Newspapers / The Orphans’ Friend (Oxford, … / Feb. 28, 1883, edition 1 / Page 4
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; 'Tlie Orphans’ Friend. V'.’,' ’KSifAY, FEHHnAllY28, - - 1883. .1 jiE ()(;ean waif. I (joiiatc'i the billows, bright, Of, Uw restless emerald sea, A.S o'ver the silvery sands they rolled Vriiii sudden plunge and revel bold As if to gambol in merry glee A^lHie mystic moonlit night. /■'sfbod on the sun-patclied strand ‘An (Ireamed with the silent sea, Wlien the sparkling foams from the dy- . iug swells Like ropes of gems enmeshed the shells, ^•Aiid it seemed a giant asleep to me; ' ’Sn placid it was and so grand. So the se;i ()flife (loth roll ...Ji'dUi a.deep, resi.stless power; Aiid.nations under its fury bend; calm is hastened that brings the end, - And there comes a day, and there comes ail hour. Wh(;ii tile bells in sorrow toll. MEJIT LIKE I^ilEL WANTED. BY .rOUN B. PAXTON, D. D. The problem of this age and (;1 every age is h5w to rear a man and train him so that we can oo^t on him in critical emer- gtmeies, so that he will stand firm in ail situations and te true to ev« ei'v^lrust laid on his bands: that’s the ‘prohlem. Without convic- thpi^j^vward God, a sense of re spiinsihiiity, and a sensitive con* spi^ncc, it cannot certainly be done.- Witli God, and steadfast lYnst in liim, it lias and can be done: Joseph in Egypt, and Daniel in Babylon, in proof of tins assertion, rising from slave ry to almost kingly power, are not found wanting, or shortcom ing in life or betraying a trust. My hearer’s: What our need is, is more Josephs in business, tgid more Daniels in public office and poMtions of trust. It is said that the moral screws of the age are loose; that faith in the unseen Holy has gone down; that we neither believe so surel}’, nor act so positively for the right as our fathers did. Be that as it may. This is lamentably true.^that the . ttgiUlency of the times is to form negative characters— that is, to rear a maw who holds lightly w'hat Daniul held firriily; who laughs at or condones what Jos- e])h feared and fled from; to rear a mi^n who is all at sea, wi’thotit 'compass or chart, for whom the old stars have ceased to sliine, who has no deep con viction, no sure aim, no sharply d(dined views; who tolerates all things, and grows warm over nothin)^ except money-making. Yet it is said that convictions are distiptegratingi that clear views of tijdtb, strict notions as to duty, a resolute purpose for the right, and an earnest, upright man is not so easily found as of old. opinions are in fashion. You'ng -men come home from coK legT^ ^ith; manners, and too much worldly . knowledge in their youBlfnl heads, but too often vvitli tlieir mothers God an open question in their souls. And the worst of it-is, that this limp, pas- sionles^.’saltless character is aim ed at.i. It is the fashionable type. It is commended l)y sestbetic cir cles and portrayed in modern nov^D. Why, strong convictions on anv subject, except heiresses niK I fli^ tariff, and luxury witli' (Mil t!ie toil that procures it, are in bud forui, and out of fashion, us iiiucti as Stroup lungs and a l>i: , nice. If you are familiar with history, you must be struck by ihcj fact that the nineteenth coi'tm'y is alarmingly like the first c'ciitui'y of our era : a centus ly when every Roman gentleman cried itii admirari of everything. when he declared that there was nothing left in the world to ad mire, or love, or passionately revere, or desire or hate, or grow warm over. We are coming to that in a measure. We have no gift for self-sacrifice, no convic tions worth maintaining, in face of loss and danger, A negative ohar.ncter, I call it—that is, a man,who does not believe strong ly, feel strongly, act strongly. Men in the pulpit, with scissors to expurgate our Bible, to revise our creeds, to let the church down to the world’s level, instead oflifting the world to the church’s level Well, we 'shall see what we shall see. When the voice of au thority is dumb, and the sanc