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Editorial
May 3, 1787
The New York Journal, And Weekly Register
New York, New York County, New York
What is this article about?
Editorial from Massachusetts Gazette urging Boston's wealthy and others to donate generously to aid houseless and destitute victims of a recent fire, portraying charity as a divine pleasure and calling on the city's benevolent spirit.
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OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
From the MASSACHUSETTS GAZETTE.
"Let those give Now, who never gave before:
"Let those who always gave, NOW give the more."
CHARITY is the offspring of the skies! and wherever she fixes her abode, Heaven is there. The existence of this divine principle is alone sufficient to evince the existence of Deity—for nothing less than Divinity can give birth to those sublimely pleasurable sensations, which fill the benevolent soul, in the performance of Heaven's own work—the work of CHARITY.
What a harvest of ecstatic delight does the truly benevolent mind enjoy, when it wipes the tear from the wan cheek of sorrow, and lights up the smile of serenity in the swollen eye of wretchedness!—This pleasure the good man seeks, and never seeks in vain, "for the poor we always have with us, and whensoever we will we may do them good."
But how does his soul expand with compassion, when, by the stroke of Providence, the objects of misery thicken upon his sight! "Wide, and more wide, th' o'erflowing of his mind." His Sympathy, his exertions, his liberality are bounded only by the UTMOST LIMITS of his power and ability.
Come forth, ye highly-favoured children of humanity, whom heaven hath blessed with wealth, without cursing with an obdurate heart:—Come, ye less happy, but not less worthy—whose abilities are limited, but whose benevolent wishes are boundless: Come, and add to those treasures ye have already lodged in Heaven—by relieving a set of as worthy and unfortunate fellow-citizens as Boston has known for many years. The universal sympathy, expressed on every countenance, discovers the feelings of your hearts, and that the story of their woe has sunk into your souls! O may you now support the truly honourable character which has always distinguished this metropolis—I trust that what you can, and will do, shall go near to annihilating the voice of mourning, lamentation, and woe, now so loudly heard among the wretchedly destitute, stripped naked, houseless sufferers, by the late fire.
SYMPATHETICUS.
"Let those give Now, who never gave before:
"Let those who always gave, NOW give the more."
CHARITY is the offspring of the skies! and wherever she fixes her abode, Heaven is there. The existence of this divine principle is alone sufficient to evince the existence of Deity—for nothing less than Divinity can give birth to those sublimely pleasurable sensations, which fill the benevolent soul, in the performance of Heaven's own work—the work of CHARITY.
What a harvest of ecstatic delight does the truly benevolent mind enjoy, when it wipes the tear from the wan cheek of sorrow, and lights up the smile of serenity in the swollen eye of wretchedness!—This pleasure the good man seeks, and never seeks in vain, "for the poor we always have with us, and whensoever we will we may do them good."
But how does his soul expand with compassion, when, by the stroke of Providence, the objects of misery thicken upon his sight! "Wide, and more wide, th' o'erflowing of his mind." His Sympathy, his exertions, his liberality are bounded only by the UTMOST LIMITS of his power and ability.
Come forth, ye highly-favoured children of humanity, whom heaven hath blessed with wealth, without cursing with an obdurate heart:—Come, ye less happy, but not less worthy—whose abilities are limited, but whose benevolent wishes are boundless: Come, and add to those treasures ye have already lodged in Heaven—by relieving a set of as worthy and unfortunate fellow-citizens as Boston has known for many years. The universal sympathy, expressed on every countenance, discovers the feelings of your hearts, and that the story of their woe has sunk into your souls! O may you now support the truly honourable character which has always distinguished this metropolis—I trust that what you can, and will do, shall go near to annihilating the voice of mourning, lamentation, and woe, now so loudly heard among the wretchedly destitute, stripped naked, houseless sufferers, by the late fire.
SYMPATHETICUS.
What sub-type of article is it?
Moral Or Religious
Social Reform
What keywords are associated?
Charity
Benevolence
Boston Fire
Relief
Donations
Misery
Providence
What entities or persons were involved?
Boston Citizens
Sufferers By The Late Fire
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Call For Charity To Fire Victims
Stance / Tone
Benevolent Exhortation
Key Figures
Boston Citizens
Sufferers By The Late Fire
Key Arguments
Charity Is Divine And Brings Ecstatic Delight
Benevolent Acts Relieve Sorrow And Misery
Sympathy Expands With Greater Misfortune
Urges Wealthy And Others To Donate To Limits Of Ability
Appeals To Boston's Honorable Compassionate Character