The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-20


the noblest charities, and, where the means and
objects have the clear warrant OF wisdom and
benehcence, they reflect the truest honor upon
those enlisted in their turtheraLce. But when,
In undertakings for the benefit of our fellow
men, we see the blessings sprlngiDg up in our path
as we proceed, we may gratefully accept them
as the evidences of so much accomplished good,
and encouIag ement to new and greater efforts.
1t Is amid these assurances that we meet to day,
upon the fifteenth anniversary of the Merchants
Fund. The benevolence of its purpose, and of
the way IN which help is afforded 10 our suffer-
ing brethren, is more and more confirmed by
our larger experience of its results, as they are
unfolded in the progressive history of this
excellent charity. That the way in which It
seeks TO accomplish the object of its institution
has been most happily chosen VIC need not
doubt. However kind might be the purpose of
any plan 10 furnish relief to INDECENT mer-
chants Of the city OF Philadelphia" which
would not shield them from exposure, its gifts
could not reach one.balt OF the proper objects
nor possess halt the value. The cases
of the executive committee, aud which we're felt
TO be entitled TO aid, have been in excess OF any
previous year. Twenty.siX persons have re-
celved assistance from the funds, by special
grants where the eXigences seemed but tempo
rary, and in other cases by quarterly allow
ances, graduated according TO the circum-
stances OF The recipients. In some OF the
small amounts, the benefits they yielded were
Important. In one case, the advance OF one
hund1ed dollars enabled the beneficiary TO
Il
home for the remainder of his days. Twenty
one are still more or less dependent on the fund,
almost all OF whom are aged men, and little
able to labor for their own support. Two are
blind and two are deprived OF their reason.
Several others are so greatly afflicted by disease
that the period must be but brief before they
VIII cease to be objects OF your care. To these
men, once occupying positions OF unQuestioued
respectablty and usefulness and against whom
as merchants or citizens, no repr0ac has come
to our knowledge, the Merchants Fund is daily
bringing some measure OF solace and comfort
The amount of the appropriations tor the year
Give thousand nine hundred and FIVE dollars)
but poorly expresses what these gifts were
worth to the recipients, conyeye ed as they were
In the striCtest confidence and respectful SYM
pathy. 1t is this which, in q world where
misfortune is 80 generally treated as a crime,
gives them their peculiar value, and calls
forth the most grateful Acknowledgements. My
heart is too full" says enc, ITO hold back the
expression of my feelings" Another writes:-
Upon hearing of the action of the committee,
/ was as one that dreamed, and could only
view it as the special act of the providence of
Him who careth Tor the suffering poor.n
The circumstances which led to the present
dependent condition of these gentlemen are OF
course various. Some had gone through long
periods OF moderate prosperity, when their
fortunes were wrecked by some OF the calani.
ties incident to our profession, and, after years
of unsuccessful struggle to REGAIN their position,
age and intrmity found them helpless. With
| some there appears to have been a lifelong
| battle with different forms of adVerslty, with
| their business lives. We are ali familiar with
such instances, and among them some who, by
| their honest and perseveriDg efforts, blameless
| integrity and patient submission in their trials,
| seem to have deserved the success which was
| withheld, doubtless for reasons which were
| wise and just, and which will appear in that
other lite where all the problems OF our present
| state will have their clear aud certain solution
Three of the benefcaries have deceased
| during the past year at greatly advanced ages,
one OF whom, very estlma6le man, had lor-
InlA nftNot.
| world. One OF these gentlemen was placed on
| the list in 1868, then an inirm and aged man,
| but having secured position in which, with
rigid economy, he could obtain support he
| declined further tad from the fund. He would
| not Deprive the society of the means of helping
another who might not, like him, have any
| further resources; but at the commenc sment Of
| the last year he was compelled, through illness,
| TO accept for the few remaining weeks of his
| life the well-deserved help of the association.
| He was greatly esteemed as an upright man.
The receipts of the past year from all sources
were $l5, 33l'4S, of which $40, 536 were from lite
and annual subsc rptions and donations, and
| $479G'46 interest on investments. For the
| details we refer to the report OF the Treasurer
herewith submitted. 1t will be seen that the
amount from annual subscribers Is less than in
| several preceding years, and the managers
trust that measures wall be adopted at the pre-
| sent meeting to add to the number 1t is not
merely that the contributions constitute an in
| portant item of the income of the assocat ON,
but 1t is greatly to be desired that the SYM
| patnles Vi the entre profession SnOulu Satner
around an enterprise so honorable to the mer.
chants of Philadelphia.
| The investments OF the permanent fund, now
amounting to SIC, 1896, are as folows:-
| United States per cent. loan S25,000'00
| Stale of Pennsylvania per cent, loan, 2l000'00
City of Philadelphia 6 per cent. loan, 100000
| Ground rents a,So9'oo
$40, ,939 65
Five thousand dollars were received from
| Miss Mary D. Brown, the second gift of this lady
to charity to which her respected brother, the
contributors. Five thousand dollars have also
been bestowed by David Milne, Esq. volun-
tary Christmas offering. The managers would
express their grateful thanks for these two
important additions to the permanent fund
upon which not only the present usefulness o.
the institution so much depends, but the hopes
| of peIpetuating and extending It's great benefits
| century and halt has elapsed since Thomas
| Guy founded the hospital in London which
| bears his name. Many thousands who have
| shared its blessings have like its founder, long
| since passed away; but in its ministratons O
| relief to-day there Is all the freshness of the
| original charity, and the present inmates are a:
| much the objects OF his bounty as those who
| were first admitted within the walls. This, if il
may be realized, Is one OF the noblest privilege;
| OF wealth, to enable its possessor thus TO live
| and act in deeds of benefcenCe far beyond hi:
| own short term of lite. To few individuals is /
| given TO be able to rear such costly monument
| inscribed with the name OF single beneaClor
| but what one cannot do may be done by th'
union Of many, and all who assist according Il
their ability will not fail OF their re ward.
JOHN NJ. ATWOOD, President.
WM II. BACON. Secretary.
| Philadelphia, January 10, 1862
Monthly Meeting OF the Board of Trade
The stated monthly meeting of the Board O