New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-10-21
THE LATE WILLIAM JAY.

In such an age as this when conscientious, upright,
and uncompromsing seldom found, scarcelyt too
much be said in commentator OF one who, through
life has been distinguished for his WISE fearless and &C.
tive devotion to the best interests of man. with rever
entail regard for the upbuldng ofthe Redeemers King
dom. The late WILLIAM JAY, with a competent
fortune, cultivated and active mind, fondness for
intellectual labor has, during life of elegant leisure,
conecrated his superior powers, unostenatously and
unremittrgly to the cause of humanity and religion,
being willing, in imitation Of bis divine Lord, when
mourning opposition reproach, to make himself Of
no reputation, if need be- in the pursuit of what he
deemed righteous course. Born to affiuence, he
held his property steward of the Great Proprietor;
not necesstated to professional labor, he made the
suffering and the oppressed his CLIENT whether on the
judicial bench or in the circle OF intellectual or scien
c friends he aimed TO be just and useful; and was
willing to labor with the friends OF God and man, IN
and out of season. whether the cause was popu
lar or unpopular; dsIegardiDg human praise or GEN.
sure so that he could stand approved to his own con-
science and especially to Him fOr whom he looked
habtualy his present al-seeng, as well as his final
Judge.
Nh Jay wa. thorough in his resesr hes scrupulous
in the use Of language truthful IN his statements Dig
nifed in controversy, fauess in rebuking niquty,
firm as rock ia the maintenance Of his honest and
vel-wrought opinions, liberal in the of his wealth
for the promotion of human happiness and the prctec
ton and defence of the wronged. He had the singular
good fortune to te with just severity against the
delipquencies of tme.serviDg men and associations
held in popular estimation, and yet retain the respect
and confidence of the community. But it was not
merely good fortunes was also the result OF his careful
ness TO facts bis genemanly yet independent STYLE
his uniform arness his disinerestedness his unswerv
ing integrity and his entire freedom from gross per-
sonates He instinctivey shrank from sinking the
gentleman in the controversialist nputing bad mo-
tves to all whom he felt bound to oppose or seeking,
by trick or artce, to win victory an opponent.
He might appropriately have borne upon his escutch
con the motto BE Just and fear mott He Just,
he was fearless, he was upright before God and man.
Mr. Jay was friend to the Bible, tract peace,
temperance, Sunday-School, Sabbath missionary,
education and Anti-Slavery causes. He was patriot
as well as philanthropst and Christian and entered
with prudent zeal into the political agtatons of the
times. He President of the Westchester Bible
Society and Vice-President of the American Bible
Society," President of the American Peace Society,
Foreign Corresponding Secretary of the American
Ant-Savery Society," and aterward Vce-President Of
the American and Foreign An.i.Slavery Society. he
contributed to the funds of all the above-named
societies, and advocated their claims by his pen and
tongue so long their acts met his appreciation, and
no longer. When any of these societies manifested
desire conciae the favor Of delinquent portions of
the community by the suppression or mutilaton of
sentiments favorable 10 freedom and opposed to
oppression by appearing the side of the oppres-
sor he Indignantly rebuked them and withheld from
them his confidence. The Bibe Society the American
Sunday School Union, the Colonization Society the
American Board and the American Tract Society.
have in turn, been the subjects of his public censue
lie gave also, to almost every judicous object that
attracted his attention often from the prompting.
of his own heart as from solicitation or example.
Thoroughly honest, truthful and independent him.
self he held in just abhorrence the trickery and un-
scrupuousness Of political demagogues the time
serving policy of secular and religious publications
and societies With reyerentia regard for the Const-
tuition and laws Of his country, he held in utter con-
tempt the prostitution of both by in high station;
and though eminently qualified to I'll any political
Office with ability, he, in view OF the profgacy of
most men in public life deemed the post of honor
private station" He never counseled resistance TO
enactments by the constitutional legislators Of the ma
ton, but deeming the higher law" paramount he
did not hesitate to counsel dsobedienoe to all bills
passed in defiance OF the planest principles of justice
equity ana humanity.
In religion, Mr.. Jay was Low-Church Epsco-
palian, and devoted and conscientious churchnan;
yet he was free from bigotry and intolerance, and
liberal in his estimation Of the tenets and usages of
Christians Of other denominations. Wherever he
recognized in another the image of Christ he cordially
took him by the hand Christian brother, and
yielded him bis confidence. " He was, from an early
cage, frequent delegate to the Episcopal Convention
of the Diocese Of New-York, and was consistent in
Opposing all attempts to change the doctrines con-
sttutiop or liturgy of the church." He did not be-
lieve in the infabihty Of Bishops, any than he
did in the infaIbiity OF Popes nor did he think that
an immoral Bishop was pece'sary in the line Of Apos