Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Charity.
No circumstance in the annals of our art can reflect more hffiiour on die fraternity , than does this generous , this Godlike work of CHAR ITY The people of England are justly famed throughout the world for benevolence of sentiment ; but among us it is an indispensable duty , and-of all our duties the most cheerfully performed . Tlie motives which at first operated to establish this School , will , there is no reason to doubt , derive inits
creased influence from the lately-conceived idea of widel _ y extending benefits by enlarging the building on the noble , yet ceconomical scale , now projected in St . George's Fields . Objects , it will be remembered , are continually presenting their humble claims , the same necessities _ will always have existence while the moral of our Mosaic Pavement continues true to its emblem , that is , so long as this habitable g lobe shall be holden
together in the firm grasp of Omnipotence . I know not how other men may be afiected , but , for my own part , I never pay a visit to . these interesting subjects of Fraternal Benevolence , that I do not let fall a t ^ ar of extasy on contemplating the feelings of Gratitude which they so artlessly yet so forcibly express ; their speaking eyes most eloquently thank us , their pious prayers to Pleaven reward us , for sheltering their houseless heads from the inclemency of the weather ,
preserving their persons from temptation , and their immortal souls from destruction ; pointing to the Great Giver of all Good , and directing their steps in the unerring path , which leads thro ' temporal welfare to eternal bliss . I could here willingly indulge myself in apostrophising the worthy Father of this Institution ; but the name of RUSPINI is engraven on pur hearts ; to spare his feelings , therefore , I will sacrifice my own , and proceed to a few general observations on Charity—that last step that lifts
us up to God . Charity is a virtue so amiable in itself and so acceptable in the sight of Heaven , that it has been truly said to cancel a number of sins . It is implanted indeed in our very nature , buthas been greatly refined by the principles of Christianity operating upon the human mind . It is an epitome of all the religious duties—a duty , the fulfilling of which is absolutely necessary to the supportto the very existence of Society . The practice of it is
en-, titled to hi gher praise than the practice of most other duties , inasmuch as those are directly or indirectly enforced and insisted upon by human laws and ordinances , while Charity , the noblest duty of all , is left to the candour , gratitude , or humanity of individuals ; and thus a full scope is given to exercise generosity , and display the native dignity and lustre of Virtue . Endowed with the bounties of Heaven we should consider ourselves as
charged to do good to all around us ; we are indeed but stewards of God's blessings , and must render a strict account to Him from whom our comforts flow , and by whose peculiar favour ( certainly unmerited by any possible services of our ' s to Him ) we have been p laced in a happier station than . those who implore relief at our hands . To conclude , the mental enjoyments of the charitable man far exceed in degree whatever can result from any other source . Every increase of
happiness to others , to which he is sensible of having contributed , is an addition to his own ; he feels the supreme deli g ht of being " eyes to the blind , feet to the lame , " a father to the orphan , and a husband to the widowed mother . S . J .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Charity.
No circumstance in the annals of our art can reflect more hffiiour on die fraternity , than does this generous , this Godlike work of CHAR ITY The people of England are justly famed throughout the world for benevolence of sentiment ; but among us it is an indispensable duty , and-of all our duties the most cheerfully performed . Tlie motives which at first operated to establish this School , will , there is no reason to doubt , derive inits
creased influence from the lately-conceived idea of widel _ y extending benefits by enlarging the building on the noble , yet ceconomical scale , now projected in St . George's Fields . Objects , it will be remembered , are continually presenting their humble claims , the same necessities _ will always have existence while the moral of our Mosaic Pavement continues true to its emblem , that is , so long as this habitable g lobe shall be holden
together in the firm grasp of Omnipotence . I know not how other men may be afiected , but , for my own part , I never pay a visit to . these interesting subjects of Fraternal Benevolence , that I do not let fall a t ^ ar of extasy on contemplating the feelings of Gratitude which they so artlessly yet so forcibly express ; their speaking eyes most eloquently thank us , their pious prayers to Pleaven reward us , for sheltering their houseless heads from the inclemency of the weather ,
preserving their persons from temptation , and their immortal souls from destruction ; pointing to the Great Giver of all Good , and directing their steps in the unerring path , which leads thro ' temporal welfare to eternal bliss . I could here willingly indulge myself in apostrophising the worthy Father of this Institution ; but the name of RUSPINI is engraven on pur hearts ; to spare his feelings , therefore , I will sacrifice my own , and proceed to a few general observations on Charity—that last step that lifts
us up to God . Charity is a virtue so amiable in itself and so acceptable in the sight of Heaven , that it has been truly said to cancel a number of sins . It is implanted indeed in our very nature , buthas been greatly refined by the principles of Christianity operating upon the human mind . It is an epitome of all the religious duties—a duty , the fulfilling of which is absolutely necessary to the supportto the very existence of Society . The practice of it is
en-, titled to hi gher praise than the practice of most other duties , inasmuch as those are directly or indirectly enforced and insisted upon by human laws and ordinances , while Charity , the noblest duty of all , is left to the candour , gratitude , or humanity of individuals ; and thus a full scope is given to exercise generosity , and display the native dignity and lustre of Virtue . Endowed with the bounties of Heaven we should consider ourselves as
charged to do good to all around us ; we are indeed but stewards of God's blessings , and must render a strict account to Him from whom our comforts flow , and by whose peculiar favour ( certainly unmerited by any possible services of our ' s to Him ) we have been p laced in a happier station than . those who implore relief at our hands . To conclude , the mental enjoyments of the charitable man far exceed in degree whatever can result from any other source . Every increase of
happiness to others , to which he is sensible of having contributed , is an addition to his own ; he feels the supreme deli g ht of being " eyes to the blind , feet to the lame , " a father to the orphan , and a husband to the widowed mother . S . J .