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 ''it. 
 
 PRINCETON, N. J. 
 
 
 Shflf.. 
 
 .W//./ 
 
 ..*»■^ 
 
AN 
 
 ORATION, 
 
 &C. &G 
 
-1 
 
 Th'2 Good Samaritan, 
 
 AN 
 
 ORATION 
 
 DELIVERED 
 
 On Sanday Evening, May 22d, 1795, 
 
 iN BEHALF OF THE 
 
 PHILADELPHIA SOCIETY 
 
 Information and AJJljIance of perfons Emigrating from 
 Foreign Countries. 
 
 By >.Iorgan J. Rhees. 
 
 Publiilied by Requeft ; — for the Benefit of the Society, 
 
 " Be not forgetful to entertain ftrangers." paul. 
 
 " He that hath a bountiful eye fhall be bleffcd." solomon. 
 
 " Blefled are the merciful, for they fhall obtain mercy." christ. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA^ 
 PRINTED BY LANG & U S T I C K, 
 
 1796. 
 Price 25 cents. 
 
Philadelphia, June ift, 1796^ 
 
 At a meeting of the Emigration Society held at the Univer- 
 iity, " Refohedy That JViUiam Zane and Thomas Newnham, 
 be a committee to prefent the thanks of the Society to the Rev. 
 Morgan J. Rhees, for the excellent difcourfe he delivered at the 
 Baptift Church, for the benefit cf diftrefTed Emigrants, and that 
 the faid committee requeft Mr. Rhees to give them a copy for 
 publication." 
 
 t^ The philanthropic Bcokfeliers will, fans doubt, encourage the 
 fale, without feeking the dual allowance : they v/ill be more than 
 doubly rewarded by the increafe of population and wealth which 
 the Society promotes. 
 
 The Farmer and Mechanic, the Merchant and the Speculator 
 being equally Interefted — ^l''hefe pages are with diffidence devoted 
 to their feryice, by 
 
 The AUTHOR. 
 
Oration. 
 
 BRETHREN, 
 
 .S we are convened together on an impor- 
 tant occafion, we fliall take under our confideratlon 
 a momentous queftion ; the anfwer to which, will 
 include one half oi the fyftem of moral obligations. 
 It is well known, that all our duties are divided 
 between God and Man. The queflion, " Who i* 
 God?" has often divided and fubdivided the world 
 of mankind. Elijah thought fit to convince the 
 Ifraelites by ocular demonftration j but did thofe 
 who have the light of Revelation as well as reafon, 
 e?:ercife their underflanding, a miracle would be 
 unnecelTary to prove this fact. However, the quef- 
 tion, at prefent, is not " Whether Jehovah or 
 Baal be God?" but, " Who is my neighbour V* 
 
 This query was once ailced with a defign to 
 evade the duty annexed to it, and enfnare the perfoa 
 to whom it was propofed. The queflion itfelf merited 
 an anfwer: the moft noble reply was given ! Hear it. 
 
 " A certain man went down from Jcrufalem to 
 Jericho, and fell among thieves, which (tripped him 
 of his raiment and wounded him^ and departed 
 leaving him half dead. And by chance there came 
 down a certain priefl that v;ay j and when he faw him, 
 
 A2 
 
6 
 
 he paffed by on the other fide. And likewife a 
 Levite, when he was at the place came and looked 
 on hhij and paiTed by on the oiba' fide. But a 
 certain Samaritan, as he journeyed came where he 
 was ; and when he faw him he had compaffion on hiin^ 
 and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring 
 in oil and wine, and fet him on his own beafl and 
 brought him to an Inn, and took care of him, and 
 on the morrow when he departed, he took out two, 
 pence and gave them to the hod, and faid unto him, 
 take care of him ; and whatfoever thou fpendefi: mere, 
 v/hen I come again I will repay thee. Which now 
 of thefe three thinlceft thou, war. neighbour unto him 
 that fell among the thieves ? And he faid, He that 
 Ihewed m.ercy on him, then faid Jesus unto him. 
 Go, and do thou likewife." 
 
