Newspapers / The Orphans’ Friend (Oxford, … / July 12, 1876, edition 1 / Page 2
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If THE ORPHANS’ FRIEND. IVcdiicMlay, JuSy 887»6 A CAMOIOATE HJ^AUJO rifeOItt. Tlie ej'cs of the Okpiiaks’ Friend are wide open on the sub ject of education. Hence our earnest desire for a distinct un derstanding witli every man wlio asks the people to make him Su- pei'intendent of Public Instruc tion. Our article on this subject has called forth a letter from Mr. Scarborough, and though he seems a little impatient at our ignor ance, he states his past and pres ent position. Our object is ac complished and we are satisfied. Here is the letter; Selma, N. C., July 1, 1876. Superintendent Orphan Asylum, Oxford, N. C.—Dear Sir :—In an article in Orphans’ Friend ol June 28tl), after complimenting Oov. Vance, Col. Kenan and ' Major Englohard on their zeal for the Orphans, j'ou say: “ Mr. Scarborough, candidate tor Su perintendent of Public Insti'uc- tion, ^is an efficient teacher, in sympathy with couutiy schools, and more competent to discharge the duties of the office than many who have heretofore sought the position. But let him tell the people what he thinks of the or phan work. We shall watch the candidates on both sides, and if any' propose to keep poor orphans in ignorance and vice, we shall ask the people to keep them at home. So mote it be.” For the kind compliment here given, I return thanks, but I am somewhat surprised at the latter part of this article. I have never been much given to sbunding my owm praises. Ido not intend to be led into sounding them now, for, if I have done anything worthy of praise, the people will find it out without my telling it. But I claim that the ORFnAN’.s Friknd ought to have known where I stand on the orphan work. I have a hard field to work in, but I have done something to aid the Asy"- lum. The contributions from Selma, -whether from the church or from the community, have been made through my' influence and efforts ; and I claim my' share of the credit for what little the Lodge hero has given. I have met -with opposition in the Lodge and out of it, though I have never failed to speak a word for the orphans and make an aji- peal to the people in their behalf, whenever an opportunity has of fered itself or whenever I could make an opportunity'. 'J'he contributions sent from Selma have been forwarded iv/ The Orphans’ Friend ought to have known this, and not have “ booked ” me as doubtful on the orphan work. I say' “booked” as doubtful, because calling on me to let the people know' where I stand is an evidence that the Orphans’ Friend regards me as doubtful. “ He that is not for us is against us” in this work. 1 can produce evidence that I was in favor of converting St. John’s College into a school for the free education of poor children, (board and tuition), the money to be .-alsed by contributions from the Lodges, cburclies and other be nevolent societies of the State, iiefore the present Superintendent offered his resolution in the Grand Lodge, making it an Asylum for orphan cluldren. But I have written enough aud forbear fur ther comments. . Amours tndy', John 0. Scarborough. 'i'iisi: FouKTsi or .srxi' i.v ox- roKB. The throng w'as immense. The Orphan Chapel was packed and (livers vehicles, and loaded bas kets and tables filled the grove. An eloquent oration was deliver ed. Our ance.stors wei-e glorified and Heaven’s blessing ivas in voked upon ns and our children. Then a bonntifnl dinner was spread and onjoyeej, and the peo ple dispersed. After they' -n'ore gone, a poor orphan, in deep dis appointment, said: “They' pumped out all our water, and sjiread their chickens, pies, and cakes right under our noses, and didn’t give us a taste.” Aliis for tlie rarity Of pic-nic charity, Under the sun ! ORPHAN' WOitK. Many of our readers cannot form a proper conception of this great charity. Remote, as it is, from the groat business centress of the State, but feiv, compara tively, know practically of what is being done at this Institution and the obligations wo are under to foster and promote with paren tal care in every claim aud iii- tere,5t. To act intelligently the reader should know something of the the Institution, both as to its ori gin, designed, an.J present work and purposes. The original law required each Lodge to pay into the treasury' of tlie Grand Lodge the sum of £5 annually, -which should be applied to purposes of charity, aud education. These contribu tions had gone in annually' until many thousands of dollars had accumulated. The Grand Lodge then determined to carry' out the purposes of the fund, and erect at Oxford, tiieu considered the most eligible and desirable loc-itlon in the State, a large and baiidsome brick building, to be know'ii as St. John’s College, with the view' of establishing a school that w'ould at once take ralik w'ith any in the land. Through a series of ineffi cient management the building w'a.s not entirely paid for, w'as ul timately sold for the debt and Durchased by the Grand Lodge f.r the amount against it, thus making it, unencumbered, the property of the Grand Lodge in fee simple. It then stood prac- ticallv idle for a long time. In"l872 Brother J. H. Mills conceived the idea of converting it into an Asylum for the protec tion and training of the indigent orphans of the State without ref erence to tlieir parents being Ma sons, and the Grand Lodge re garding his suggestions with fa vor matured its plans accordingly, and on the memorial 22d of Feb ruary, (happy'coincidence,) 1873, the Oxford Orphan Asylum I'c- ccived its baptism of faitli by the admission of three children, since which time it has had an honora ble and useful record. 