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"Ben Franklin"
Benjamin Franklin, Autobiography: Page 92
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and other insolvent debtors, many of indolent and idle habits, taken out of the
jails, who, being set down in the woods, unqualified for clearing land, and
unable to endure the hardships of a new settlement, perished in numbers, leaving
many helpless children unprovided for. The sight of their miserable situation
inspir'd the benevolent heart of Mr. Whitefield with the idea of building an
Orphan House there, in which they might be supported and educated. Returning
northward, he preach'd up this charity, and made large collections, for his
eloquence had a wonderful power over the hearts and purses of his hearers, of
which I myself was an instance.
I did not disapprove of the design, but, as Georgia was then destitute of
materials and workmen, and it was proposed to send them from Philadelphia at a
great expense, I thought it would have been better to have built the house here,
and brought the children to it. This I advis'd; but he was resolute in his first
project, rejected my counsel, and I therefore refus'd to contribute. I happened
soon after to attend one of his sermons, in the course of which I perceived he
intended to finish with a collection, and I silently resolved he should get
nothing from me, I had in my pocket a handful of copper money, three or four
silver dollars, and five pistoles in gold. As he proceeded I began to soften,
and concluded to give the coppers. Another stroke of his oratory made me asham'd
of that, and determin'd me to give the silver; and he finish'd so admirably,
that I empty'd my pocket wholly into the collector's dish, gold and all. At this
sermon there was also one of our club, who, being of my sentiments respecting
the building in Georgia, and suspecting a collection might be intended, had, by
precaution, emptied his pockets before he came from home. Towards the conclusion
of the discourse, however, he felt a strong desire to give, and apply'd to a
neighbour, who stood near him, to borrow some money for the purpose. The
application was unfortunately [made] to perhaps the only man in the company who
had the firmness not to be affected by the preacher. His answer was, "At any
other time, Friend Hopkinson, I would lend to thee freely; but not now, for thee
seems to be out of thy right senses."
Some of Mr. Whitefield's enemies affected to suppose that he would apply these
collections to his own private emolument; but I who was intimately acquainted
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