Martinsburg Gazette And Public Advertiser

Philadelphia It is indeed a matter of marvel as well as admiration, that this magnificent City should have been blessed yea. thrice blessed with the wisdom, the patriotism and the munificence of three such eminent and extraordinary men as Penn and Franklin and Girard Neither of them natives of the city: two of them foreigners of different countries, always rivals and enemies--the other an adventurer from New England: one born in London, one in Boston. the other in Bordeaux; yet all vicing, as it were, in doing honor to the home of their adoption and leaving a monument of gratitude to perpetuate their names & their memories. What is it that has given Phila. this proud preeminence over every other city of the Union! Is it that not influence which the practical virtues of the followers of George Fox have exerted & diffused through society? We hardly know in what terms of commendation to speak of the excellence of that beautiful creed of this peaceful sect-patient under persecution, rendering good for evil, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of faith and good works, without partiality and without hypocrisy.-Among them there are no sudden changes of heart. no miraculous awakenings of conscience. no compassing. Heaven and earth to make proselytes. Yet they exert a salutary and powerful influence on society. that commends their creed to the love and admiration of all sects and all denominations. We think we can see in the unexampled prosperity of Philadelphia, the transmitted virtues of its early founders which have been cherished and practiced by every succeeding generation The public spirit of Penn was the bright exampler of Franklin; the liberality of Franklin, an example of the munificence of Girard. All these great benefactors were remarkable for the tolerance of their religious creeds-the last however seems to have entertained some jealousy of other creeds; and has therefore wisely forbidden his munificent and unexampled bequest to be polluted by the hand of priestcraft or profaned by the touch of sectarianism.-Boston Statesman