knowledge of the numbers, towards whom I have been enabled to act as a christian friend in those exigencies, in which some at least would hardly have known where to have looked for a friend to advise, and to act for them. This, indeed, is a very interesting and delightful part of my service. There are occasions, to themselves of great importance, in which the poor want advice, and the interposition of a friend, quite as much as the hungry want bread. Mothers want this assistance in regard to their children, who are beyond their control, and are on the verge of moral ruin. And husbands and fathers want it, that they may make the provision which they would, but know not how to make, for their families. There are, too, circumstances of temptation and of trial, wholly of a personal nature, but of deep concern to the individuals suffering under them, which call for, and in this ministry receive, sympathy and assistance. And I believe that there are those, who have been advanced by it in the christian life; and some, who have been recovered from great and gross transgression. My objections to detail on these subjects are insuperable. They might awaken interest, but they would do no good; and probably, if they should come to the knowledge of those referred to in them, would conduce to evil. Many children have been placed in our schools, who otherwise would not have been there; and others have been kept in school, who might have been lost as vagrants. There is, however, much to be done for the salvation of a large number of children in the city, concerning whom a heavy responsibility rests somewhere. The whole community ought to be alive to the moral dangers of these children. If neglected, they will as assuredly furnish the future supplies for our prisons, as the well educated and well disciplined portion of the children of the city will furnish supplies for the various useful professions, and occupations among us. I cannot give my views respecting these children within the limits of this report; but I intend, as soon as may be, to take other measures for calling attention to them. I will only add, in reference to the topic of this paragraph, that the service of our new chapel in Friend-street, where we have now worshipped about a year, is not only well attended, but I have reason to believe that it is a very useful service. I am often checked in my work by a degree of feebleness, which incapacitates me for it. But I am not aware that I have been unfaithful in it.* I am not willing to close this report, without availing myself of the opportunity which it offers, to express to you my sense of the loss, which I, in common with many of the poor in our city, have sustained in the death of the late Mrs Samuel Eliot; and of recording the respect, and gratitude, and affection, with which I shall not cease to remember her, as one of the best benefactors and supporters of my office, as a minister of the poor. I know that she has been a subject of the prayers of the poor, and that they have mourned for her death with the tears of a most unfeigned sorrow. But I am forbidden, not only by the dread which I know she ever had of ostentation in her charities, but even of being herself known in them, to say what I might of their variety, and their ex tent. But having lived in habits of friendship with her for nearly thirty years, and having acted as an almoner of her bounty in important cases, which I doubt not are known only to myself, long before I entered upon the ministry in which I am now engaged, I may at least be permitted to speak of her, in view of her benevolence, as an example at once of a disinterestedness, a simplicity, a judgment and a fidelity, not only most honorable to her *I am happy to be able to inform you, that we have now four ministers at large, or four ministers for the poor. Mr Conant is acting in this capacity under the patronage of the Baptist denomination, Mr Eaton under that of the Church Missionary Society, and Mr Shelden is employed in the service by the Congregational Calvinists. 24 REPORT OF THE MINISTER AT LARGE. own character, but I will even add, to the religion which formed it. I have but seldom had occasion to apply to her for the means of assisting others; for the necessity of this application has been superseded, by her own deep interest in the wants and sufferings of others. But I have ever felt myself at liberty to go to her, as I could hardly to any other; and I not only never applied to her in vain, but never without giving to herself, apparently, as great pleasure in bestowing, as they for whom I solicited her kindness had in receiving it. She felt, as I fear that few feel, the responsibility that belongs to wealth. But she always gave with cautious discrimination, and a strong desire to secure the greatest amount of good. Thus did she lay up treasures in heaven, where I doubt not that she has found them, to be to herself an eternal possession. She was, in the best sense of the term, a Christian. Her heart went out in sympathy, and in efforts for others, peculiarly from the care and discipline which she maintained for personal improvement, as a disciple of Christ. I will only add, in reference to those under whose eye this notice may pass, "Say, are ye sure his mercy will extend To you so long a span? Alas, ye sigh! Make then, while yet ye may, your God your friend, Respectfully, Boston, November 5, 1829. JOSEPH TUCKERMAN. P. S. I am informed, that one or two persons have availed themselves of my name in begging, by saying that I have sent them to the families to which they have applied for charity. But I never so sent any one to an individual, or to a family, but in a single instance, and a long while ago; and then, with a written recommendation. But this I shall not do again; and any one thus using my name, may be known as an impostor. |