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VOLUMIil 11.
OXFOEIJ, N. C., WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 1876.
NUMBER 12.
THE OBPII.iSr WOBH.
Ill 1868, tlie premises, known
as St. John’s College, were sold
at auction, and bought by R. W.
Best, Grand Master of Majons.
During the same year the pur
chase money was collected by
Rev. J. L. Carroll, and the deed
was made to the G-rand Lodge.
Nine Directors were appointed to
control the property and to use
the same for a male school, a fe
male, school, or Orphan Asylum.
EXTRACTS PROM PROCEEDINGS OP
THE GRiVND LODGE IN DEC. 1872.
Bro. J. T. Littlejohn, President
of the Board of Directors of St.
John’s College, submitted a re-
pirt as follows, which was read
and accepted:
To the 3Iost Worshipful Grand
Lodge of North Carolina:
The Board of ])ireetors of St. John’s Col
lege regret to report that they have failed to
make any arrangements in establishing a
school in this institution. After advertising
fur proposals to lease the property h'r a male
or female school or college, they received but
one. application. The terms upon which the
College was oflered to this person, to-wit:
S500 per annum, was declined on the ground
that the rent wn» too high. The Board has
put the building in charge of a competent
gentleman, who resides on the premises, and
supervises the property and jiays a small rent.
'The buildings are now in a good state of
preservation.
licspcctf’uily and fraternally submitted,
JAS. f. LITTLEJOHN, President.
Bro. C. A. Cilley, J. G. W., in
troduced the following resolution;
liesolved, That the Grand Lodge appoint
three Commissioners who shail proceed to ad
vertise and sell St. John’s College, either at
jiublic or private sale, to the- State or to t
]K;rson. or persons,on such terms as they may
think reporting thc'ir action to the next
Grand Lodge, in order that they may there
ret^eiv‘ furtlicr instrucrimis as to the disjiosi-
tioii of the proceeds of sale.
Bi-o. J. II. Mills presented the
I'oilowiiig ii.s 11 substitute for said
resolution ;
Itesolvcl. I. Tlnit St. John’s College shall
he. made an asylum for the ])ro(ection, train
ing and education of indigent or}>han children.
2. That this (xrand Loilgc will approjiriato
$ .uinually fur the support of the insti
tation, hut will not assume any additional po-
cuuta’-y respousihility.
J. 'i’liat this Grand Lodge elect a Superin
tendent who shall contred the institution and
solicit contributions for its support from all
classes of our pettple.
4. That orphan i-.hildreu in tlie said Asylum
shall be fed and clothed, and shall receive
such preparatory training atid education as
will pr(-})are them tor useful occupations and
for the usual business transactions of life.
Pending discussion, the Grand
Loda’e proceeded to the consider-
ation of tne special order.
The consideration of the reso
lutions in regard to St. John’s
College was resumed.
The question recurring on the
substitute of Bro. J. II. Mills, the
same was put and decided in tlie
affirmative.
The proposition as thus amended
was adopted.
Several propositions to fill the
blank in the 2nd resolution were
submitted and rejected, when on
motion of Bro. Sani’l A. Williams,
five Jumdred dollars were inserted.
On motion of Bro R. 11. Kings
bury, Bro. J. H. Mills, of Raleigh,
was' elected Superintendent of the
Orphan Asylum, at Oxford.
Bro. S. E. Overby moved that
the present Board of Diioctors of
St. John’s College be discharged,
wdiich motion prevailed.
On motion of Bro. S. E. Ovei’by,
standing resolution No. Ill, pro
viding for the appointment of a
permanent Board of nine Direc
tors of St. John’s College, was de
clared repealed, and the Grand
Secretary was instructed to notify
each member of the said Board of
Directors of this action.
Bro. Clinton A. Cilley, S. G.
Ml, introduced the following res
olution, which was read and un
animously adopted ;
Resoloed. That this Gniml Lodge desires
to express its approciatinn of the zeal and
earnestness witli which the Board of Directors
of St. John’s College have labored, both here
and elsewhere, to advance the intei’ests of that
Institution.
Bro. R. W. York introduced the
following resolution, which was
read and adopted :
Resolved, That the Superintendent of the
said Orphan Asylum shall report to each An
nual Communication an account of his official
acts, receipts, dishursemeufs, number of pu
pils, &c., together with such suggestions as
he may see fit to offer.
