, The constitution of
most other charitable Institutions for Orphans makes the admission of a
really destitute Orphan, i.e. a child bereaved of both parents, and
without an influential friend, very difficult, if not hopeless; for
admission by means of the votes of donors precludes really poor persons
from having, in most instances, the benefit of these Institutions, as
they cannot give the time nor expend the money necessary for obtaining
such votes. I have myself seen that certain candidates had several
thousand votes. The necessity of this arrangement being continued may be
much regretted by many who are connected with such Institutions, but
they have no power to alter it. In our case nothing is needed but
application to me; and the very poorest person, without influence,
without friends, without any expense, no matter where he lives, or of
whatever religious denomination, who applies for children born in lawful
wedlock, bereaved of both parents, and in destitute circumstances, may
procure their admission. Now as the new Poor-law is against giving
relief to relatives for Orphan children out of the Poor Houses; and as
there is such difficulty for really poor people to get their Orphan
relatives admitted into ordinary Orphan Establishments; I feel myself
particularly called upon to be the Friend of the Orphan, by making an
easy way for admission, provided it is really a destitute case. 3, The
confidence which God has caused thousands of His children to repose in
me, calls upon me to make use of it to the utmost of my power, and to
seek yet more largely to be their almoner. 4, The experience which I
have had in this service now for fifteen years, during which time I have
gone from the smallest commencement of the work to having at present 300
Orphans under my care, calls upon me to make use of this my experience
to the utmost. No member of a committee, no president of a Society,
could possibly have the same experience, except he himself had
practically been engaged in such a work for a number of years, as I have
been. 5, This very experience makes things light to me, under God's
help, which were difficult formerly, and which would be very difficult
now to many; may I not therefore proceed still further? 6, If 700 more
young souls could be brought under regular godly training, (and their
number would be renewed from time to time,) what blessed service for the
kingdom of Christ, and what profitable expenditure of labour too,