i,"l'W);^i^>wn^
'
a.i,:? V7e>'£:;i.
la 1868, tlio pi-eaiisoa, i
as St. Jolai’s College, v/ere sold
at auction, aad bouglit by R. V?b
Best, Gva.'id Master of Mason.s.
Du!-i)5g the
imo }-0!U' the pur
chase money was collected by
Rev. J. -L. Carroll, aad the deed
was made to the Graad Lodge.
Nino Directors were appointed to
control the property :aul to use
the same for a male school, a fo-
iiialo school, or Orphan As}dnm.
EXTRACTS IRJOJI rUOCEEDIXGS OF
THE GRAND LODGE IN DECS 1872.
Bro. J. T. Littlejolm, Ih-e.sidcnt
of the Board of Directors of St.
John’s College, submitted a re
port as follows, which was read
and accepted:
To the Most Worshipful Grand
J.odge of North Carolina :
The I^Dard of Directors of 8t, John's Col
lege regret t» report tluit th;y have failed to
iiiaKC any arrangcnieets in (‘Stablishing a
schotil in this institution. After advertising
for pro])osals to lease the property for a male
or female school or college, they recc-ived l>ut
oin a])j)lic.ition. The terms Aipon which the
(’• llego was o'fercd to this porcon, to-wlt:
^500 per annum, was declined on the grtiiind
that tlK! rent was Too ifigh. The Board Inis
put the haildiug in charge of a competent
gentleman, -who resides on the premises, and
supervises the property and jiays a small rent.
The huildiugs are now in a good state of
])reservation.
Respectfully and fraternal] v suhmitted,
JAS. T. LITTLEJOHN, President.
Bro. C. A. Cilley, J. G. W., in
troduced the following resolution:
liesoh'cd, That the Grand Lodge apjioint
three Commissioners who shall proceed to ad
vertise and sell St. John’s College, either at
jmhlic or ]irivate .sale, to the State or to any
person, nr pf‘rsons,on such terms as they may
think host, reporting thedr at;tion to the iK‘.\f
Grand Lodge, in order that they may there
rewive further instructions as to the^disposi-
tioii of the ju’occcds of sale.
Bro. J. II. Mills presented the
follo'.ving as a substitute for said
I'esolution :
am.l un-
Bro. Clinton A. Cilltn', S. G.
^ W., introduced the following res-
nown ohition, winch was read
animously adopted :
Ixesolccd. J hat this Grand Lodge desires
to expres.s its appreciation of the’^jea! and
eariiestnes.s with which the Board of Directors
.)( St. John’s Oollege have laoored, both lu'rt-
and elsewhere, to advance the interests of that
Institution.
Bro. R. W. York introduced tlie
follov.dng resolution, which was
read and adopted :
licsolud, Tliat the Snpei-intendciit of the
said (.)r[)iia;i Aaylani elia'l report to orteh Aii-
iiral (htmmindc-atioa an account of his official
arts, rccei|>ts, disiatrscnients, iinniber of pu
pils, &:c., ti)ircthcr until sucli sujjoestiuus a.s
lie may see fit to offer.
In January, 1873, tlio institu
tion was opened for the reception
extracts from rROCEEDIXGS OF
THE GRAND LODGE IN DEC. 1873.
The committee to whom wtis
referred so much of the Grand
Mtistcr’s Address as relates to the
From tile foregoing legislation
It appears that the Orplian Asy
lum was designed to be a place ol
refuge, ivhore poor and promising
orphans may find a temporary
Orplian Asylum, also tile report of I school, and be trained and pre-
'-SV-
the Superintendent of the A
him, submitted the following re
port.
To tha Most Worshipful Grand
Jjodge of North Carolina:
Your Committee to whom was referred the
r(‘p;>rt (»f JL’o. J. Jl. Mills on the Orphan
Asylum, and such ])ortitm of the Grand
Mast(‘r’s address as relates thereto, beg leave
to rcpoi-t that they recommend the following
as a basis of organizalioii for said Asylum :
ist. Tiio ollictirs of the (>rj>han Asylum
shall be a Superintendent, a Steward, a Mat
ron, a Housekeeper and one Teacher for each
Form of twenty-five children.
2nd. The Sujicriutendent shall control every
dei>artinent of tne Institution acetn-ding to
the instructions of the Grand Lodge, receive
of o; plums, and it was found that p’.'l;"'' of fniuhs nnd sui.plies
lUsolved, 1. That xSt. John’s College shfill
be jnade an a.sylinn for the protection, train
ing ami education of indigent orphan children.
2. That this Grand L'ulge will appropri;ite
$ annually for the support of the insti
tution, but will not aoSuine any addirional pe
cuniary responsibility.