 This comment of our Saviour reconciles every 
 feeming difficulty in the precept " Love thy neighbour 
 as thyfelf." Some have fuppofed that the words 
 "' as ourfelves, do not imply as well as ourfelves, 
 iuafmuch as the love we have for ourfelves is to be 
 the pattern of that love we ought to have towards 
 cur neighbour. And as the copy doth not equal the 
 original, fo my neighbour cannot think it hard if I 
 prefer myfelf who am the original, before him who 
 is only the copy. Thus, if any matter equally con- 
 cerns the life, the reputation, the profit of my neigh.- 
 bour, and my own ; the law of nature, which is the' 
 law of God, obligeth me to take care of myfelf, and 
 afterwards of him." This expofition is perfeftiy agree- 
 able to the trite obfervation, tsat " Charity f^iould 
 begin at home." It requires no great eloquence to, 
 
perfuade men to adhere to this nir^-am ; for it fcldom 
 happens that any err through excels of philanthropy. 
 
 It is generally ackno^^lcdged, that if by a fniall hurt 
 or lofs to ourfelves, we can procure a great good to 
 our neighbour, that in fuch a cafe his intereft is to be 
 preferred : for example, " If I can be fure of faving 
 his life, without great danger to my own, if I can 
 preferve him from being undone without ruining 
 myfclf, or recover his reputation without blafcing 
 mine" — All this, fiiitU the philofopher, I am obliged 
 to do ! and all this is very well ; fo far as it refpet^cs 
 common cafes. Bat it fometimes happens, that the 
 com.paiTion of generous fouls, is more than a balance 
 for felf-prefervation. There is an impulfe implanted 
 in the bofom of fome men, which infpires them to 
 great and glorious anions — For the moment, they are 
 not capable of reflecting on their own fiifcty. They 
 run precipitately to refcue an object in diftrefs, and 
 thereby often eifeft his deliverance ; and fliould they 
 fall martyrs to humanity, their memories fhall be 
 recorded among thofe, who Iliall inine as liars in the 
 firmament of glory. 
 
 The idea that all mankind are our neighbours, 
 5ind that we ought to love them as ourfelves, is too 
 vague to be verified, and too diiiicult to acl upon : 
 nor is the pninciple of loving all thofe who live under 
 the fame form of government, forming one com.mon- 
 
 * This does not imply " Tbai, al! men arc not brethren," 
 and that we fhould iove them as our fellow creatures. The word 
 neighbour, according to the above cited parable, is fynoninious with 
 friend. It would be a bale proflitution of terms to call ?.ny m'an 
 
8 
 
 wealth with ourfehcs, lefs equivocal*. I aclrnow- 
 led^f^e that the 101)6 of our country^ lias been jufii)'' 
 deemed a cardinal virtue ; but unlsfs that lorje has 
 for its ohjeft the principles cf righteournefs-™patri- 
 otifai becoines a putrid pool, which engenders nothiiig 
 but vice. — What maiLicres, .and horrid barbarities 
 have not been cojr.mitted, under the idea of loving 
 our neighbour, when confined to certain individuals 
 and partial fpots! 
 
 Who then is my neighbour, whom I am to love 
 as m)felf? Is that black Negro worthy to be called 
 my neighbour? Shall I deign to perform a good 
 office to that fcwage Indian? You may not ; — ^but if 
 he does it to you— -he is certainly your neighbour, and 
 you ought to love him as yourfelf. To cite authori- 
 ties to (hew wherein Indians and Africans have ac^ed 
 the part of a neighbour towards the v/hite people 
 would be too tedious. RIy object is to prove 
 that we have neighbours in every quarter of the 
 globe, and that thofe alone are our friends who 
 afford us relief in the hour of dillrefs — All others are 
 our enemies ; the foes of mankind—and we lliould 
 certainly dillinguiU-i between that love which we owe 
 to our adveifary, and that which we oive to our 
 neighbour. Christ never intended we fhouid love 
 our enemies as ourfclver:— on the contrary, w^e are 
 commanded to beware of their wiles, and be com- 
 pleatly armed again (1 their force. — -blow then fliall 
 we love our enemies / The queilion is eafily aniwered 
 
 neighbour or friend, Vvithout iiis fiiev/ing fomc fymptanis cf pliilan- 
 tkropy, even to his cnenilis. 
 
