American Watchman And Delaware Advertiser

Friday, December 7, 1827.

"Frown indignantly upon the first dawning of an attempt to alienate one portion of the Union from another."

WASHINGTON.

"Remember the Poor."—The season has again returned which calls for the more than common exercise of the offices of charity. The distresses of the poor are heightened by the severity of winter, and their claims to the sympathy and aid of their more fortunate fellow beings, are strengthened. While the affluent are living in ease, and are enabled by their wealth to shield themselves from the rigor of the season, and are enjoying the abundant gifts of a liberal Providence, let them not forget their poor and needy neighbors from whom these blessings have been withheld. The rich have it in their power to experience in a great degree, the "luxury of doing good," and much of the misery that exists in the world, might be banished or alleviated, by them, did they make a proper use of their riches, which have been committed to them as unto stewards, that they might use them in a manner pleasing in the sight of Him who has entrusted them to their keeping.

The Borough of Wilmington presents a field for the exercise of beneficence, and we would not wish to be understood that none are to enter upon it except those who are rich, in the general acceptation of the word. Those whose means are more limited, and those who have no money to spare, can nevertheless do much good in this field, and are enjoined by high authority to labor therein. Here are the hungry to be fed, the naked to clothe, the sick and afflicted to visit, the widow and the orphan to protect, the mourner to comfort and the desponding to cheer; and numerous cases of distress to minister to, where the afflictions of the sufferer are rendered more poignant by poverty, and in some instances made still more severe by the iron hand of oppression. Whilst, then, we contribute liberally to send the message of salvation to distant lands, and to furnish the heathen with that "book divine" which points the way to Heaven, let us not forget that there is something to do at home, nor overlook the discharge of our duties there.

We did not set out to preach a long sermon from the text we have chosen, and if these hasty remarks shall be the means of an increased attention to the duty enjoined in it, we shall be amply compensated for the few moments spent in putting them on paper. Those who do not wish, or to whom it is inconvenient, personally to bestow their charities, can always find almoners; and before we conclude, we will recommend to the particular notice of those who have garments, bed clothing, or woolen or cotton goods of any description, to part with, an association who will make a proper distribution of such gifts amongst the deserving poor. We allude to the Dorcas Society of Wilmington, to whom any of the articles just mentioned may be sent with the fullest confidence that they will be used in the most judicious manner.