In January, 1873, the institu
tion was opened for the reception
of orphans, and it was found that
many of them were in circum
stances exceedingly humiliating
and distressing. Some were even
enslaved by those who had been
recently released from slavery.
Others were oppressed as if all
the rights of humanity had ceased
to exist. To release these suffer
ers, to collect needed supplies, to
decide the various problems al-
wax's incident to a new ivork, and
to give due attention to the proper
management and instruction of
the children, taxed the undivided
efforts of the Superintendent. He
therefore asked the advice of the
Grand Master in regard to certain
perplexing questions which had
arisen, and also requested permis
sion to resign in order that a suc
cessor might be appointed, who
could give his entire time to the
orphan work. Ho received the
following reply :
Office of tuk Grand JIaster of ?
Masons i i North Carolina, ^
Raleigh, June !2(), 1873.
J. If. Mills, Sup't Orphan Asglum, Oxford,
N. C.—.\1y Dear Sir and Brother:—At
a rocout meeting of pjomineiit and discreet
Masons in this city, a- number of perplexing
questions with reference to the management
of St. John’s Orphfiu Asylum were discussed
and detenuiued, as follows:
3. “Should dc'sorted children be admitted f”
was decided in tlie negative.
4. “Should children tiaviug steji-fathcrs he
admitted f” was also decided iti the negative.
5. “Shoulddeformed children he admitted?”
This was left to the d'scrctioii of the Superin
tendent. When tlie deformity is of such a
character as to require extra attention, it was
thought umulvisablc to admit the parties in
the present condition of the Asylum.
7. “Should boys learn trades at the Asy
lum ?” Decided in tlie negative, it being im
practicable at this time to employ skilled me
chanics in the various trades, erect suitable
work-shops and purchase uec(?ssary tools.
8. “Should collecting agents he appointed
in ditfereut parts of tho State ; and if so, what
wages should they receivef” T'his was left
to the discretion of tho Superintendent, but
tlui meeting advised against employing and
paying agents.
9. “Should the Chairman of County Com
missioners and Masters of lodges be author
ized to accept and forward orphans f” Deci
ded ill the affirmative, but under such instruc
tions from the Siqierintendent as he may be
pleased to give. The prenaration and print
ing of suitable forms of admission, to prevent
imposition, was r«^ommended.
10. It was decided, unanimoushj, that you
should coutinue in the position of Siupeiiu-
tendent—that tho ]mblic having the fullest
confidence in your integrity, zeal and good
jiigmcnt, might lose confidence in the success
of this iiohle enterpi'isc should you withdraw
from the position assigned you by the Grand
Lodge.
I have the honor, most respectfully, to ap
prise you of the action of the meeting on these
important questions, and trust that it may as
sist you somewhnt iu the arduous and respon
sible labors which have been imposed on you
by the Eraternity.
With high hopes for the success of the Asy
lum, and a sincere regard for yourself,
'I am truly and fraternally,
JOHN NICHOLB, Gi-and Master.
This letter, except so far as it
has been modified by subsequent
legislation of the Grand Lodge,
or decisions of the Grand Master,
is still considered binding.
EXTRACTS FROM PROCEEDINGS OP
THE GRAND LODGE IN DEC. 1873.
The committee to whom was
referred so much of the Grand
Master’s Address as relates to the
Orphan Asylum, also the report of
the Superintendent of the Asy
lum, submitted the following re
port.
To tha Most Worshipful Grand
Jjodge of North Carolina:
Your Committee to whom was referred the
iT'port of Bro. J. II. Mill.s on the Orphan
Asylum, and such portion of the Grand
Master’s aildress as relates thereto, beg leave
to report that they recommend the following
as a basis of organization for said Asylum :
1st. The officers of the Orphan Asylum
shall be a Suporinteudeut, a Steward, a Mat
ron, a Housekeeper and one Teacher for each
Form of twouty-fivc children.
2nd. Tlie Superintendent shall control every
department of tne Institution according to
tlie instructions of tho Grand Lodge, receive
and aid in the colleclioii of funds and supplies
ftu’its support, and make at each Grand (Jmn-
mmiioatiou a full report of rcceipi-s and dis
bursements.
ord. The Steward shall exercise a general
oversight of tho children, promises and
property, and the operations of every depart
ment, keep the books and enforce the orders
of the Superintendent.
4th. Tlie Matron shall see that the rooms,
bed-clothing and persons of the children arc
kept in a neat, clean and comfortable condi
tion, and tliat the sick are jiroperly artended.