9 
 
 i*--lf he is hungry ft;ed him, if athirft give him diink 
 — naked, cloathe him, if he has fallen among thieves, 
 pour oil into his wounds, bring him to the Inn, and 
 give him enough to pay for his lodgings. — This is 
 the Jire of love ^ which you ought continually to pour 
 on the heads of your adverfaries. It is by thofe means 
 alone you fliould overcome your opponents : — you 
 would thereby convince the v/orld that although the 
 enemies of the human race are not your neighbours 
 ■ — that in reality you are the friends of mankind. 
 
 NotwithdanJing the many plaufible arguments 
 advanced in behalf of difinterellcd benevolence, we 
 are obliged to acknowledge that in many inftances, 
 we love our neighbour becaufe he firfc loved us. It 
 is true, a being perfe6lly amiable in hiiiifelf, demands 
 the love of all who knov/ him. But how are v/e to 
 knov/ the dlfpofition of any charafter, but by a com- 
 munication of his attributes ? The tr::e is known by 
 its fruit. 
 
 Who then is my neighbour but the man who 
 cafts his bread on the face of the waters, doing eood 
 to all, but particularly to the dirtreifed. in bis 
 complexion I caa read compaffion and complacency; 
 his bofom burns with pity on the poor, his heart 
 heaves a figh and melts with mercy in the houfe of 
 woe. His magnanimous mind munificently beflows 
 the balm of benevolence, to cherifli the captive and 
 fuccour the ilave. This is the. man whom I rauib 
 love even as myfelF. AgaH: then ye fordid fouls, 
 fclfiili finners and hypocriiical faints I although you 
 may take Ihelter b"!nnd the appearance of pi'-'ty? ^nd 
 
!0 
 
 put on the garb of religion, \vhich none have a right 
 to wear but the merciful— I will hunt you, if poiTible, 
 out of your holes — yes, I will wage eternal war 
 with your avaricious principles ; and I hope the 
 weapons of our warfare will be mighty thro' Gob 
 to the pulling down of your flrong holds. 
 
 A noble opportunity offers itfelf this day ! Hark! 
 what do I hear ? A multitude of the heavenly hod 
 rejoicing, and proclaiming, with a mellifluent voice, 
 " All Men are Bmhren,'' and what can this mean ? 
 in very deed, it is the motto of the Society whofe 
 caufe I have undertaken to plead. O God of love! 
 aiTift me to do juftice to thy caufe — Pour down thy 
 fpirit from on high upon us, and caufe {^NttX. fenfi- 
 hiliiy with her magnetic fingers, to touch all the firings 
 of our hearts, that there may be a heavenly harmony, 
 of fme feelings in this aiTembiy. Would to God the 
 force of the parable we are treating of, v/as felt not 
 only by this congregation, but by all the world. I 
 trufl it is exemplified in the conduft of the fociety in 
 whofe behalf I addrefs you — It has, in my opinion, 
 ii claim on all the citizens of America for fupport : 
 and I am happy to find that in this fentiment I am 
 not fmgular, A chara^er high in -ofilce, the Presi- 
 dent of the United States favours the inftitution 
 in the following words, " The principles of benevo- 
 lence on which the fociety is founded, and ivhich regu^ 
 late its proceedings, entitle it io the approbation of ali 
 your felloiv citizens,'" 
 
 The preamble to the conflitution briefly explains 
 the neceihty of fuch an alTociation. 
 