317 chil dren have been received, fed, clothed, instructed and kindly cared for and as comfortably' as the means would permit. Of this large number orJy 6 have died; 15 have ran away and been de coyed off by bad hearted, un scrupulous persons, 176 have been adopted into pleasant fami lies where they' liave superior so cial aud educational advantages, or have been put to useful trades, aud by the kindness of friends 5 girls have been placed at flift’er- ent Colleges where they are re ceiving a first class education al most entirely free of cost to the Institution, leaving 116 still at the Asylum at Oxford. In addition to this, about a year and a half ago valuable property at Mars Hill was dona ted to the Grand Lodge f( r a branoii Asylum, and was regular ly' opened. Since then, also, oth er valuable property at Asheville, has been donated and the chlhh-en at Mars Hill removed to it, while the Mars Hill jiroporty' is retained as an infirirary where the ,sickly from both Oxford and Asheville are sent to recruit, it being re garded one of the most salubrious and bealtUy locations in the whole State. At these tw'o places there ar fifty children, which added to the number at Oxford makes 156 now under the care of our Asylum Work, and to be provided for by' the voluntary contributions of the people. To carry' on this great work is no small task, and is attended with heavy expenses. This ex pense must be met by the volun tary' contributions of the people of the State. So far this has been done w'itliout reference to system, but lias depended upon the spas modic oft’orts of individuals. Soci eties of different orders. Churches and S'dinlay Schools, and the re sult is, that while some iiave done nobly' others have failed to do anvtliing and there has been a falling off during the balf-y'oar of ’76, just past, of 81,500, as com pared with the first half-y ear of ’75. Tliis ought not and must not he. We fear that familiarity with the theme has jiroduced indiffer ence, and many have aw'aited the awakening power of orphan con certs, charades, tea parties and such, rather than upon the great moral and religious obligation to give W'ith regularity' aud system. First resolve to do this and then those extra efforts combined with pleasure will not be misphiced. Bro. Mills, the able and efficient Siqrerintendont, is perfecting a plan for secnriiig this sy’stoin and regularity b\' the formation of Orphan Aid" Societies at eveiy accessible point in the State, and liaving reviewed the whole plan, we give it onr unqualified en dorsement and cooperation, and call upon all friends of needy hu manity to join in the effort and permanentiy establish a .system atic contribution in this organized form. Having recently visited the In stitution and treely mingled with the children, teachers and officers, we are prejiared to speak intelli gently of the work that is being done and the importance of an undiminished effort tor its fatliful prosecution. To spend a day at the Institution and witness the unselfish devotion of the teaclier.s to tiielr duty', and the parental affection bestowed upon each of tliose little charges, and then the little children, God bless them, are perfectly devoted to their teachers and greet them with smiles and caresses aud the most cheerful obedience on all occa sions. No w'onder that crowds greet the little bands that go out to give concerts in our towns and villages, and no wonder tliat tlieir warmest sympathy and interest are enlisted on such occasions, but friends, could you all see them as wo have seen them and hear them as we have heard them at their morning and evening devotions in their spacious ohapcl w'ith up ward of a hundred voices joined in sweetest song, in richest melo dy, y'ou’d all feel that if you had a thousand bags of gold you w'ould gladly’ oast it at their little bare feet.