Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-12-26
Appeal In Behalf .s ,,. Poor

A; meeting held at the CITY Hall in pur.
suance of public notice, 90 Monday, the I'D
instant. the undersigned were appointed q
committee TO prepare an address 70 the citzsns
whose sad and destitute eondition calls Tor
immediate relief
The committee gladly accepts this duty, aud
Is happy 70 cherish the conviction. that 1t is
not called upon 20 md ige IN the language OF
reproach or complaint on account of any In
corr gible delinquency on the part OF cur fell
objec'; but simply to remind them Of an obli-
gaIion which, when properly presented, they
will, as we doubt not, hasten to perfor m
Natural and revealed religion alike teach us,
In II most uneq uivoc ii terms, that while in
this probationary state we are only sterards
OF the manifold merciss of God, and that for
the gifts and the wealth with which we have
been generously endowed, in their multiform
character and extent, we will be held strictly
sccountable at the judgment day. Our
Heavenly Father, in the plenitude of his good.
ness, has furnished rs with rules and reg ula-
tons to govern our conduct in all the depart.
ments Of life, ana II Is at our peril that We
neglect or transgrees those rules. Among those
rules, those which relate to the needy are
II at any time God appears to reIino uIsn his
clam to the surplus OF our revenues, tits only
when he transfers that claim to the Door and
tne nesdy. IL we refuse to assist them, we are
retaining what 10 theirs by the allotment OF the
Almighty. We will hereafter find, whatever
we may now imagine, that 1t IL the bread Of
the needy we have boarded; that 1t is the gold
OF the perishing which we have hidden in our
Golfers; thai IL rs the silver Of the orphan and
the fatherless which we have refused to part
with. and for which we must hereafter render
a strict, OH how strict an accou Mt.
Feliow-citzsns, these are solemn and i'm.
pressiye truths. Listen, then, to the cries OF
the wretched and this complaint of the needy
as hey come up from a thousand dark aud
cneerless homes In this the metropolis OF q great
and prosperous nation. In this season of fes-
uvity and mirtn, while your dwellings are
sparkling with light and joy, aad your tables
are eroaniDg under the bounties of kind and
generous Providence, oh think of the shiyer.
Tug cnlldren OF the poor. many Of them as bare
as the lamb newly shsrn of It's fleece, and Is.
ut1te OF bread to satisfy their hunger
Fellow citizens, we do not commend q blind
and indiscriminate charity. On the con.
uary, we insist that il Is necessary at times
to refuse the wicked and tbs idle, that we may
nave resources for the relief OF the deser wing
poer-of those who through disease or decrsp.
itude-through the adverse dispositions OF
providence or the vlllainy Of others; through
,n me WEAKNESS yea OF infancy OF the fee6leness OF
reference to the plan OF operation which a
been adopted you will see that your charities
vii. be faithfully and judiciously appropriated,
ana you have still further guarantee Of this
In the elevated character OF the gentlemen who
are most conspicuous In this noble and CON.
mendaole movement. Party feeling, either In
carded, as may be seen by the diversity of sen.
tment exhibited by the names anne xed to this
paper. Let us then, fellow citizens give &C.
cording to our several ability, II we would
not be ungrdteful to God for the multiplied
dement's he has conferred upon rs. Oh, how
numerous and diversified have been these me.
MORALS OF his loving kindness. Our lives, our
health. our reason, our wealth, our prosperity
our spiritual privileges, our hopes Of Heaven
Do We feel no thankfulness for these eneflts
Then we are worse tnan the brutes which per.
ish. Are we grateful! Let us express our
gratitude by giving TO the poor, whom the
Blessed Saviour says we "have al.
ways with us" Without this both rea.
son and Scripture declare that all our
than nothing, ranity; that our praising God
with our lips, and blessing Him for his mercy
10 a dreadful mockery, horrible hypocrisy,
without this, all acts of devotion are unayail-
ing The cries and groans OF the poor and
afflicted will obstruct our prayers In their a..
cent TO the throne Of the All Me,c,ful and pre-.
vent their reaching the ear Of God.
for your present and future welfare, to remind
you that upon the proper discharge OF this
duty cur salvation is made largely to depend
"Indsrtch ye did a." is, by Christ himself
announced the condition Of our admission
into the kingdom of heaven; and "inasmuch as
ye did II not" the ground of our exclusion.
Upon this the irrerersibte Welcome or the ire
from OF the Judge is suspended
Rev. SKPTIMUs JUSTIN, ID. ID,
Chairman.
Rev p. D. GuRLRY, ID d.,
Pastor N. Y. av. Presbyterian Church.
Rev. Gu. H. HALL, ID. d.,
Rector OF Epiphany.
Rev. SAML. u. FINcKEL, b. D..
Pastor German Evangelical Church.
Mr.. G. 2ORGB SAVAGE.
nf he All AIfa