The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-01-20

An APPEAL TO THE BENEVOLENT By A Con-
aIrTEE OF THE HUMANE ASSOCIATION OF UNION
AND CHURCH HILLS, RTcHNoSD, VA. The
rayages of the war, the annihilation OF our
currency, the burning of 4 large part OF our
city, the arrangement, and In many cases
destruction, of business, the unproductlNe
ness of farms for want of labor or in conse-
quence of desolation, have combined 10 pro-
duce in our city and the surrounding country,
as well as in many other parts OF the South,
an amonnt of destitution, suffering and help
lessness never before known in our country.
Our association has been organized TO CO.
operate with the Richmond Relief Society IN
alleyiating the suffering which prevails around
and amongst us. The eastern part of the city,
which forms, with its extensive suburbs, our
field OF operations, is occupied generally by
the poorer class of our people. 1t is TO relieve
the sufFerings of the poor of this portion OF
our population that we make this appeal TO
our churches, our citizens, and all, both at
home and abroad, who have the ability TO
give. Our minds are oppressed with the
burthen of woe, which, with our utmost eXer-
tions, we cannot remove. Many, once IN pros
porous circumstances, and not few formerly
afiuent now have a life and death struggle TO
procure food and raiment. Without money or
business, they have nothing TO give. Our
church collections are necessarily very small,
because the ruin Is general. Many once liberal
contributors now need aid themselves. The
plants of widows and orphans, OF aged
parents who have lost their sons, of the sick,
the old and the decrepid, of many whose
occupation is gone, appeal to our hearts
Had we the means, gladly would we relieve
their wants, for we know who 1t IS who hath
said, - 1t is more blessed 10 give than TO
receive" But the amount of want far trans
cends our ability to afford relief. Therefore,
reluctant as we are to look abroad for help,
we cannot be silent, as we plead not for our
selves, but for the poor sufferers around us
who cannot help themselves, and whom we
cannot help Our chief hope for them is in the
III, bnh nN.n
not been impoverished we have been. There
are many to whom wemay appropriately say,
g. Freely ye have received, freely give" Our
blessed Saviour has made the suffering poor his
representatives, saying, "lnasmuch as ye have
done it unto one of the least of these, my bre
thren, ye have done il unto me-" Yes, what
we do for them, for His sake, he accounts as
done to him. And we are eXhorted, Never
turn thy face from any poor man, and then
the face of the Lord shall not be turned away
from thee" "He that hath pity upon the
poor, lendeth unto the Lord; and look, what
he layeth out, it shall be paid him again" 1t
has been we'll said, III this loan God is your
security lend, then, to Him by giving to the
poor.
Rev. A. E. Dickinson and Rev. J. f.
Edwards, who have been requested TO 20 forth
for the collection of funds and provisions, are
cordially commended to all the benevolent in
the places they may visit. Donations of
money or supplies may be sent to our Trea'
surer, Mr.. A Y. Stokes, Richmond, but con-
tributions forwarded through any of the
signers of this appeal will be thankfully
received and faithfully applied.
WILLIAM NORwooD,
Episcopal Minister.
JOSEPH A. PROCToR,
Methodist Minister.
A. Z. Dickinson,
Baptist Minister.
J. T.. EDWARDS,
Methodist Minister.
i. Il. PRICE,
Presbyterian Minister.
MILES TURPTy, President.
JAMES f. RIDpICK,
Vice President.
Ro. T.. RICHARDSON,
Secretary.
A. Y. SToKEs, Treasurer.
OTHER DIREcToRs.-George w. Allen, Silas
L. Johnson, w. II. Williams, John Knox, NJ.