tions of the moral law have lost their hold on the masses; when we have gone on criticising and toning down and uprooting all we have been taught to regard as sacred ; when no certainties ai'O left on any subject, and we are tra velers lost in a wood, en veloped in night, no guiding-star to shine upon our way, and all asking who will show us any good —then whatt Then in the twentieth century, perhaps, what Rome saw in the fifth. The Cloths and Vandals at her gates, to overthrow the proudest civili zation the world ever saw. So with us;—if first, decay of faith, of reverence for valor, honor, truth, and God, and no convic tions r, main worth being main tained, then from beneath, not from the wilds of Scythia, but from beneath; from the alley abutting your homes, from Ire land, France, Russia, Germany, from the slums of every capital of nations, where to-day peep and mutter, plot and assassi nate, in the dark, the successors of Goths and Vandals, the an ry, desperate, godless advocates of the commune, nihilism, anarchy, rapine, riot, these, I tell you, ■ will come forth to imperil your existing civilization, unless God continues to be feared, and in ev ery nation, and among every people Daniel is found,—the salt that keeps soundness in the State, the light that points the way to heaven, and cheers with promi ses of rest and reward. Yes, Dan iel is our need, the man with con ivictions and courage equal to 'them. Yes, Daniel in office and Joseph in business, we need such men, and must rear them— call them to the direction of af fairs, put them in places of trust, clothe them with authority, and, as a people, revere the God who inspired their hearts for grandest lives. For such men, and only such me;i, have in every age, by their faith in the Unseen, stop ped the mouths of lions and quenched the violence of fire. It is related of Gustave Dore that many years ago, while on a tour in Switzerland, he happened to lose his passport. Arriving at Lucerne, ha asked to be allowed to speak to the mayor, to whom he gave his name. “You say that you are M. Gustave Dore,” replied the mayor, “and I be- lieveyou;” but he added, produc ing a pencil and a piece of paper, “you can easily prove it.” Dore looked round him and perceived some women selling potatoes in the street. With a few touches he reproduced the homely scene, and appending his name to his sketch, presented it to the mayor. “Your passport is perfectly in order,” remarked the official, “but you must allow me to keep it is a souvenir, and to offer you in return one in the ordinary form.” aENTLB MOTHEES. “iUy mother dear, my mother dear, My gentle, gentle mother.” I thought I was singing my boy to sleep with the. little ballad of which the above is the chorus; but the blue eyes opened, and a quiet voice said: “Mamma,you ain’t always gen tle.” In self-justification I replied: “But you know, darling mam ma has to scold you when you’re naughty.” “Yes’m.” The argument dropped; so did the little head upon my bosom. I did not finish the song, nor have I sung it since. Tenderly tucking in the little truth-teller, I reproached myself for deserv ing his remai-k,and greatly ques tioned the truth of my answer. Do mothers over have to scold? Has scolding anyj legitimate place in the family government? How is the word defined? “Rail ing with clamor; uttering re buke iu rude and boisterous lan guage.” Is this a helpful adjunct to parental authority? Why do Christian parents sometimes scold? For two reasons,as it seems to us. First from the lack of control; secondly, from habit. Children are often terribly try ing, and loud and angry tones seem a safety valve for our stirred tempers. Besides, we feel that gentleness alone can never safely steer the famly bark over life’s troublesome sea. Force, firm ness, decision, sternness, even se verity, are often necessary. A suitable degree of these is not in compatible with gentleness. • It is not a synonym for weakness. The gentleness that makes one great comes trom subdued strength. This lovely fruit of the Spirit proves an element of power. Tiie “Soft answer” often costs the answerer dearly. Sweet ness of spirit is the outgrowth of selt-coutrol. Serenity of soul whatever be the constitutional characteristics, comes most fre quently from long discipline and prayerful struggle.