The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-09-10
His Own Executor.

70 ths Editors of the Boston Journal:
Christian men usually arrange to make
their largest contributions to benevolent
objects through their executors after their
death. This sometimes from the higher
Christian motives. But sometimes it may
be from half conscious desire to secure
from their wealth the utmost possible enjoy
ment while they can retain it; to see it in
crease to the largest possible amount while
theirs, and to satisfy their conscience in
This course by arranging to leave it to ac-
complish some good work when they can
hold it no longer.
So many will choose this method of ac-
comprising their work, that we may rejoice
that it can be done so safely; that our ben
cvolent societies are so well organized that
posthumous charities seldom fail of being
wisely appropriated.
Yet we think it better in Christian chart
ties as in business transactions, that every
man should do his own work and bestow
his bounties while he lives, and then watch
the results.
In a recent lecture upon the life of Hon.
Amos Lawrence it is stated that during his
lifetime he gave for charitable objects seven
hundred thousand dollars from his own for
tune. Such eases of lifetime bencvolence
are worthy of being put on record.
A case of this kind has recently come to
the knowledge ofthe writer-a case of such
interest to the Christian public that for their
sake it should be given Il publicity which
that generous Christian man would doubt
less not have chosen:
John &. Baldwin, Esq, died at Orange,
\. j., two years since. OF his early history
We know little. He was born in Danvillc,
Vt, in the year 1900, but while he was
Young his parents moved to Rhode Island
Being one of family of fifteen children,
and his parents not wealthy, he was thrown
upon his own resources, and though always
in feeble health, he belonged 10 the class
of selt.made men. For n short time he
was in business in Ashfield, Mass, and at
terward Il successful merchant in New York
city. Still later he went to Orange, n. j.,
and for the last twenty years led retired
life there.
We do not know the whole of his bencyo-
lent work. A memorandum found among
his papers after his death specifies gifts to the
various benevolent objects made during the
latter years of his life amounting TO six
hundred thousand dollars. This includes
one hundred and forty thousand dollars to
New York Theological Seminary, twenty
four thousand d liars each to endow pro-
fessorships in Middlebury, Wabash and
Hamilton Colleges, fifteen thousand dollars
each to two colleges in the West, and
smaller sums to others; also large gifts to
hospitals, asylums, etc and to great num-
Der of feeble churches. These gifts were
made within a few years of his death, in
addition to the earlier work of his bene-
fcent life.
In expanding the greater part of his for
tune in this way he had the satisfaction of
seeing his own plans carried out and watch
ing the results of his own work.
At the time of his death, four hundred
and fifty thousand dollars remained which,
according to his will, was given one-half to
his relatives mostly, one-fourth to specified
benevolent societies, and the remainder to
Middlebury, Hamilton, Wabash and Will
lams Colleges to establish scholarships for
needy students, and by preference for those
preparing for the gospel ministry.
Such man needs no commentator, yet
if we were to commend him above all
others it would be for the Christian wisdom
which led him to devote his fine business
talents to carefully expanding as well as to
making his fortune, and the Christian self
sacrifice with which he gave up his prop
crty, esteeming it better to give than to re-
ceive. TT