The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-06-22
The Annual Address.

it is also my privilege, to make some
remarks on this occasion. l am glad
to be here and take part in hese ex-
err Uses. regard the work this in
stitu,ion as worthy OF all possible en-.
couragement. Sometimes when psss
alorg this street aud see this notable
building, on whose front are engraved
the words, Emission Home" l say to
myself "Ihere stands a monument OF
Christianity" This work OF caring
for the unfortunate and helpless is in
the highest sense Christian wo,k.
Throughout the Latin literature there
are innumerable illusions to the ex
posture of helpless children on the
mountain sides and in the valleys,
where the wild beasts could come and
devour them. And it was deemed
fortunate thing for the child il the
wild bees would find it before some
human being, worse than a beast,
would find it and make il a victim Of
what might be worse than death. Ovid
gives a pathetic picture of the new
torn, whose first day was its last, eX.
po:ed to wild beasts; and describes
these who fit about in the night, seek
ing for thote unfortunate little
creatures for the worst Of purposes.
Pliny speaks cody of those who
hunt for the brains aud marrow OF in
fants, probably for supers tious or
medicinal purposes. But Christianity
cares for and protests the unfortunate
and helpless. In this great work thess
beloved ladies' Of our city are engaged.
Christ showed His feeling for the
child. He said: "Suffer little chill
dren TO come unto Me" and Except
we be converted and become as little
child We cannot enteritto the kingdom
Of heaven" Christianity has always
set the utmost value on the person
and well.being of children. This is
but the natural fruit OF the whole
tendency OF this rel gion. probably
of sll practical changes which Christi
anity has encouraged or commenCedin
the history of the word, this respect
and value for children is the most i'm
portant, as it affects the foundation Of
all society and government and ibfu-
ences a far-dislant future" With
Chris iauity began the organized and
individual chnities. The Emperor
Julian, in bis famous letters to Arse
nius, speaks in reproach of the Cali
leans support ng not only their
own poor but a'so those OF
the Romans During these eight.
cen centuries how many tears
has Christianity wiped away! 1t has
softened suffering, saved young lives
from misery and sin, ministered at
dea h.bsGs hound up the broken.
hearted, made the solitary evening Of
] fe sweet to many forsasen ones and
the morning glad to many who would
have been boin 10 sorrow and shame.
Ours is day Of hospitals, asylums and
homes for the unfortunate. They are
found all over our Christian land.
Christianity is caring for the sick, the
blind, tue deaf, the crippled, the
founding, the outcsst IF anything
if a foregleam of that kingdom of
Heaven which is yet 10 shine over the
earth" s5ys Loripg Brace, sit is the
brotherhood Of spirit shown in the
charity OF the moiern world. This is
most distinctly the fruit of Christ's
tt aching"
The work Of this institution is kept
up by our noble women, many of
whom are bsfofe us today. How I'M
selfish They give up their time and
their money and their energy. These
might be devoted to other things.
They might live for Themselves alone.
But like the woman in the Gospels
they are breaking the alabaster box to
anoint the Masters feet. They shall
have a reward. They sound no t'um-
psf here. think the be part OF the
worlds history is unwritten. But the
Master will reward his faithful ser
wants. Trasmuch as We did it unto
enc o. the least Of these my brethren
We did it unto me-" And what noble
work it is The unfortunate self-con-
demned one comes here, with char
acter trembling on the brink OF tenn
poral and eternal ruin, 10 find sympa-
thy and projection. Helpless infancy
finds here a cradle, and shelter and
food. The pra Ting child in this
Home learns to sing Gospel songs and
say at night, "Now l lay me down 10
sleep"
And who can estimate the import
ance Of this work? Who can estimate
its resu ts2 II human being can he
relieved from body suffering we have
done something. 70 be able to give
an immediate relief and shelter to
poor, homeless woman lie itself great
thing. If employment is given 10 the
idle we have done something. But
there ara higher considerations than
tbe!e. This is spiritual home. Re-
ligion is taught here. Does not that
report tell us OF twelve who have been
converted during the year? And Look
at these children. Who knows what
manner Of men, what manner OF
women they shall be2 What did the
found ing become in England2 Sir
Thomas Gresham, who built the
Royal Exchange in London, was the
son OF q poor woman, who, while he
was an infant, abandoned him in
field. The cbirping Of grasshopper
attracted boy TO the spot where the
child lay, and his life was by this
means preserved. After Sir Thomas
had, by his unparalleled success as a
merchant, risen TO the pinnacle OF
commercial wealth and gre at ess he
chose a grssshopper for his crest, and
becoming under Queen FL zsbeth the
founder OF the Royal Exchange,
his crest was placed on the
walls of the building in
several parts, aud vane or weather.
cock in the figure Of a gfasshopper
was fixed on the summit Of the tow
ers. John NeWton's mother wss an
ob.cure woman, but she sowed the
coed seed in the heart Of her son,
who afterwards became such great
preacher. He wss the means Of con-
vertiDg Claudius Buchanan, who be-
came a minister and went to the East
Indies. His little work, entitled The
Star in the East, was the frat thing
that attracted the attention OF Adoni-
ram Juds1n TO a mission in the East
Indies. We kn v what he did for
Burmah. John Newton was also the
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