—Good Words THE UNBELIBVEE’S OEEED. I believe that theire is no God, but that mattei; is God, and God is matter; and that,it is .no matter whether there is any God or no. I believe that the world was not made, and that the world made itself; that it had no begin ning, and that it will last forever, world without end. I believe that man is a beast; that the soul is the body, and the body is the soul; and that after death there is neither soul nor body. I believe that there is no reli gion; that natural religion is the only religion, and that all religion is unnatural. I believe not in Moses; I be lieve in the first philosophy : I believe not in the evangelists; I believe in Chubb, Collins, To- land, Tiudal, Morgan,Mandeville, Woolston, Hobbes, Shaftesbury; I believe in Lord Bolingbroke; 1 believe not in St. Paul. I believe not in revelation; I believe in tradition; I believe in the Talmud; I believe in the Ko ran; I believe not in the Bible; I believe in Socrates; I believe in Confucius; I believe in Sancon iathan; I believe in Mohammed; I believe not in Christ. Lastly, I believe in all unbe- liel- The above was written about a hundred years ago. Would it not, mutatis mutandis, suit many at the present day? Can any one tell who the author is (or was)? H. M. B. " THE ORPHAN ASYLUM IS LOCATED AX OXFOKD, theCounty-seatofGranviile, fovty-fivo miles North of Kaleigli; tw'elve mih*.' from tleii- derson on the 11. & G. li. ti- The Orphan Asylum belongs to (and,' of course, is condneted aceordiiu' to -the regu lations adopted by) the Grand Lodge of ila- soris. I ■ • , - Its benefits are extended to the most needy orphans, without, ever asking whether their fathers were masonij or not. Childi’en are received between The ag^s of glgUt, and twelve, and discharged betweefiitJie age^ of fourteen and sixteen. ' Tlie average cash expenses - for .each, orj phan is five dollars a, month, but the sum required varies acfjordlng to the seasons, and does not include what is spent for re pairs, I'undture and. improvement 'of-tb?' premises. • The Grand Lodge gives the building and grounds, add $2000 a year.. The State gives $5000 a year. For ;the re- raainderof its support, and for enlargement, the Orphan Asylum is dependent on voL imtary contributions from subordinate Lodges, churches of all. donominiitions, be nevolent societies, and cliaritahle individ uals ; and their co-operation is earnestly-so licited. EXTRACTS FROM THE PROCEEDINGS OP THE GRAND LODGE OF MASONS : The design of the Orphan Asylum shall bo to protect, train and educate indigent'and promising orphan children, to be received between the ages of 8 and 12 years, who have no parents, nor property, nor near re-’ lations able to assist them.. They shall not he received tor a shorter time than two years. In CJrtraordinaiy cases the Superin tendent may receive children outside the ages specified. The larger girls shall assist in the ordi nary house work, and in making and mend ing the bed clothes, their own clothe.s and the clothes of the boys. The larger boys shall assist in the preparation of fuel, the care of the stock, and the cultivation of the soil. At least four religious denominations shall •be represented among the officers of the. Asylum, and the representatives of all reli gious creeds and of all political parties ’ shall be treated alike. The Institution shall be conducted on the cash system, and its operations enlarged, or curtailed according to the funds received. . Grphaii children in the said Asjduni shall be fed and clothed, and shall receive sucli preparatory training and education as will prepare them for useful occupations and for the usual business tiansaction^ of life. > Kesolved, That the since're' thanks of