1 i 
 
 *' Whoever reflects on the various caufes of 
 cinigration fro.ii Europe to the United States of 
 America, muii be convinced — whoever has the oppor- 
 tunity of appealing tq. his own experience, rauH; 
 Icnow — that many of thofe who emigrate, although 
 frequently endowed with talents and virtues the moil 
 valuable, arriving on an unknown fliore, bereft of the 
 means of fupport, and deftitute of friends to whoni 
 to apply for advice or alliflance, are lolt for a time to 
 fociety and themfelves/' 
 
 This fociety has for Its obje6l " to lefTen or totally 
 to obviate thefe inconveniences ; — to render emigra- 
 tion as advantageoup as poiTible, both to the emigrants 
 themfelves, and to the country which aiFords them 
 refuge j — to give them every information and afilfi:- 
 ance in our power ; — in fliort, to foften the afperities 
 of the {t]-anger':i fituaticn at his firfl: outfet in a 7iew 
 count rp^* 
 
 But has the fociety, in any rneafure atilwered 
 the end of its eihiblKhment ? Fac^s, in this cafe, had 
 I time to enumerate them, would be the moO: pcvrer- 
 ful arguments. Could 1 lead you to the man (ions of 
 the affli<^ed which have been relieved fmce O^ober 
 17.94, many of whom were truly in a diflreffed fitua- 
 tion — Could I point out to you die great number of 
 Emigrants who have been taken from the path of 
 poverty, and placed in the field of plenty — I am fnre 
 your hearts would rejoice, that fuch a fociety had 
 been eflablilhed in thiscity— efpecially,if youconfider 
 that it is the proviiicc of this Iriflituiion, to prevent 
 didrcfs, as Well as relieve the diilrcirjd. It is a kind 
 B 
 
 e 
 
I 2 
 
 of guardian which provides for, and protecls, the 
 llranger during his nonage in the Nezv World. Like 
 t|ie hand in the road, it diredls the labourer, mechanic, 
 and artill where to fmd employment — it does more 
 . — it airiils them on their journey. In fliort, it , is 
 capable of doing more good to this country than can 
 be afccrtained. 
 
 It is a fa£i:, firmly eftablifhed, that the ftrength 
 of a country confifls in the number of its inhabitants, 
 more than in the wealth of its citizens. The induf- 
 trious labourers and mechanics are the fuiews, the 
 bones and the marrow of every community. Riches 
 and honour are only an appendix to the book of life. 
 We can live without them : particularly in this wide 
 extended empire, whofe uncultivated foreds and fer- 
 tile plains, invite the uplifted ax and the furrowing 
 i)Iouzh. — In fuch a country, where mitlions of acres 
 are waiting for the adventurer to cutdov/n the raajcdic 
 trees, and turn up the prolific foil j a yffr/>2"_y which, 
 by its phihntliropy, encourages emigration — mufl be 
 cf public utility. Canals, roads, bridges, houfes, 
 manufa£bories, &c. all want workm.en — and where 
 are they to be found ? The tide of population conti- 
 nues to flow over the Appalachian mountains \ nor 
 will it ceafe to flow, until that vaft " wildernefs be- 
 com.es like Eden^ and the deferts of the Wejl like the 
 garden of the Lord." 
 
 The Atlantic States muft, therefore, be fupplied 
 in a great meafure from the defolated plains of 
 Europe. We need not offer a golden bait to invite 
 the inhabitants o'er the fcas-— lliew them the way^ 
 
'3 
 
 and they will be glad to efcape from ihdr furnace of 
 affllBion and goal of opprejjlon. On their arrival ia 
 pur happy country, many of them will be without a 
 cent in their pockets — mofl depend on the labour of 
 their hands for fubfiftence — even thofe who have a 
 trifling fum of mo^'^, owing to the high price of 
 provifions and houfe rent, will in a few days, if out 
 of employment, be deprived of it. 
 