—Journal. CHIEMISEX’S l'’6iIIE;\0S*>€SlE'ri', FitOVB- BUXL't;, »«. I. Its object is to rescue from evil and mvstery such children as are deprived of the care of tlieir nat ural protectors. During thetbir- ty'-eigbt years of its existence the institution lias admitted 987, ma ny of w'bom were indentured to the society and continue imdor its guardianship until they' arrive at tlie age of 21 years. Unless in special eases, or w'here a child is to be brought up as an adopted diild, they are not olaced out un der 12 years of age, and in no ease w'itliout good retereiicos. No child under 2 years of ago is re ceived into the institution. CHAKLE.STON OBI’HAN HOME, CHAR LESTON, S. 0. Established in the y'ear 1792, this is one of the oldest institu tions of the kind in this country'. The aduiiniscration is w'ise and successful. Much of the labor of the institution is done by the chil dren witliout interfering with their school or studies. They' are taught useful occupations hero, in order that tliey' may bo fitted to take care of themselves w'lion they go out from tlie care and protection of the home hereafter. THE NASHVILLE PROTESTANT OR PHAN ASYLUM, NASHVILLE, TENN., Has been in successful operation for the last fifteen years ; and the ardent de'sire of the board of man agers to establish a home for the heipte.ss child of w'ant has been happily' realized. The erection of a separate establishment for bovs is now under consideration, and a lot of ground in Watkin’s Grove has been donated for that purpose by the liberality' of Mr. Watkins. .MILW'AUKEE OKPilAN ASSOCIATION, MILW'AUKI'E, W'IS., A charity that has cared for near iv seven hundred homeless ami forsaken children, reports : “ The Lord lias been our >Slioj)herd ” and the “ Keeper of our flock,” and bumljly con.scious are we that un less Ho Imd kept the iiome onr labor would have beer, in vain. Is it not a I’ep.roof to our fears and au eiicouragornent to our faith, to remember that tor Ueenty-five years a family of young chiidi’en, varying in num’oer from twenty' to ov'er sixty, with no endowment fund, no industi'y of sufficient magnitude to bo profitable, but trusting only to the “ charity' that never failetli,” has been maintain ed without ever suffering a single want or feeling one necessity f Sure ly' may' wo exclaim, “ I w'ill trust in Thee and fear no evil, foi Thou, God, art with me.” A WDS«J> TI'« 4iSSiLia!KE.,J3SSS. Don’t be a grumbler. Son e people contrive to get hold of the prickly side of every'thirig, to run against all the sharp corners, and find out all the disagreeable things Half the strength sjient in grow'l ing w'ould often set things right. You may as w'ell make up yorr mind, to begin w'ith, that no one ever found the world just as they would like it; but you are to lake y'our share of the trouble and boar it bravely'. A'ou will be very' sure to have burdens laid upon y'ou that belong to other people, unless you are a shirk yourself; but don’t grumble. If the w'ork needs doing and you can do it, never mind about the other boy’s who ought to have done it and didn’t. Tliose workers who fill up the gaps and smooth aw'av the rough spots, and finish up the job that others left undone—they' are the true peace makers, and worth a whole reeiment of growlers. We extract the following from a masonic address delivered by Chas. R. Jones W. M. of Excel sior Lodge No. 261 Charlotte N. C. before Mt. Mourne Lodge on the 2-lth day of June 1876. I cannot conoln'ln refere' to Mi Orph Ashe eniph ami fi are di the m who 1: sohoo in ord useful ren, tl the g! gover Durii ho no aw'ay durir frate child cduc (lid il liavo Br some arc m Nortl W'ill . / more, aid an r -ar tiE'r'rs.iS'.; a sas.'.; tting a lip a There is nothing like : good start, and keeiiin good, sober, steady pace in bii.si- ness. More men fall from a. want of steadines.s of purpose, than froiu any' otl’.er caiise. Fast bu.siness men—those who.progre.'s spas- modic.dly—-are not generally tha most successful ones in the long run. An examination into tlio list of successful business men will prove that, in nine cases out of ten, the success has been achieved by' patient, steady', per severing study', coupled, of course, with judicious economy'. The fast merchant niay get the lead for the season, but to maintain it requires both bottom and speed, two qualifications rarely combin ed. It is the pace that kills. Everybody' remembers the fable of the ‘tortoise and the bare.’ hear s ituu your pmrse strings, and contribute something to enable North Carolina Masons to oarrv o ;t the work so auspiciously begun. “He who giveth to tue poor lendeth to the Lord,” and how much more commendable is it in us to oonli'ibute to the relief of those little ones who cannot help tlieanselves ? God h.as placed them liere as our w'ards, and we must cherish, prol. c and nouri.-ih them. In this great .Ma.sonio charity we can prove to the v.'oi'ld, thiit we can practice as well as preach. It Is already in .suoces.sful operation, and needs only your favor.s and your chari ties, to enable its historian to fid u’p the brightest page, in the iiis- torv of the Fraternity in our 8ta"te. The forests of Europe are estima ted as being- 500,000,000 acres in extent. In North America 1,460,- 000,000 acres are covered with trees, of w'hich area 900,000,000 are in British North America. In South America, forests occupy 700,000,000 acres. The propor tion of forest land to the whole area of Europe is computed at 20 per cent; in Acmei-ica, 21. Sup posing, therefore, 20 per cent to be the proportion in Asia, Africa aud Australia, the grand total of the forests of the world cover a space of 7,734,000 geographical miles.
The Orphans’ Friend (Oxford, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
July 12, 1876, edition 1
2
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