this Grand Lodge' are hereby tendered to many benevolent ladies and gentlemen, to the ministers of the Gospel, to churches of va rious denominations,’Odd F.elloyi's, Knights of Pythias,Good TemplaTs, Friends of Tem perance and other benevolent societies whose hearty co-operation and liberal contribu tions have rendered timely and valuable as- • sistanee In the great work of ameliorating the condition of the orphan children of the State. Resolved, That all benevolent societies and individuals are hereby cordially invited and requested to co-operate Avith us in pro-’ vidlng funds and supplies for feeding, cloth ing and (educating indigent and promising orphan children at the Asylum in Oxforfl. Resolved, That the ilasterof each suboi’di- nate Lodge appoint a Standing Committee upon raising funds for the Orphan 'Asylum, and require said committee to report in wri- . ting each month, and that said reports ,ah^ the funds received be forwarded ^monthly to the Superintendent of the Asylum, and that tlie support of the ’ Orphan Asylum he a regular order of business in eac^ subordi nate I^odge at each Communication. ‘Should deserted children he admitted?’ was decided in the negative. . ‘Should children having ^tep-fathers be, ©omitted?’ was also decided in the negative. ‘Should deformed childi-en he,admitted?’ This was left to the discreticn of the Super intendent. "When thfe deforrhity Is of such a character as to require extra attention, it was thought uiiadvisable- to admit the par ties in tlie present condition of the Asylum. ‘Should boys learn trades at the Asylum?’ Decided in the negative, it being impracti cable at this time to employ skilled me chanics in the various trades, erect suitable work-shops and pureliase necessary tools. ‘Should collecting agents be appointed iu different parts of the State; and if so, what wages should they receive P’ This was left to the discretion of the Superintendent: but the meeting advised against employing and paying agents. ’ THE ADOPTION OP ORPHANS. / We are always glad to accoipmodate child less couples who wish to adopt, children as their own; hut greatly prefer that they should come and make their own selections. APPLICATION FOR CHILDREN. Correspondents are requested to i^ead (and regulate applications for children' by) thfe following resolutions of the Grand Lod^ of Masons? Resolved, 1 - 'I’he Superintendent of the I Orphan Asylum shall not consider any ap- ! plication for an orphan until the same has been approved and endorsed by the Orphan Asylum Committee of the Lodge in whose jurisdiction the applicantresides, .2. It shall be the duty of the said commit tee to make lue inquiry into the desirable ness of the situation oliered-before endorsing an application; and also to inquire into ;tlie circumstUlices and treartnent of'children al-’ ready discharged, audlivlng in their jurifr ; diction, and use their best efforts to secure good treatment, or the return of the chil dren. 3. It shalbhCthfe duty of every secretary of a Lodge^to ^end the names of the Com mittee of the Orphan Asylum to the Or phans’, FuiENri for publication. In order that persons wishing to employ orphans may know the ?.t('pa to be taken. HOW CHILDREMiARE ADMITTED. Very often .^^e Superinfendent^ hunts up • poor and iiromising orphans, and informs them oft-heVdyaktagefe'-offered at the Or phan Honse^ \and induces them, to, return • with iiim. Generally it is best that he should ;see.them^.be^({re thew startj When this, is ,impra(itlcable!, a formal application shotdd ! be made by a friend.' Here is one in proper formf,, , \ , . ( d') N. C 188... 'this is to certify that.'..'..; is dn orphan, w^thpqt, est^e,VSOjm,(^',m body and mind, and ...... 5^(}ars bi age.. H father died in 18 ; hi,.;v.v mother in 18 I being h...... hereby, make.application fol' h'.'