5th. The House-keeper shall, under the
direction ot the Matron, ,see that tho meals
are properly prepared, ami that nothing is
lost or wasted. *
6tli. The Teachers shall be ]>rompt, faith
ful and efficent iu the discharge of all tiieir
scdiool-room duties, and shall constantly oxer- ■
ciso a general supervision of the manners and
morals tif the children.
7th. The Snperiutendent shall appoint tho
subordinate officers, and remove the incom
petent and unworthy. He shall be elected by
ballot, annually, by the Grand Lodge, and
shall, if found unfaithful, after a careful and
personal exaiuation, be removed by the-
Grand Master and Wardens, or a majority of
them, who, iu such case, shall submit a report
of their action, with a full record of the evi
dence taken on both sides, to the next Grand
Lodge.
From the foregoing legislation
it appears that the Orphan Asy
lum was designed to be a place of
refuge, where poor and promising
orphans may find a temporary
school, and be trained and pre
pared for the duties of good and
useful citizens. It is not an “Or
phans’ Home,” or place of perma
nent residence ; it is not a hospi
tal for tho sick and disabled, nor
open to deserted ohildn n, lest un
feeling parents should be thereby
encouraged to abandon their off-
spi'ing’. Neither is it (as many
seem to suppose) a reservoir in
which the ragged and dirty are
collected and washed and distrlb
uted among those in greatest
need of servants.
from this report that some of our
leading institutions of learning
propose to recei've and educate,
gratuitously, a limited number of
the most promising and intelli
gent ot these children, provided
they are supplied with suitable
clothing and books.
2d. They are gratified to hear
of the success of the ^^Orphans’
a nursery for infants. It is not Friend,” published at tho Asylum
EXTRACTS FROM THE PROCEEDINGS
OF THE GRAND LODGE IN DEC. 1874.
Vorshipful Grand
To the Most
Lodge of North Caroli la.
Your Committee to whom were referred that
portion of the Grand Master’s Address which
relates to the Orphan Asylum, and the report
of tho Suiierintendcut thereof, heg leave to
submit tho following report:
9th. Tho drsigu of tlie Orphan Asylum
shall be tt) jirolecT, train and educate im i-
gent and ]n-oniising- orphan children, to Ic
received between the ages of 6 and 12 years,
who have no parents, nor property, nor near
relations able to assist tlunn. They shall not
he received for a shorter time than two years.
In extraordinary cases the Superintendent may
receive children outside tho ages specified.
10th. The larger girls .shall assist in the
ordinary house worlr, and in making and
mending the bed ck)thcs, their own cluthes
and tho clothes of the boys. 'The larger boys
shall assist in tlic preparation of fuel, the care
of the stock, and the cultivation of the soil.
11th. At least four religions denominations
shall bo represented among the officers of tho
Asylum, and the representatives of all reli
gious creed.s and of all polltciaL parties shall
be treated alike.
Tho Institution shall bo conducted on the
cash system, and its operations enlarged or
curtailed according to tho funds received.
2. A majority of the Committee are of
opinion with the .Superintendent as to the im
)>ortance of a weeldy paper in the interests of
the institution. They are satisfied, upon con
sideration, that such a jiaper could bo made
almost, if not •[uitc, self-supporting, in a very
short time ) and for tho reasons assigned by
the Superintendent, they can not doubt that
it would prove a most valuable aid in the
great work we have in charge.
3. The Committee fully concur in the sug
gestions of Bro. Mills in his report in regard
to lotteries, gift concerts, &c., and recommend
his views to the favorable consideration of the
brethren of the Grand Lodge.
Wm. G. HILL, j
K. W. HAUDIE, ^
C, A. CILLEY, (
CIIAS. C. CLARK. J
Bro. Toui’gee introduced the
following which was adopted :
Resolved, That the Master of each subor
dinate Lodge appoint a Standing Committee
upon raising funds for the Orphan Asylum,
and require said Cemunittee to report in
writing each month, and that said reports and
the funds received be forwarded ino!nhly to the
Superintendent of the Asylum, and that the
support of the Orphan Asylum bo a regular
order of business in each subordinate Lodge at
each Communication.
Bro. J. II. Mills introduced the
following resolutions which were
road and unanimously adopted :
Resolved, That the sincere thanks of this
Grand Lodge are hereby tendered to may be
nevolent ladies and gentlemen, to the minis-
tere of the Gospel, to churches of various de-
dorainations. Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias,
Good Templars, Friends ot Temperance and
other benevolent societies, whose hearty coop
eration and liberal contributions have rendered
timely and valuable assistance in the great
work of amoliovating the condition of the or
phan children ot the State.
