New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-03-05

granted them Tor some duty 10 the COMMONWEALTH /
small in proportion TO the benefit they have conferred
we see parlor politicians men Of broad acres and /
narrow views, conspiring TO rob them even Of this,
But they cannot steal from us the self-sastainng /
principle Of approving conscience Oar work |
done, we can look calmly up to Heaven and truly /
say, nobis Not for ourselves have we toied, but
for our fellow-ctizens, for the widow and for the
orphan. This is our religion.
And we, too, have our martyrs who have sealed I
with their blood their devotion 70 duty Along some
Of the busiest marts OF city we pass at times with
saddened feeling, remembering well the spot where
the crashing walls whelmed beneath their ruins some
of the bravest and truest OF our brethren Woud you
know their names Go yon silent city Of the dead
where we have taken q pride In preserving their
memory pause by y0nder broken column, and you will
then believe that all dies not with us-thas there rs
something beyond the grave s
Our labors then are not in vain. All we claim Is to
benefit fellow-citizens The reward must be from
one higher than this earth Who would moths proud
to march in the ranks Of such an Association
To you, sir, who for more than two years have
presided over it with such unfirng zeal and marked
ability trust that this evidence OF our thanknlness
will be received as it deserves TO beas one credltabe
alike both to the gvers and reeipientand thar you
win long treasure it among the most precious Of your
civic trophies
Mr.. Marks accepted the testimonial with becoming
grace, and in acknowledgment Of it, ad iressed the
assemblage as follows:
Nh. MARKS SPEECH.
| Gentlemen ofae Comnstte..
|
In the solemn language of truth, and not in the
studied set phrase Of the orator say that this
is the proudest occasion Of my public life. To be
made the hon0red recipient of such testimonial as
the just presented TO me- to have had it conveyed
in language attering, to have been selected from
among you for SO distinguished mark OF your consid
eraon is grateful to my feelings as is the high com
pliment il pays, undeseryed This beautiful evidence
of your confidence and esteem, intrinsicaly valuable
In ITSELF is made infinitely dear to because
II speaks in unmistakable language, your appreca-
ton Of the humble services have rendered you, in
my many years of connection with your organization
Ny jealous and enthusiastic devotion to your inter
ests never claimed other reward than the verdict
you render on this occasion The decided conviction
Of knowing, that what have done in your behalf
meets with your full approval as manifested Ia this
ceremony, amply repays me for all the care and time
and labor, have given to your cause. Ever proud
of nay connection with you, always deeply impressed
with the high importance OF such an organization as
this in city like ours, have felt that in contribut
ing to sustain it, that was not only rendering SER
vice to you, but that was performing unselfsh
duty good citizen. In reverting to the period Of
my first connection with you, noic fifteen gears ago,
and contrasting your condition then with what it is
to-day, my bosom swells with feelings of more than
ordinary emotion. And whether | refer to your or
ganizaton as Fire Department, or as a Charitable
, Association the result attained by combined
efforts is alike ereditable and gratifying The posi-
tion we occupy today is one OF which we may justly
boast 1t should be source Of graduation and pride
to every man who has participated in bringing it
; dDOut, tuaJ IL HAS DccH HtS SUiu III
been an humble instrument in contributing to it. a
pride not to be awakened that we may receive the
applause Of our fellow-men for what we have done,
but because sound practical results. where seshness
has had no agency, naturally excite and arouse
pride.
As Charitable Association composed of ouey ff
teen hundred members, the Department is fully
carrying out the benevolent designs of those who or
ginated it.
The entire Department, which is virtually but an
a other name for the Association, is now unit in
n feeling, in interest and in harmony, and enjoys
reputation both at home and abroad for wide spread
public usefulness and high character unsurpassed by
any similar organization in this country. Without
distinction Of social position religious education
without respect to political anities or the accidenta
place of birth, its members stand upon O common
platform united in carrying out the holiest attributes
of mans nature. What cannot be accomplished fol-
purposes of good, what limit can we place TO the ex
tent of the mutual amelioraton we may bring about
where so large number Of men bound fraternall,
together for the consummaton of a sacred purpose
Is not the reflection well calculated TO awaken th
D. holest impulses Of the philauthropist9 And wher
is the man. who has the slightest desire to aid in tn
v amelioraon of his fellowman, who would not, eve
i. 10 this mammon-worshippng age, glory in the appel
u lation of philanthropistI The reputation of th
e proudest monarch the mightes throne Of Christ
b endom is not to-day half SO enviable as the glorou
H. and immortal fame Of Ho,card.
The noble lady upon whose head rests the Englisl
crown, and whose exalted virtues have justly en-
lie deared her to the English people, fills not to-day
G.
,e as that humble woman who has made the name Q
Florence Nightingale immortal
q Or to come home among ourselves, where is th
n man whose political distinction eonfers upon him
moiety Of that undying honor that clusters aroun
L. and renders sacred the name OF him who is justly ed
titled to the enviabe appeation of the phiiGnopis
u of Louisiana-JUDAH ToURo-a man who alway
s. "a tear for pity, and a hand openss
Day for melting ehary.n
le man, whose benevolence was confined to neithe
u class nor creed, cline country, who acted undt
a the conviction that
III 'sThe drying up n single tear has more of
Hsnest fame than shedding Of Rore.n
~ Who would not emulate these glorious example
al and endeavor to elevate himself in the scale OF hi
manity and thus bring himself in closer commnnio
q. with Him, after whose image was formed ~
m An intimate connection with the administration
charitable association, like the one at whose hea
Dr. have long stood, is well calculated to call fort
rd all the better material Of mans nature and to NAL
,o him feel that in the accomplishment of his mission
earth that life of usefulness is the surest guaran
oyj of happiness here aud hereafter. All men star
cir alike acceptable to the Creator of the universe hoy
lg ever they may differ in their form of worship, wi
bring into proper exercise those Godlike attribut
w which lay embedded in every bosom.
un The hairsplitting dOgmas which creed has Civ,
ed birth to, necessarily separate mankind into many
ia. visions but, when they brought together in
in associations Of this kind man is ever prompt to
=, cognize his colaborer as brother, and to feel Il
de convincing force of that irrefutabe aphorism th
we are alike children of the one God.n
Practical religion, as manifested by carrying o
those instructive teachings which are implanted
INT the human breast in order that man may execute
his benevolent designs of allwse Providence, is, aft
of ALL the only true religion And in associations Ii
be- the one whose members surround me, it is da
illustrated. We endeavor to mitigate the sufferin
YER of the sck-we relieve the distressed and depri
ac- poverty of its stngwe give decent sepulture to
nd remains of our deceased brother-we follow him
ion the tomb and drop the tear of painful regret
Lhe departure--we cherish his memory and constant
recur 10 his yirtues-we contribute to the support
tai his widow and his orphan children, and ply
lrt clans and druggists salaried by to perform the
ire duties minister TO them when prostrated by sckne
IN. And enter upon the performance of these
the imposed duties, we ask but one question: Is be
ct US and is he deservng2n We not for his pla
re- OF birth-we not for the form through which
ing worships God-we not for the avocaton Qf it
ry honesty which the law Of labor has compelled him
,tly assume that he may maintain life Our practical
the -benevolence-teaches US to aid him.
rm And in order to show that this Is not mere dec
usi nation, let US glance for moment at what our
me- sociation has done for the past two years and is
lity doing
to We are to-day contributing to the support of
its 50 Widows,
its 8 total Orphans.
eks l43 half Orphans, and
re. old and INDECENT exempt Fremen.