The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-29


patience in chosen purpose, and, above all,
his WISE foresight, have enabled him al ways to
lead public enterprise in this country, made
him prominent in every occupation he has
undertaken, and constituted him q public
| benefactor merely by the new industry he has
stimulated, and the encouraging example he
| has set before every young man who engages
| in honorable labor with high aspirations.
ii. But was there no need OF profounder
principles than these to rouse his strength and
sustain his courage in these disheartening
strugglesY The most original powers of mind
| (much less the deepest moral forces OF the
heart) are never awakened without q brave
thorough, IN one word, religious, experiment
with self. We never can know that these grand
results in mechanical enterprise would have
been achieved without the unfaltering faith in
God of the mans heart We do know, for il is
no conjecture, but the assurance of Gods woId
that without such an experience, the wealth
and influence which his genius and industry
thus acquired would never have reared to him
a monument more enduring than brass, a life of
illustT1ous benefcence, nor embalmed his name
IN the imperishableErolls OF grateful recolec-
tions.
Long before these immense responsibilities
had been placed in his hands, he had been
washed and robed for his high office by rell-
gions struggle OF unusual severity, and trans
forming work of the Holy Spirit We cannot
see very clearly into the shadows which deep.
ened around him. He scarcely lifted the veil
by single word then, nor in all his subsequent
life. We know the occasion-a quiet solemn
revival OF religious interest in the Arch Street
of spare form, ungraceful gesture, but impas-
stoned eloquence, breathing upon his Gro owded
congregation the very spirit of his Master,
| touched bis soul to its prolouIdest depths. All
his life long, and not least in his self-reliance,
he felt his heart had been in defiant rebellion
against God. He began to plead for mercy. In
temptation, In the duties ofliie, and in the new
exercises of piety, his entreates were ali for the
g1ace of God.
Mr.. Baldwin's conversion was a marked and
thorough change OF character He was a whole
Hrln1N Nhrfo% f.np AI1,n IL
spirit of child-like trust in God, which ever
after formed such a beautiful element in his
piety, with an immediate adjustment of his
business to the Gospel standard of integrity
and the most aggressive labors in the cause of
Christ. The serenity of temper which has been
so often attributed to his natural disposition
he has himself repeatedly ascribcd to the grace
of God overcoming the intirmities of an irritable
nature. The conscience which always seemed
to choose the right without thought or cal
culation, was not an instinct, but the gift
OF GOD in answer to prayer. His courage
to defend righteous principles far in
advance of his age, and illustrate them yet more
conspicuously by his exam pie, and his disposi-
tion TO consecrate his wealth and influence to
the good OF others and the glory of God, we're
the fruits OF this blessed experience of pure and
undedled religion. 1t would be an insufferable
ohense to his memory TO build up befole the
Young his illustrious example, without pointing
them to the Fountain of infinite grace from
which he derived his excellence. All the great
moral qualities for which his name will be hon
oIeu, uaIe nom about the time of his serious
attention 10 personal religion.
This assertion may be challenged by many
VINO nave known him for fifty years. and cannot
remember this great change. They know that
ne ne became q member of the First Presbyterian
Church in 1881, and yet they could hardly trace
the influence of this seltconsecration in his
business life, so free from otfense had he always
appeared. But they must remember that, no 10
Inls time, ne had not been tried as by fire.
The tests which proved and deepened his prin-
clples were withheld until his soul was armed
for the conflict
Besides, his religious life began several years
before his reception into the Church, and we
may trace the influence of his first religious i'm
Presslons in remarkable business transaction.
from @ early youth he had been stern in the prac-
tce OF the virtues OF temperance vet his capital
and his name, though not his personal atten-
p6s1sS Hh ead been 5eea em1lo{ed for several years
eating liquors. He often felt the inconsistency
OF. ahording others what he believed to be
Injurious to himself. But he did not insist
from 1.-THE useful trade in which he had
generouly established his friends, until
the ''blood of Christ had turned his
con nee nom dead NO works to serve the living
Store" given in detision az time when the |
decanter was on every sideboard, when moi a
word had been raised against this universal |
vice from the pulpit, and every other establish
ment in this branch of business was gaining
enormous profits from wines and spirits will |
stand as monument of the first influence of |
IelIglOuS pIlnclple IN MS nte
Next to temperance, Mr. Bald WINS anti |
slavery principles may be traced to his religious
faith. Political sagacity, public opinion, the
march OF events, have made US all abolitonists
IN these times. But it cost something to defend |
the rights of the black man in Philadelphia
thirty years ago. In the. city of Penn there
was not public building where the principles
OF brotherly love could be advocated Tor large
portion of the human race.
In little more than half a century the citizens
OF philadelphia had grown so ,averse to the self
evident truths which bad eInanated from her /
own Independence Hall, that they would not II
this lnhospitable sentiment, the friends of uni I
versal liberty and equal rights before the law 4
erected an imposing edi6ce for free discussion, !
It's opening exercises werelinterrnpted by volleys
Of stones from without, and violent disturbance
from within; and the fourth day after, Pennsyl-
vania Hal was burned to the ground by mob,
m m the presence of the Mayor, the police, the
hremen, and fifteen thousand spectators, while
no hand was raised for its defense.
This was the time, remember, when Mr.,
Baldwin stood with the conservative minority ia
the Pennsylvania Convention, and voted no,
on the motion to insert the word GUhue in the
Constitution. lie lived to be denounced as q
radical for holding the same sentiments.
III was conscience, and religious principle, and
faith in God which sustained him in this
strugele HIS closet, the family altar, and his
PASTORS study, witnessed the fervor OF his prayer
Tor Divine guidance as the day OF trial ap-
preached.
Leu 10 man estlmaIe Dis burning patrl0tSm
by these later years, when he has freely given
OF his wealth by the hundred thousands to sus-
tain our armies, and feed the soldiers widow
and orphanj when he has welcomed the heroic
colored sailor of Charleston, and introduced
MN to Philadelphia audience as worthy to be
made ma an admiral; when he has presided over
o.ner public meetings to protest against the dis
snace nIV Oh excluding respectable portion of our
TN TN munity from public conveyances tor which
and sste taxed; and when he has always acted
in adyaSn, and voted with those who are most
ouestions n OF public eentimeut or, noIifiooI