 We, therefore, owe thefe men and the public 
 a duty, which cannot be difpcnfed with, without 
 facrificing the public weal and all the feelings o5 
 humanity. — My hearers, I call upon you for afiiflance, 
 in the name of 2ifociety whofe fole objeft is to do good. 
 They do not pharifce-likc impofe a tafk upon you 
 which they do not bear themfelves — nay, they are 
 willing, like Chr'i/i, to take the heaviefl part of the 
 burden. — They facrifice much of their time as well as 
 property. Their committees are continually engaged 
 in relieving the diftrelTed, and informing the ignorant. 
 
 In the principal towns of Europe, regifter offices 
 are kept, to procure places for domeftics, &:c. In 
 thefe offices a certain fum of money mufl: be paid on 
 regiftering their names — and after all, in fifteen cafes 
 out of twenty, they get nothing but difappointment 
 for their money. The^oor creatures often wander 
 from office to office, after being cheated, by the 
 keepers of them, of the fmall pittance they had to 
 fubfift on. What a contrafl: between the Old and the 
 New world. Here a great number of philanthropic 
 citizens aflbciate togetlier and form committees, to 
 ake the JiraPg:r and th? diHrcHed pilgrim by the 
 
hand. They will not pafs by, like the prieft antj 
 Levite, but go where they are, on board their diffe- 
 rent (hips: and in cafe any mercilefs captain {lnould 
 mal-treat his pailcngers — they reprefent their fituation 
 to the fociety — who are pledged to affift them, iii 
 bringing fuch tyrants to a proper fenfe of their duty *. 
 
 Men and brethren, do you require motives to 
 encourage" you to come forward and fupport this 
 glorious caufe ?— I trull: not. The fafts which have 
 been adduced fpeak for therafelves : but left there 
 fliould be a flony heart in this afiembly, I will continue 
 my Or^iV(3;2 "a few minutes longer. I'cs, firs, I will 
 offer motives to be charitable and produce examples 
 of benevolence : but where {hall I begin ? I behold 
 the innumerable mercies of our common Parent. The 
 heavens fliov^rer down bleffmgs upon us, and the earth 
 yieldeth her increafe, in the greatefl abundance. 
 " Our lines have fallen in pleafant places, t'i'\jly 
 we have a goodly heritage." The ti-ee of life, whofe 
 leaves are for the healing of u'oundcd nations, grows 
 in this hemifphere. Here every nation, kindred, and 
 tongue under heaven, forget their ancient animofities, 
 and form one race of republicans. Here the gartered 
 nobleman, the dignified clergyman, and the titular 
 faint, quit their childilli t^|les, and put on the man 
 and the chriftian. But I ccafe to praife : let thy 
 
 * The fociety may likewife be of great uulity in pre\'cnting 
 Captains and others to inipofe on the ignorant, by binding them 
 for a longer period, ar.d for lefs wages than they might othcrwife 
 obtain. In all countries, there are men lying in wait to tale in the 
 unwary traveller, in*a manner which Christ will not approve Qf> by 
 faying «« J was a firanger and j'i- took im in.^\ 
 
■'5 
 
 Woiks, O Columbia, fraife ihee in the gates — and 
 may the bleffings of thofe who were ready to periJJ} 
 come upon tksc, and abide forever witfmi thy borders* 
 
 O Americans ! do you want examples of liofpi- 
 tality and benevolence : remember the manes of yoiir 
 forefathe«s> who fled for refuge to this country, when 
 there were no inhabitants to receive them, but the 
 wild Pilgrims of the Wood. Among favages they 
 enjoyed what civilized nations refufed them. They 
 enjoyed every thing that is worth having in this 
 y{Qx\d.-^—The fweeis of Liberty. 
 