Resolved, That all benevolent societies and
individuals are hereby cordially invited and re
quested to cooperate with us in providing funds
and supplies for feeding, clothing and edu
cating indigent and promising orphan children
at the Asylum in Oxford.
MELVIN E. CARTER, 1
J. H. COOK, I
TJfTtjrAS WEBB, '>Com.
JAMES. S. BATTLE, 1
WM. 11. COX, j
Considered by sections and
adopted.
Bro. L. H. DeRosset introduced
the following resolution, wbioli
was read and adopted :
Resolved, That this Grand Lodge rccom
mend to each Subordinate Lodge to subscribe
to the paper authorized to he published at the
Oxford Orphan Asylum under the supeiwis-
ion of tho Superintendent thereof, as being
the official record of that great Masonic
charity.
In January, 1875, the Mars
Hill Orphan Asylum was opened
and during the year of its contin
uance there ivas not a case of se
rious sioknes.
EXTRACT.S FEOJI THE rEOCEEDINGS
OF THE GRAND LODGE IN DEC. 1876.
The Special Committee on the
Orphan Asylums made their re
port, which was read and adopted.
To the Most Worshipful Grand
Lodge of North Carolina:
Your Committee, to whom was
refered that portion of the Gi-and
Master’s Address, which relates to
tlie Oxford and Mars Hill Orphan
Asylums, cordially approve his
suggestions, and commend the
zeal he has manifested in their
behalf.
From the report of the Super
intendent, Bro. J. H. Mills, wliich
was likewise referred to this Com
mittee, they are gratified to see
that the orphan wmrk has been so
successfully prosecuted, and that
these institutions have been tlie
instruments of alleviating rmicb
sulTering, rescuing from misfor
tune and crime many of tho un
protected and destitute children
of our beloved State, and placing
tho means vrithin their reach of
becoming useful and valuable
members of society.
They aro gratified to discover
at Oxford, and recognizing it as a
valuable auxiliary to the ivork,
earnestly recommend its patron
age to every Mason within this
jurisdiction.
3d. It having been called to
their attention that there aro large
areas of tei-ritory, in which there
are no Lodges, and ivliere it has
proved impossible to interest the
people in the orphan work, by
the means hitherto employed,
they recommend the establish
ment in all such localities, of Or
phan Aid Societies, under such
rules, regulations and restrictions
as may be prescribed by the Most
Worshipful Orand Master.
4th. The present plan for rais
ing funds from the Subordinate
Lodges, for the support of the
Asylums, is believed to be as eifi-
cacious as any they can sug'gest,
and needs only to be carried out
faithfully to guarantee success.
They, therefore, advise no addi
tional legislation, but recommencl
that the Most Worshipful Grand
Master use all legitimate means,
to induce the Lodges aforesaid to
appo'.ntactive and diligent commit
tees, as provided by this Grand
Lodge, and to see that they dis
charge their responsible duties.,
6th. They respectfully recom
mend the appropriation of two
thousand dollars tow'ards the sup
port of the Orphan Asylums for
the current (Masonic) year, and
that the Grand Treasurer be in
structed to pay the same, in
monthly installments, upon the
warrant of the Suiierintendent.
6th. They would respectfully
urge the erection of a permanent
eudow'ment fund, for the support
of the Asylums, and to this end
suggestthat all committees, agents
or others, soliciting and receiving
contributions for a temporary' sup
port, be authorized and requested
to receive any land, notes or
other securities, given for this
purpose, and that as such land,
notes or other securities are from,
time to time received, the same
shall be accounted for and turned
over to the Grand 'IreasurGr, who
shall hold the same subject to the
further orders of this Grand
Lodge, and that the Most Wor
shipful Grand Master be requested
to bring this subject prominently
before the public in order to ac
complish this design.
* * « » «
We heartily recommend tliese
institutions to the kindest consid
eration of our brethi-en, and the
people of the State, hoping they
may receive the support they so
richly merit, and under the bless
ings of the Supreme Grand Mas
ter, prove the fostering mother of
many more of the destitute and
unfortunate of our land
W. R. Cox,
John Nichols,
V. Blacks'j'ock,
N. L. Shaw,
Z. M. Paschall,
Com,