The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-22
WILLIAM NJ. TWEED.

LESSONS FOR YOUNG MEN FROM HIS LIFE AND
DEATH-sERMoN BY REV. WILLIAM y. HAT
FIELD.
Rev. William +. Hatfield, pastor Of the Eighteenth
Street Methodist Episcopal Church, delivered SER
mon last night on the lie and death OF William NJ
Tweed. Interest was added 10 the sermon from the
fact that the reverend speaker had been personally
acquainted with tho deceased. The texts OF the
mon were IRON II. Samuel, l., l9-"How are the
mighty iallenl" and l. Corinthians, K, 12-''Lct
him that thinEeth he standeth take heed lest he
fall"
come not hero tonight, said Mr.. Hatfield, to cast
aspersons upon the memory OF the dead but owe
II 70 the living, aud especially young men, that the
courses which have been pursued by Others, and
which have proved their RUM should be pointed out
For one commencing lie with little education
without the aid OF parents friends and relying upon
himself chieay-it must be acknowledged that Mr.
Tweed was man OF more than ordinary ability. AS
think OF him as knew him ten years ago. then in
health and power surrounded by his wife and cni-
dren, ana contrast his condition then with mat IN
coudcmn him. HIS life and death teach that SIN
sooner or latter will be pun:sncd. There
never Numbers. ana whom least suspec, It this
uvenger n at their door Was there ever y no
so openly dehed lawf When the people com plain cd
OF cxorDitant taxes and the squandernx OF the
funds he calmly asked, "Wnat are you gong 10 do
aboutnY Iuoso whom he helped the most the
first to lorsake hun When the Committee OF Seventy
entered upon the work OF investigation the power
the Ring was virtually broken, aud be who was It's
chief then family saw It's doom and his own
the walls OF Tammauy Hall. We also learn
from mis- history that an inordlnate ambition Tor
wealth ana power leads 10 disgrace ana ruin Mr.
Tweed early cherished the idea Vi gaming power, but
his ambition led hin away from that path OF moral
rectitude, 10 depart from which bring shame
The humbiest peasant The way OF the ressor Is
hard. Ii ever there was man who suffered Tor
Stem nv s,en NO Was lad M Iw"ea
who win him were equally culpable l all me u
to beware OF the first act that has the appearance
evil Tweed saw his mistake IN iator years. and /
have no doubt would have rectifed It had IL been In
his power.
HIS DgsERTIoN
Perhaps the saddcst sceue ia tho history OF Mr.
Tweed that oil his loneliness In consequence OF
his dessrton oy his friends during the last days Of
his lie. One would have supposed thut
wen on, ana others Of his associates whom
brought bouquet OF flowers every day 10 regale
their old friend aud TO him OF their
But they lett MIN 20 reflect upon the false friendship
OF his pretended admirers ard 10 seek tor friends
elsewhere. Generous traits oil Character not sui
hcent 10 keep man IN the midst Of powerful tempta
tons Mr.. Tweed haa traits Of character which werc
worthy OF admiration IL my lot 10 know
him personally. Ten years ago, when lv-
Ing spicndor AZ his beautiful country seat
with hun. know him 10 DO friend TO the poor
He gave Literally TO tho poor IN tue town wnerc he
lived, ana ut one time, am told, he distributed
$50, 900 among the poor In this CITY Ho chartered
steamboat and gave The boys Randail's Island an
excursion to his beautiful home aud toasted them on
their arrival as they had never been toasted before.
YES" you WIN say, "and paid tor II out Of the city
treasury" But that no aha this shows his kindness
OF heart ana thas he forgsttui VI
those who were deprived OF the comforts and
denisd many OF tho pleasures enjoyed by otnsra lie
was liberal in his donations W tue Church, anu
though not an attendant upon religious worship, h,
sci good example by renting pews Tor his iany
Tor his irlonus Who might wish 10 attend. You vii
Ia political But ar
not been men IN tins city worth moro than he Wit
disposed Of tut little 10 the poor and when dying
the bulk vi thor fortunes 70 other objects thar
charity?
Tnis history Is warning to all men who occup,
Positions o! trust and influence. None are In ),
much danger vi failing as tnoso wEo MI responsible
positions IN church or otatc Learn, young mon,
all who fiji stations OF honor and trust, never for th
sake Of gain and WORLDLY emoluinents 10 sacrifice
principle Tor individual or party iuterests 70 vo
late tue teacai Us oil conscience and the Bible
cure the iHdipg and transient giorios oil The world.