 Sh40uld Americans ever lack in hofpitality and a 
 love of freedom, — fome dire calamity would furely 
 befal their country : " her commerce would be bound 
 in chains, and her liberty in fetters of iron 1" but I 
 trufl: no fuch thing will happen — my prefent hearers 
 v;ill, I doubt ,not, fliew themfelves worthy of the 
 name they bear^? men and as Chriftians — It is true, 
 I do not call upon you to immortalize yourfelves, bf 
 building a fplendid hofpital or a codly edifice to corl- 
 tain the poor. This might ferve as a monument to 
 commemorate your charity and exalt your chara£ler. 
 The inftitution which now claims your fupport, lik« 
 the hand of charity^ iff elf dillufes its bleffings ill 
 fecrecy and filence, and may therefore pafs unnoticed 
 and unaffifted by thofe who are liberal only in th*^ 
 eyes of men, and do good merely from motives of 
 oftentation. You that are fmcere in the profcflion 
 of chriPiianity, will take " heed that ye do not youi^ 
 alms before men to be feen of them." I need not 
 mention any other motives to encourage ;'cz^ to con* 
 
ID 
 
 tribute to iliis fociety, tlian the exaivi|tle cf yciir. 
 Saviour. If he who was rich becamo poor, that 
 througli his poverty we might be raadd' rich, if He 
 the King of Kings o/aitted his glorious palace that we 
 might wc;u- crowns of righteoufnefs, ancfhaye a build- 
 ing not made with hands eternal in the heavens j in 
 fliort, if he lived and died to ferve the family of man- 
 kind, furely we ought to ferve one another. If ths- 
 Prieft and the Levice p:ifs by, do you rjy. hearers^ 
 agreeable to the command of Ciif.ict, r.ct the part 
 of the noble Samaritan. He beheld an objeft m 
 diflrefs and flev/ to his relief-— he did no(t alkhiin 
 what country he belonged to. what religion he pro- 
 fefied, or v.hether his creed Vv'as fiiort or long [ He 
 did better : he mingled his tears with his forrov/, and- 
 fupplied hirn with every thing that was neccffary to 
 iTiake him happy. 
 
 It is the peculiar cbaracEenftic of the fociety I 
 advocate, to be, like the Samaritan, impartial : it pays 
 :3io refpecl to any national character. The St. George, 
 jiSt. Patrick, and St. Andrew Societies have no doubt 
 -often ferved "heir countrymen, and like the German 
 Society continue to be ufeful. But thanks be to God, 
 the day of all Saints lias at lafl arrived, the Phii^a- 
 DELPHIA Society unites them all, in one fraternal 
 band — ^all party flars difappear— tljp fun of Rhiian- 
 thropy has rifen — and the morning heralds proclaim 
 AH Men are Brethren. 
 
 My Emig:\7nf brethren, permit me for a {c\v 
 ■moments to addrcfs you in particular. " You cer- 
 tainly knovv the heart of a flranger," is it pofiible that 
 
17 
 
 any of you fliould pafs by a brother in diflrers, and 
 not relieve him-— I hope not : die Icafl thing we caa 
 expe£i: from you is to become active members of this 
 afibciation ; and thereby render all the alTiibmce in 
 your poweVj lo thofe v^ho follow your example, in 
 I'eeking a hctfcr country. I know that fome emi^rfntSy 
 like the fpies of old, have given a bad report of this 
 .goodly Canaan, Others like Caleb and Joihua, being 
 baptized with the fpirit of liberty, and having forlaken 
 the flelh-pots (not the bonds) of Egypt, encourage 
 their brethren to come and poifefs the land. Diffi- 
 culties are neceJlary confequences attending all chan- 
 ges : but thofe who migrate to this country, ought 
 to compare their difficulties v/ith thofe of the firfc fet- 
 iers, — with the gloomy profp eft they have left behind 
 in Europe,— arid with the pleafmg views they have 
 before them, in this rifmg republic. 
 
 Alibough it is neceKary we (liould be moderate 
 in our defires and expeftations — wc may anticipate 
 great things to take place in thefe ftates. If the can- 
 ker worms of indolence, pride and diinpation, can 
 be deflroyed, the trees of America will grov/ magni- 
 ficently fair. We may then look forward to futurity, 
 and behold our progeny living like princes ; yes, each 
 of them far fuperior to the children of a king, fot 
 they (Irall live independent upon thejr own ellatcs ; 
 praifmg God, for curbing the wind and flilling the 
 ocean, for fafely landing us on the fliores of Colum- 
 bia where liberty and equality fnall for ever reign. 
 
