, their locks congrega-
lions; but If wrong Is done, done 1t is IN many
cases, 1t should be corrected, far as legislation
can do It, Society owes It to itself to prevent a
man or woman from deprving his or her family
OF portion ofthe worldly possessions which they
may have assisted to accumulate, and to portion
of which they morally have claim. If people de-
sire to see religion prosper, let them contribute
portion of their means while living, while in
health, while their minds are strong and not en-
feebled, to that end; but let them be deprived Of
the power to devise, when on their death-beds, al
their property, and leave their families beggars.
AMENDMENT TO THE CRY CHARrKR.-The bill!
containing the amendments to the charter OF the
city of New York, which we have heretofore re-
fered to, passed the Senate Of this State on Mon
day last, having previously been acted upon by the
Assembly. 1t was RENTED back to the Assembly,
for Its concurrence in an amendment made by the
Senate, that body having expunged the section