The Portland daily press., 1895-01-14
THE BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.
Annual Address By Rev. Thomas >.
Samson

At the First Parish-A Bad Night. but the
Venerable President as Old as the So
ciety, 81 Years, Was Present.
At the First Parish church s'unday
evening, the Rev. Thomas S. Samson, oil
the Free street Baptist church, delivered
the annual sermon before the Portland
Benevolent Association. The exercises
included Scripture reading and prayer
by the pastor, Rev. John Carroll Fer
kins, and prayer by the Rev. DR.. Dalton
of St. Stephens church, and special
music by the choir.
Mr.. Samson referred to the age OF the
Benevolent Society with the statement
that old age is just the time to begin to
ion, to make plea for all that is old,
because there is certain element OF
venerableness and age about this society
and its meth ods of work. In it's charter,
received from Massachusetts in 1903, it
is indicated that the society's field OF
charity is apart from those of the au-
torities. It's special mission is to aid
those who have fallen from comfort and
aff1uence into the miseries OF poverty.
To them poverty is indeed terrible,
more so than to any Others. And there
is something very delicate in the way
that this charity must he administered.
1t demands the utmost delicacy of tact
and kindliness of heart in those who are
engaged in it. Could've summon up the
originators of this society and ask them
what was their object in this charitable
movement, they might we'll say: "Pov-
erty is bad enough, but poverty with
nride is worse" and they would not
mean false pride, not arrogance, but that
justifiable feeling that comes of the bet
ter life that has been lost.
And there comes more fully in this
kind OF charity that feeling OF happl-
ness that results from kindness to 9TH
ers. And this leads to the thought
that the hope of this reward OF happi.
ness for kindness to others, is perfectly
legitimate and justifiable feeling.
All those who make great efforts to
accomplish good and usefulness are ac-
tuated by this justifable hope OF re-
ward, in their own self approval and
that of Others. But superior to all this,
supreme over all other motives for help
ing our unfortunate fellowmen, is the
consciousness that we are performing
our duty towards God, and that we are
only servants Of His, cnstodians of what
He had entrusted to US, to administer
in his service.
The preacher referred to the story OF
the "Good Samaritan" and the compass
ion by which he was actuated. He
turned again to the charter of this So
ciety, and found that it spoke OF the ex-
ercise of compassion for the unfortun-
ate.
In closing he would impress the great
truth that the exercise of true ph1lan-
thropy is Christianity, wherever you
find it.
The heretic who exercises charity is
more of Christian than the clergyman
in his pulpit, who does not.
After the close of the sermon DR.. Dali
ton arose and spoke of the beginnings OF
the society,at about the same time when
it's venerable president, Hon. W. W.
Thomas, was born, over ninety years
ago. That was time of great prosper
ity among Portland merchants. when
the large colonial mansions in the upper
part of the city were built. This socie-
ty, for the aid of the unfortunate who
had known better things was formed In
that prosperous time by members OF all
religious denominations. 1t has been a
great success ever since, is distinctive
ly Portland institution and great cred
it to the city.
DR.. Dalton regretted that the bad
weather and walking had prevented the
usual large congregation. but trusted
that a liberal contribution would be
made.
The venerable president, Hon. W. W.
Thomas, was present, despite his gre
age and the inclemency of the weather.
There were present also Mayor Baxter,
Rufus +. . Hinckley and Major John M.
CouJd wha ara directars of the society.