 What more Hiall I fay to my audience ? Do 
 ihey place any confidence in God r do ihcy bear any 
 
i8 
 
 love to Christ ? Have they any tefpeci: for man ? 
 Then fly to the relief of the diftrelTed — ^Hailen, Oh^ 
 haflen my brethren to imitate the good Samaritan, 
 and do not forget that he who giveth to the poor, 
 lendeth to the ^Lord — who will, mod aifurediy, 
 return it with one hundred per cent, intereft in this 
 tvorld, and in the world to corhe, (to the truly chari- 
 table) life everlalling, through Jesus Christ. 
 
 Confident there can be no duty more exprefsly 
 commanded, or a reward more firmly promifed for 
 the dhcharge of it— I iliail leave ray hearers to medi- 
 tate on what they have heard, and only reqaefl them 
 to anticipate that period, " when the Son bf Man 
 {Iiall come in his glory, and all the angels with him ; 
 then fnall he fit upon his throne, and before him flrali 
 be gathered all nations, and he iliall fay to the righte- 
 ous, come ye blefled of my Father, inherit the King- 
 dom prepared for you, from before the foundation 
 of the world — for I was an hungered, and ye gave me 
 meat ; 1 was thirfly, and ye gave me drink : I was 
 a Jir anger, and ye took me in : — naked, and ye 
 cloathed me ; I was fick, and ye vifited me : I was 
 in prifon, and ye came unto me : — for as much as yc 
 have done it unto one of the leafl of thefe m.y bre- 
 ihre?2, ye have done it imto }nc." Come enter into the 
 joy of your Lord, and remain v/ith him for ever, in 
 glory. Now tmto the King Eter?ial, ImmortaL, the 
 Only Wife God, and our Saviour, be ofcrihed ever" 
 lajling praifes, A?nen. 
 
^ 
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 A number of the citizens of Philaddphlii, contemplating th? 
 many and jireat inconveniences, neccflarily arifmg from the 
 various caufcs which produce emigration, have formed themr 
 felves into a Society, for the purpofes of preventing or leflening 
 thofe difagre cable confequences. 
 
 To thofe in affluent circumftances, we can only offer our friend- 
 ftiip as individuals, congratulate them on their fafe arrival, and wjih 
 thi;m fuccefs and hapninefs. 
 
 Thofe in middling circumftances, who may vifli for informa- 
 mation, the Society refers to its committee, v/hich v.ill always 
 be ready to fhew them all pofTible attention. 
 
 But to the fick, to the friendlefs, to the needy, the Society 
 addrefles itfelf in a peculiar manner : r:qnefts them not to faffer 
 their fpirits to droop : and afl'ures them, that upon application t6 
 any of the committee, their cafes will be taicen iiito immediate 
 Gonfideration. 
 
 The members of the committee meet every Monday Evening 
 at Mr. Henry A. Hans, Regifter, No. 14.2, North Third Street. 
 
 Their names and places of refidence are as fo!!o".s: 
 
 Morgan J. Rhees, No. 30, Spruce St. William Zane, No.. 23, 
 So. Second St, Charles Kenny, City Tavern. Dr. F. Pafcalis, 
 No. 47, No. Fourth St. John R. Taylor, Nc. 183, No. Front 
 St. James Furze, No. 4, 5To. Third St. Philip Jones, No. 84, 
 Union St. Uriah Smith, No. 5, Church Alley. 
 
 Treafurer, Thomas Nev/nham, No. 145, No. Second St. 
 
 JRegijIer, Henry A. Heins, No. 142, No. Third St. 
 
 Phyfician, Dr. Arthur Biayney, No. 138, So. Second St. 
 
