FOOTNOTES:
[1] Proverbs xxiii. 6, 7.
[2] Proverbs xxviii. 22.
[3] Deuteronomy xv. 7-10.
[4] 1 Timothy vi. 18.
[5] The Board of Visitors of the Poor, as established in this city, is one of the most practically useful institutions which the modern spirit of enlightened charity has devised. Its object is not merely to search out the sick and needy and to relieve them, but also to investigate the claims of any applicants for charity that may be recommended to it, and thus to prevent impositions as far as practicable. Every family that has not time to disburse its charities under the superintendence of its own members, should be in communication with this Board. Measures are now in progress to organize a system, which shall render this Institution more effective even than it has yet been, in accomplishing the important purposes for which it was established. When completed, public notice will be given. Let every benevolent individual in our community then come forward and give this system his countenance and pecuniary support; and let all resolve by a united effort to do away the baleful influence of a tolerated pauperism, by detecting and discountenancing every vicious and unworthy applicant for charity, and by industriously searching out and promptly relieving every real and deserving object of distress.
[6] Proverbs xxix. 7.
[7] The custom recommended by St. Paul to the Galatians and Corinthians, as we learn from 1 Corinthians xvi. 1, 2. has recently been brought into prominent notice, and begins to be practiced in the Episcopal Church, especially as applicable to the cause of missions. Why should it not be adopted in all Christian families, and thus let the principle—the sound and effective principle—of systematic charity be extensively established amongst us.
[8] Dr. Chalmers.
[9] Proverbs, xi. 17.
[10] Same, xix. 17.
[11] Isaiah, lviii. 10, 11.
[12] Matthew, v. 7.
[13] Matthew, xxv. 40.
[14] Psalms, xli. 1.
[15] Mrs. Sarah Parkman, the relict of Samuel Parkman, Esq., one of the most distinguished of the merchants of this city. Those who knew her, and have seen how faithfully, affectionately, and judiciously she discharged the duties of a daughter, a wife, a parent to her own offspring, and a mother to many others, who with her own children, have abundant reason to "rise up and call her blessed;" or who have learned from report the leading events of her virtuous, benevolent and active life, will esteem the humble tribute thus paid to her memory, as proceeding from an estimate of her excellencies by no means exaggerated. As an evidence of the value of her services to the Asylum, the following extract has, by permission, been taken from the Minutes of the Board of Managers:—
At a meeting of the Board of Managers of the Boston Female Asylum, held on the last Tuesday of July, 1835,—
Voted, That the Managers are deeply sensible of the loss sustained since the last meeting, in the death of their excellent First Directress, Mrs. Sarah Parkman, the last who remained at the Board, of its original members, and for the last fourteen years its presiding Officer. That they hold in affectionate remembrance her gentleness, her charity, her thoughtfulness for others, her constant endeavor to do good; and it may be permitted to add,—for it was a conspicuous trait in her character,—the sincerity of heart with which, in all her varied intercourse, she followed the apostolic injunction, "be courteous."
Also, that they acknowledge with much gratitude to her, and to the children by whom her wishes were so promptly fulfilled, the receipt of Five Hundred Dollars, the last testimony of her interest in an Institution, which, from its foundation, has owed so much to her labors, her counsels, and the liberality, which even in death, did not fail.
Since the establishment of the Asylum in 1800, 357 children have been admitted. Of these, 273 have been placed at service, or otherwise removed; 13 have died, and 71 remained in the Asylum, on the 35th anniversary.
[16] Luke xvi. 31.
Transcriber's Note:
Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note. Archaic and variant spellings have been retained. Capitalisation of religious terms remain as printed.