3. That this Grand Lodge elect a Superin
tendent who shall control the institution and
solicit contributions ibr its sujiport from all
classes of our peoyile.
many of thorn were in circum
stances exceedingly humiliatino'
and .li.sti’essing. Some were even
enslaved Iny those wlio had been
reoentl}:' released from slaverv.
Others v/ero oiipressed as if adl
the rights of huniamity had ceased
to exist. To release "these suffer
ers, to collect needed supplies, to
decide tlie various problems al
ways incident to a iieiv work, and
to give due attention to the proper
mann,gcment and instruction of
the children, taxed tlio undivided
eflorts of tlio Superintendent. Ho
therefore asked the advice of the
Grand Master in regard to certain
perplexing questions v.diioh liad
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. He received the
following repl}^:
Offidi; of thk Grand I^Iaster, of ?
Masons in North Cahoimna, ^
lialcigh, June 20, L-7;4.
J. H. DifiLLS, Orphan Asijlur.i, Oxford,
iV. (7.-‘-My Dear yjii and Bhotheu At
i recent meeting of piomincnt and discreet
Masons in this city, a number of pcrple-ving
questions witli roferonco to the mainigement
of St. John’s Orphan Asylum were discussed
and determiued, as follows:
That orphan c.hildrcn in tliC said Asylum
slnill bo fed and clotlied, and shall ricoivc
such preparatory trjiining and education as
wiU prepare tliem for useful occn[>itions and
for the asual business transactions of life.
Pending discussion, the Grand
Lodge proceeded to the consider
ation of the special order.
The consideration of the reso
lutions in regard to St. John’s
College was resumed.
Tlio question recurring on tiie
substitute of Bro. J. H. Mills, the
same was put and decided in the
affirmative.
The proposition as thus amen ded
was adopted.
Several propositions to fill the
blank in the 2nd resolution ivere
submitted and rejected, 1711011 on
motion of Bro. Sam’l A. Williams,
five hundred dollars were inserted.
On motion of Bro. R. H. Kings-
buiy, Bro. J. H. Mills, of llaleigh,
was elected Superintendent of the
Orphan Asylum, at Oxford.
Bro. S. Id. Overby moved that
the present Board of Directors of
St. John’s College be discharged,
which motion prevailed.
On motion of Bro. S. E. Overby,
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.
■3. “Slionlrt de.scried children bo .admitted ?”
wfis Jcciilcd ill the negative.
4. ^ “ytioiilil cliiUlrcn having step-fathors be
adinittvil f” was also decided in the negative.
5. •hShuiild deformed children be adiniEted?”
I his was left to the discretion of the Superin
tendent. Vr'hcn the deformity is of saich a
character as to rcciuive extra attention, it was
thought mnidvisablc to admit the parties in
the present condition of the Asviuiu.
for its su[)port, and make at each Grand Goin-
municfition a full report of receipts and dis
bursements.
3rd. The Stowiird shall exercise a generfil
ovf'i'sight of tlyo children, yfrcmisc.s and
property, and tlie operations of every dejiart-
ment, keep the books and enforce the orders
of the »Suy>crintendent.
4th.' The Matron shall see that the rooms,
hod-clothing and yiertons of the children are
kept in a neat, clean and coinforte.hle condi
tion, and thattiic sick arc yiroperly attended.
5ih. The House-keeper siiall, ninler the
direction ot the Matron, see that the meals
are properly prepared, and that nothing is
lost or wasted.
Gth. J'he 'i'eachefs shall be prompt, faith
ful and ellicent in the discharge of all their
school-room duties, and sbali constantly exer
cise a general supervision of the manners and
morals of the children.
^th. The Snyierintendont shall appoint the
subordimite oliicors, and remove the incom
petent and unworthy, lie shall ]>o elected by
ballot, annually, by the Grand I.iodgc, and
shall, if found unfaithful, after a careful and
personal exaination, be removed by the
Grand blaster and V/ardens, or a majority of
them, who, in such case, shall submit a report
of their action, with a full record of the i‘vi-
dence taken on both sides, to the next Grand
Lodge.
• 7, “Should bop learn trades at the Asy
lum ?” Decided in the negative, it being im-
practic-able at this time to employ skilled me
chanics in the various trades, erect suitable
work-shops and purchase necessary tools.
8. “yhoiild collecting agents be appointed
in ilifferent ]>arts of the State ; and if so, what
wages should they receive f’ This was left
to the discretion of tho Superintendent, but
the meeting advised against emjiloying and
iiaying ageiit.'^.
9. “Should the Chairman of County Com
missioners and Masters of .Lodges be autlior-
ized to accept and forward orphans f ’ Deci
ded in the aliinnative, but umler such instruc
tions from the Superintendent as ho may be
pleased to give. The preoaralion and iirint-
iiig of suitable forms of admission, to prevent
imposition, was recommended.
