rged.[15] The Institution has descended to you, the successors as
it were of a blessed company who are now we trust, in communion with
that Saviour, whose precepts of benevolence they so faithfully
fulfilled, and with that blessed company of the spirits of the just made
perfect, who now surround the throne of God and the Lamb. You need not
our exhortation that you should walk worthy of their example, but you
will not reject our devout wishes and prayers, that an equal measure of
success may attend your future labors, and that a heavenly and eternal
reward may hereafter crown them.

To you, my hearers generally, who have assembled in honor of the
anniversary of our Institution and to encourage it in its pious labors,
would I address a few words in conclusion. We doubt not your
benevolence, we know that the orphan can never plead to you in vain, we
believe that your hearts will ever be enlarged in proportion to the
urgency of the claims of the Institution. Its necessities must of course
increase with our rapidly increasing population, and be assured it can
well and judiciously employ all the bounty you will bestow upon it.
Should it be possible for any one here present to feel cold and
indifferent to the claims of this Institution, I would say, realize the
pitiable condition of an orphan infant. To you who are parents and are
watching over your growing offspring, and can imagine how bitter would
be your distress at the thought of being torn from them--remember, that
these are destitute of a father's protection and a mother's anxious
love. Be ye then their comfort and their stay. As you look upon your own
offspring, and reflect with gratitude that you are yet preserved to
watch over their tender infancy and dependant youth, and as you pray
that you may still shelter them until they can withstand the storms and
adversities of life, think how you may repay your Almighty Benefactor in
the persons of those, who are also his children; think also, how deep
will be your ingratitude, if while so blessed, you can "despise these
little ones." Your children are yet around you, and you watch over them,
but you cannot pierce into the solemn darkness of futurity--they may yet
be helpless, parentless, friendless,--_as ye would that men should do to
you, do ye also to them likewise_.[16]

Ye also, who have experienced, and perhaps still enjoy, the watchful
care and affectionate caresses of devoted parents, forget not that there
are those