 Secretary^ Bartholomew Connolly, No. 5. So. Third St. 
 ]^ order of the Commmittee, 
 
 S. CONNQLLl", fee. 
 
 rh'iladeJph'm, April 26, l'J<)6. 
 
 N. B. As it is f /ye peculiar province of f/^r Registtr to receive 
 and record fuc^ Information as may be ifeful to Enugronfs on their 
 arrive!, thofe ivho fnd thetnf elves in want of fuch ajijlance, art 
 requejlcd to addref: thcnfeh'cs to hir.:. 
 
 CONSTITUTION of the SOCIETY. 
 I. The officers of the Society (hall confift of a Frefident, 
 Trcafurer, Secretary, Fhyf.cian, Regifter, two Counfeliors, a Com- 
 mittee of Conference and Corrcfpondence, and fuch additional offi- 
 cers as a majority of the members may at any time think requifite to 
 a:;complifh the ends of the Inftitution, to be eledted by ballot every 
 (ix months ; at which time ihc accounts of the Society fhall b^ 
 
20 
 
 fedjufted. Vacancies la oiTice, occafioned by death, refignation, Of 
 removal, fhall be filled at the monthly meetings, immediately fub- 
 feqaent to the time at which they may refpedtively happen. 
 
 II. The Prefident fnall prefide in all the meetings ; in his 
 abfence, a Chairman fiiall be chofen for the time being. 
 
 III. The Treafurer fliall take charge of all the monies and 
 fecuricies of the Society ; and fhail pay all orders figned by the 
 Chairman of the Committee ; which orders fhall be his vouchers 
 for his expenditures. Ke shall, before he enters upon his oiEce, 
 give fuch fecurity as the Society may require. 
 
 IV. The Secretary fuail keep fair records of the proceedings 
 of the Society, and ?.'ifo of the Committee. 
 
 V. The Regiikr fhall receive and record all information necef- 
 fary to promote the cbjetfls of the Society. 
 
 VI. The Connlellors fhall explain the laws of the flate relative 
 to the objedls of the InlL^ution, and fiapport the claims of the Societj'-, 
 before (lich perfons, cr courts, as are authorifed to decide upon 
 them. 
 
 VII. The Committee of Conference and Cor refpondence fhall 
 confifl of fach and fo many members, as the Society may think 
 rcquifite ; of which the Treafurer, Secretary, Phyfician and K.egi- 
 jfter fhall be four; They fhall tranfaft fuch bufinefs as may occur 
 in the recefs of the Society, and be empowered to draw upon the 
 Treafurer for fuch funis of money as may be necefHiry to carry on 
 the bufinefs of their appointment. 
 
 VIII. Any perfon, by fubfcribing the Conftitution, and paying 
 the fura of One Dollar, fhall become a member : he fhall contri- 
 bute annually one dollar, in half yearly payments, towards the 
 neceffary expenfes of the Society. In order more effedlually to* 
 accomplifh the ends of the Inftitution, honorary and correfponding 
 members fhall be admitted with the confent of a majority of die 
 members prefent. 
 
 IX. The Society fhall meet on the firft Wednefday in every 
 month, at fuch place as may be agreed upon by a majority : on 
 the requifition of fix members, the Chairman of the Committee fhall 
 call a fpecial meeting ; all which meetings fuallbe advertifed in the 
 public papers. Not lefs than feven members fhall be a quorum. 
 Vvlien there is not a quorum, the members prefent may adjoura 
 till fuch time, as they fhall think proper. 
 
 X. No law, or alteration of the Conftitution fhall be made 
 without being propofed at a previous meeting. All quefnons fhall 
 be decided, where there is a divifion, by a majority of votes ; when 
 the Society is equally divided, the prefiding officer fuail have a 
 calling vote. 
 
 JOHN SWANVs^ICK, Prefident, 
 
 No. 237, South Front Street. 
 
 N. E. Thp preamble to the Cbiiftltution having been quoted in the 
 Oration, it v.'as thought u:;neceffiry to repeat it. 
 
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