JO. It was decided, unanimoushj, tlnit yon
should continue in the position of Suiioi-iu-
tendent—that the public having tho fnlh-st
conftdencG in your integTity, zeal and good
•jugment, might lose confidence in tho success
_>fthis noble enterprise should you withdraw
from tho position assigned you by the Grand
Lodge.
I have the honor, most respectfully, to-ap
prise yon of the action of the meeting on these
important questions, and trust that it may as
sist yon somewhat in the arduous and respon
sible labors which have been imposed on you
by the Fraternity.
ith higii hopes for the success of the Asy
lum, and a sincere regard for yourself.
yourself,
1 am truly and fraternallv,
JOHN NICHOLS, Grand Master.
This letter, except so far as it ,
lias been modified by subsequent
legislation of tlie Grand Lodge,
or decisions of tlie Gi-aiid Master,
is still considered bindiiio-.
9th. The design of the Orphan Asylum
shall be to protect, train and educate indi
gent and proniising orphan children, to be
received between the ages of G ami 12 years,
who have no parents, nor property, noviiear
relations able to assist them. Tiiey shall nut
be rcccivedTor a shorter lime than two years.
In extraordinary cases the Superintendent may
receive children outside the ages specified.
lOth. The larger girls shall iissist in tho
ordinary house work, nnd in making and
mending the bed clothes, their own cL-thes
and the dollies of tho buys, d'lie larger bi>ys
shall assist in the preparation of fuel, the care
of the stock, and the cultivation of the soil.
11th. At least four religions denominations
shall be represented among the olHcers of the
Asylum, and the representatives of all reli
gious creeds and of all poiiteial parties shall
be treated alike.
The Institution shall bo conducted on the
cash systetn, and its operations enlarged or
curtailed according to the funds received.
pared for the duties of good and
u.seful citizens. It is not an -‘Gr-
pliiuis’ Home,” or place of perma-
iiont residence ; it is not a hospi
tal for the sick and disabled, nor
a inir.ser3^ for infants. It is tiot
open to deserted children, lest un
feeling parents should bo thei-eby
encouraged to abandon their off
spring. Neither is it (ns manv
seem to suppose) a reservoir in
whicli tho ragged and dirty are
collected and washed and distrib
uted among those in greatest
need of servanti
ij'oni tli.s re[)ort tliat some ot our
leading institutions of leai-ning
propose to receive and oduoat!,
gratuitous]^',, a limited munbei of
the most jiromising and intelli
gent of these children, provided
they are supplied witli suitable
clothing and books.
EXTRACTS FROM TIIE PROCEEDINGS
OF THE GRAND LODGE IN DEC. 1874.
To the Most Worshipful Grand
Lodge of North Carolina.
Yonr Committee to whom were referred that
portion of the Grand IMaster’s Address whic-h
relates to the Orphan Asylum, and tho report
of tlie Superintondent thereof, beg leave to
submit the following I'cport:
2. A inajority of the Committee are of
ojiinion witli the Buperiiifeiident as to the im-
}>orHince of a weekly paper in the ii;t(‘rests ol
tli(‘ institution. They arc satisfied, upon coii-
sideraticin, tliat such a papi'r could be made
almost, if not qnite^ self-supporting, in a very
short time ; and for the reasons as.-^ignod hy
the Superintondent, they can nut doubt that
it would prove a in'ost valuable aid in the
great work we have in charge.
3. Tiie Ciimmittee full}' concur in the sug
gestions of Bro. Mills in his report in regard
to lotteries, gift concerts, Ac., and recommend
hi.s views to the favorable '‘.onsidcration of the
brethren of the Grand Lodge.
Com.
and
Wm. G. hill, i
K. W. IIAKDIE, „
C. A. CILLEY,
CIIAS. C. CLARE, j
Bm Tom-gee introduced the
following -which was adopted ;
liesolued, That tho Master of each subor
dinate Ijodge appoint a Standing Committee
upon raising funds for tlie Orphan Asylum,
and ri'quiro said Oominittee to report in
writing each numth, and that said reports and
the funds received be forwarded mo'.ubly to the
Superintendent of the Asylum, and that the
support of the Orphan Asylum be a ri'gular
order of business in oath subordinate Lodge at
each Communication.
Bro. J. H. Mills introduced the
following resolutions which were
read and unanimously adoptoil:
Nesolvcd, That tho sincere thanks of this
Grand Ijodge are hereby tendered to may be
nevolent ladies and gentlemen, to the minis
ters of the Gospel, to churches of various de-
dominations, Odd Fidlews, Knights of]‘ythias,
Good Templars, Friends of Temperance and
other benevolent societies, whose hearty coop
eration and liberal contributions have rendered
timely and valuable assistance in the great
work of ameliorating the condition of the or
phan ebildi-en of the State.