.';... admi^isioh Into tk'e Asylum at Ox ford. I alsbi .relinquish and convey to -the officers of the ^vlum the management and control of the'feiid’oi^han til! 16 years of age,.in ord(^r tha(;^..y, may he trained and educa^e'd according to the r'egulations proscrllJed tlie Grand, Lodge ’ pf North Carolina. I also; prqmis,© not to^nnoythe Orphan Asylnih, arid not lo eneohrage the 'said orphan to leave without the approval of the Superintendent. . Approved by w.'Wof.,.:..'.:..j.J: ' The application siiould he sent to the Su perintendent, and he will either go for the children or provide for theirtrsnsportatibn. In no case should 'K community take up a collection to sen'd^a man.with' the children, ribr send thd children oefore the Snperin- 'tendent has been co'risultfe^tl. V ' -’V -'M V' ■■ ■ ACTION OF EPISCOPAL CONVBN- " Ticm. Resolution adopted by the last annual Convention of : [tlie Protestant Episcopal Churchy at Vyilistoin May 13,1880: b' . “Resolved, Tliat this Convention does heartily approve tiie efforts’ of the Oxford Asylum to alleviate the sufferings and to- provide for the welfare of the' helpless or phans of North Carolina; arid that we ($on^ mend tO the imitauoriV>f all;ihb exam^eol this spirit of active charity and benefl(eQOtf on the part of the Masonic fratfernityii thnk-' fulfilling the Apostolic injunction to reiaem* her the poor.’-’ , • ' i • •/ ACTION OP THE N, O. On motion of Rev. J. R. Brooks, thi fob lowing .resolutionsj were adopted at nnal Conference held at Durham, indSSl: “The.pommitit^e to-. .W-iom was! ref erred thb communication pt his Excellency Sot. Jaryis,, yringiug to our notice and coin end ing to our fa-von,; the- Oxfbrd’Oryhan lum, recommend the adoption 6t th^ foh lowing resolutions ? • -'f ■ r- 1. That we reiterate buroffi-repeafceJejfr ’ pression of sympathy with this nohla char* ity, and Wrtily.^QQypend.'jt to'.thniftera? support of all bur people. 2. That our pastors'^ri^ hereby requested, to take a ;coUek3tiori in all theiri'eongrtgt^'onjs' at such time duiing the en8uirig.Confen nee year as they may tliflnk most • appropilatO! and best, and to forward. the same • to the Superintendent of thfe Asylum. ... , 3. That the Recording Stewairds 'btour several pastoral’charges are requefefedw re port to our Anuual conference the amoi nts • collected under the head, of “For the-Or- phan Asylum.’ Jno R. Brooks, E. A. ■' ACTION OF PRSSBTTI^rilAN SYN( )d!^, Resolutions adqpted by! ttie Syli^'od ot ’ North Carolina in session atRkJ'cigb. N. ’ 0., Noverabei /dSOV “WbeDas the Ox^o^d .Qrpba: Asylum of; JS;>i lh -(la^ • rolina ia,a purely benevolenti institution, arid.iB dqing.great gopd for the-.neody Oi- phans of our State,! therefore, i That we approve of its. ptr- p()ses and suggest;, that the congr^auoiis • within our bounds take up at.;their own convedenoe an annual collection iuibehall of that institution,, and forward the same collected, in connection with any ardelee of food and.ralment which may be eontiiba ' ted, to ;the Superintendent,’ • ; ACTION OF BAPTIST STA'nl CON-'' ■VENTION. " At the Baptist State ConypntioiL, held In Goldsboro, November 17th, 1880, thefoUow- ing resolution was ailopted : ' " . /G-f 3^HHRlOASj Wo feela deep interi^flh tto' Orphari Asylmri. and believe it.is d(^ng an inestimable amount of gOOij'rfft'd- " ’G-r ^ Whereas, We believe! the BsiritliA' people of the State will feel it to be not only ^ duty, but a prlvUege, to contribute ceea- larlji tb Its support;' therefore • Resolved,' ■That all oiir pastors are heiebv earnestly, requested to take up a 'feblleetfon ' at each of their ohurches at least ’ouoe fa Xrk .important'- 'Elder F. H. Ivey submitted tlie following resca^iorujwhich. was adopted at the venriQii held \n 'Wiustpu in 188l.r . |, “Retdl\^,, TMit’this Convenfteri feels an.' undimiiUHie'd’lrilbi’e^f iuthfe 'woi^ ’ Orph^J-n Asylum • •anrl that we:repeaf,/f*^th - .ear.nestii^s hnd, .e.mphtpis,,tfen .,i’fecora awii* ^ datlori to all our pastors to take uo at le&sfc one colleettoh dttring the*y^Iffad olffiB Oxford Orphan Asylum.
The Orphans’ Friend (Oxford, N.C.)
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Feb. 28, 1883, edition 1
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