The Richmond palladium., 1874-02-07

save themselves. We have many
blind to all the fairest light of life.
many lame to run the race that wins
the victory over life and death; many
stricken with leprosy more fatal than
that Of old times many who are poor,
and have not the Gospel preached
unto them; and as these facts do ex-
ist, we have but one of two alterna-
tives. We must either wrap our man
tie close about us, and thank God
that we are not like publicans and sin
ners, or we must follow the example
of Christ, and do what in us lies to
help and to save those who cannot,
and will not save themselves.
If we choose to follow the divine ex-
ample of Christ, and not the undivine
Pharisee, then the next thing is to see
how we can do the best work with the
means at our command and we find
that in any public work, we can ac-
complish most by organized effort-by
combining our efforts with the efforts
of others, having certain union of
purpose, and Of strength wherein each
can work according to his ability.
1t is in this way that most benevo-
lent enterprises come into existence;
some clear headed, generous hearted
persons see great need in society,
and they begin thinking how that
need can be remedied, and by their
very generosity, they drift together
and begin to plan and to work; and as
soon as they begin to work, God sends
some of his angels to inspire and guide
them, and their work grows upon their
hands and they become more and
more interested in it; and it prospers
beyond their hope and expectation,
till it becomes monument of Chris
tian energy, and blessing to society.
Something very like this has been the
growth of the institution whose sixth
anniversary we celebrate tonight. I
was utterly astonished in reading
report of this institution to find that
it was at first founded upon the sum
of one hundred and fifty dollars.
| I had just been reading a newspaper
account of the marriage of the daugh-
ter of distinguished politician of
/ New York, wherein it was stated that
the bride had fourteen dresses import.
ed from Paris, which cost from three
! hundred to one thousand dollars each,
and that the wedding presents, jewels
and wardrobe, cost one hundred thou
sand dollars. I pondered over the
! unequal ways of world that gives
one hundred thousand dollars to graf
, ify the personal vanity of one idle
, woman, and gives one hundred and
. fifty dollars to found home for the
} friendless women of a whole county
We all know the aims of this institu-
ton by its name-"THE HOME OF
!. THE FRIENDL Ess." All! that one
q word friendless; fearful word. l,
| reaches heights of human hopeless
ness that none but the friendless can
1 ever know-reaches depths of despai,
: that none but the great Searcher o
4 human hearts can ever fathom. Lei
sin or misfortune run its sharp prun
ing knife around your heart, cutting
O off every clinging tendril that bounc
you to home and friends; let poverty
disgrace, sorrow and sin. rise NJ
r around and within you. Let youl
> sinking heart feel that in all the wide
= world, there is not for you one kindly
!, word of love, one plying glance o
v sympathy, one hand to grasp you
, own, one door to welcome you, ont
J. spot on earth save the grave that vii
" give you rest Add to these, regre
n for wrong done; agony of heart 70
o hopes dead and loved ones lost; fee
" that the doors of Heaven are close,
It against you, and that your agonize,
d prayers can never enter there, an,
n that a lost soul is forever wailin
II within you, and you will know to som
J. extent, what some women have real
,e lied in that one word "FRIENDL Ess.
y. Do not think that the friendless ar
re hardened to these feelings. Many
:" woman is SO little hardened, that sh
" seeks death at her own hands, rathe
,e than endure the desolation Of such
h life.
D. But that other word, "HoME /!
How it warns all the sweet, innocer
of recollections of childhood into ne,
er life. How, through it the dear face {
/. father and mother shine down on U
ye in radiant beauty; how it wakens th
le loved voices of the past, and thrill
" with new hope the homeless heart
is waking holy aspirations for truer lif;
ul This Home of the Friendless is devc
': ted to helping friendless women an
he children, and l am glad to find tn,
1T every one of its Board of Manager
ID are women-women who recogni1
e. woman's duty to woman-women wh
b, are willing to give money, and th'
in which is far more valuable, patien
tn loving work for their cause. And
n. seems to me that if ever the angels
i'd Heaven look down well pleased upo
A. human action, it is when woman, fo
ee getting and forgiving the past, stant
p. bravely by the side of her sister v,
ed man, Strengthening, encouragin