Nesolved, 'That all benevolent soidcties and
lire hereby cordially invited and re
quested to cooperate with us in providing funds
and supplies for feeding, elotliing andedn-
cating indigent and promising orphan children
at the Asylum in Oxford. i
MELVIN E. OARTEK,
J. II. COOK,
THOMAS WEBB.
JAMES S. 15ATTLE.
WM. 11. COX, ' J
Considered by sections
adopted.
Bro. L. H. DoEosset inti'oduced
the folloiving resolution, which
was road and adopted ;
Nesolvcd, That this Grand Lodge recom
mend to eacdi Subordinate Lodge to subscribe
to the papt'i* autiiorized to be published at the
Oxford Orjihau Asylum under the supervis
ion of tho Siqierintendent tliereof, as being
the oiheial record of that great Masonic
charity.
Ill January, 1875, the Mars
Hill Orphan ~A sylum was opened
and during tiie year of its contin
uance there -was not a case of se-
1,
nous sicxnes.
EXTRACTS FROM THE rSOC'EEDINOS
OF THE GRAND LODGE IN DEC. 1875.
The Speci.al Committee on tlie
Orphan Asylums made their re
port, which was road and adopted.
To ilie Most Worshipful Grand
Lodge of North Carolina ■
Your Committee, to whom was
referred tliat portion of the Grand
Master’s Address, wliicb relates to
the Oxford and Mars Hill Orpluin
Asylums, cordially approve liis
suggestions, and commend the
zeal he lias manifested in their
behalf.
From the report of the Super
intendent, Bro. J. II. Mills, ivhicli
was likewise referred to this Com
mittee, they are gratified to see
that the orphan work lias been so
successfully prosecuted, and that
these institutions have been tho
instruments of alleviating much
suffering, rescuing from misfor
tune and crigie many of the un
protected and destitute cliiidren
of our beloved State, and placing
the moans -within their reach ol
becoming useful and valuable
members of societi'.
Ihoy are gratified to discover
2d. J’hey are gratified to hear
of tho success of tlie “Orphans'
Frun lf piiblislied at tlie Asylum
at Oxford, and recognizing it as a
valuable auxiliary to the won,
earnest!}' recommend its patron
age to every Mason within this
jai'iadiction.
3d. It liaving been called to
their attention that there are larn-e
areas of ton-itori', in whicli fhci-e
are no Lodges, and where it has
proved iiiipi ssible to iiitoi-est the
people in the orphan work, bv
the me ins hitherto omploved,
they recoirmend the establish-
iiieiit in all such localities, or Or
phan Aid Societies, iinuei- such
rules, regulations and I'eslrictioni-i
as ir.a;.' be prescribed by the Most
Worshipful Grand Master.
4th. 'J ho present plan for rais
ing funds ti'oin tho Subordinate
Lodges, for the support of tho
Asyl'ums, is believed to bo as ofii-
cacious as anv tliei' can suggest,
and needs onlv' to be cairied out
faitlifully to^uai-antee success.
Idie^q tlierefoi-y, advise no addi
tional legislation, but recommend
that tne IMost IVorsliiptul Grand
Master use all legitimate means
to induce the Lodges aforesaid to
appoint active and diligent commit- .
toes, as provided by this Grand
Lodge, and to see lliat tliey dis
charge their responsible dutii^s.
5th. Tlicy respectful]}- i-ecoin-
merid the approjiriation of two
tliousand dollai'.s towards the sup
port of the Orplian As}-lunis for ,
tlie ciu'i'ont (Masonic) }-ear, and
that the Grand Treasui'er bo in
structed to pay the same, in
monthly installments, ujion tlio
warrant of tho Superintendent.
Gth. They would respectfully
urge tho erection of a permanent
endowment fund, for the support
ot the Asylums, and to this end
suggest that 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 tins
purpose, and that as such land,
notes or otlier securities are from
time to time received, tiie same
shall be accounted for and turned
over to the Grand Treasurer, ivlio
shall hold the same subject to the
further orders of tin's Grand
Lodge, and that the Most Wor
shipful Grand Master be requested
to bring this subject proinineiitly
before tho public in order to ac
complish this design.
-**»*«■
We heartily recommend tliese
institutions to the kindest consid--
eration of our brethren, and tho
people ot the State, hoping they
may receive the support they so
richly merit, and under the bless
ings of tho Supreme Grand Mas
ter, jn-ove tl-.e fostering mother of
many more of the destitute and
unfortunate of our land.
W. R. Cox,
John Nichols,
R. V. Blacks-i-ock, >Com..
N. L. Shaw, |
Z. M.J’ascjiall, j
1