Newspapers / Oxford Public Ledger (Oxford, … / June 24, 1910, edition 1 / Page 6
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6 22322 The Children These Bright Boys and Girls are 332 HISTORY OF THE ASYLUft Contiixaed from first page. were not maay miles- of raMi'cad within the State. This difficulty of traaspcratat'oi tlhe desire to reach the great wes tern scetion far tlje cause, the offer of building' and grounds by tiie Trust ees of Mars Hill School, Madison Co., the ihsalthfulniess of the mountains for .some of the delicate children at Oxford, were doubtless causes which Led to tfli-e establishment of a "wes tern brainch" of the institution at Mars Hiill. TJiis experiment 13 rath er dtn.teestin!5, but I shall not go :intc the details of it here. It is probably sufficient to say that the suhsidary instution in the West became burd eiisioiive anid. embarrassiiTigi to the wcrl The property at Mars HJTil after a litlte more than, aa. year, reverted to the Trustees of the school there. For a time an. effort was made to conduct the .western branch an. A&he vilDe, as Rev. L. M. Pease of that ci ty, Shad offered ccnditicna'iiy, a site for the institution. In 1877 Brother iease proposed to,cmiduet,Qrphanage independsi itly and the property he hsad offered went back to him" upon lite payment to the Gramd I.cdge for the Oxford Orphanage of the svm of fire h.undrd dollars "for inipTovtVngnt s-hiih had been made on, his property at Asheviile. The work of the Mas ons was again centered at Oxford. In 187G the Girar.d Ledge chose a Committee cf three, W. E. Aade-rson. J. A. Leach 2,nd F. II. Busbe?, tc. pr.3 sesnt the cla-mds of this effort for or phan children to the General Assem bly .and to urge an. annual' appropria tion, to the institution at Oxford. At the following meeting cf the Legis lature this Coniittee performed Its duty, and while the appropriation was not then made ,the-report of the 'com mittee to the Gra:nd Lodge iv Decem ber, 1877, indicates that its members wene encouraged to believe that such an equitable, wise investment would later be made by the State. At the communi'ication of the Grand Lodge iii 1877 this resolution was dis cussed anid adopted: It shall be the duty of every, Lod?e to pay the Origan Asyltm f'Ve dol lair for every person initiated, and not leas than five, cents a month, for only member on its roll, and torState iu its annual (returns to what extent t-Iills duty ihaas been performed." Many of the Masons throughotit the State rather regarded this in the oature of a tax imposed upon the membership of this Grand Jurisdiic tiom. They preferred to g,ive in a more voluntary .manner the funds mse ed in excess of the regular appropr'a t ion . .The year 1877 twas; an-exceptionally trying one oni the Orphanage. The lack of unity as to the method of obtaining funds from the Masons, the discussion of the matter of a State apropriation and otheir causes enter ed in to test the hold of the insti tution vpon the Fraternity and the othea- people of North Carolina .. At the meeting of the Grand Lodge in 1877 a Committee was selected to vis oi Ihe Oxford Orphan Asylum in Front oi the Main or mWrnHi w mm4iggi Mmmm M00 Stn r m$0& I-if. :!ISi,: " it and inspect the Asylum and to as certain w-nether it was expedient and practicaLle to ccnti-nue the work. At the same time a Cofrnmittee composed of Thcs. S. Kenan, Zebulon B. Vance. Edwin . Reade. J. M. Wor th, Eugene G-uso-m, W. E. And arson, J. A. Leach and F. H. Busbe?, was appointed to br:a:g again before the Legislature the matter of an appro priation to the Oxford Institution. Special attention was called to the obIfigat.cn imposed by the Constitu tion upon, the State of North Caro lina to care for destitute orphan chil dren wlthin its bounds. In. 1877 the .Grand Lodge was apprt priatlag $2,000 and liberal Masons and ethers outside the Fraternity were contributing to the cause, but the reeds cf the work had grown to such an extent that it was essential that largely increased financial sup port be gained. The benefits of the Orphanage have, never beenj ir?sfrtictec to the children cf Masons, and a very large majority cf its beneficiaries did not have father "vrho were mem beins of the Masonic Order. The special Committee, consisting of W. R. Cox, J ohm Nichols, Z. M. Paschall, J. B. Neathery and R. T. Grady v.ihcse duty it was to visit the ir.stitutic r. and advise as to the continuance of the work. at the meeting cf 1378 ccMK&nuided its ni.vr.a.?eirret sand stroirgly advised a uc-ntir.'-usmce of the work. The com mittee, at this tiire. made special pieutlcn cf the geiierosltv of the gec-d people of Oxford and Granville County, who were so clise to the in stitution and so cori,-eicv..3' cf its need The regular Orphan Asylum Com mittee, in its report tha.t ye-ar, re solved ''that there is no purpose on th& rc.ct cf the Grand Ledge to aban don the orphan work, but it is its determined resolution to maintain and support it with all the energy 2i.id vigor our rseources will' permit." The Committee w-isely suggested th-t it would be well for the talk oi ds ccntinuance cf the work to stop, as such talk was of injury to it. The Grand Lodge heartily adopted the report of the spceial 3,n,d regular CXn mittees or Orphan Asylum. In December, 1878, the iplan for gaining support for the institution from The subordinate lodges was chang-ed. Crphau Asylum Committee, was. to be appointed in the lodges to lead in the endeavor to increase in terest in the undertaking and . to get aid for it. These Committees were to report monthly the amount raised and to transmit it to the Superintendent. Aid to the Orphan Asylum was to be a regular order of business at the stated commuinica- t ons oi. tne lodges. Practically the same method is in operation today and, when the Loc?d Orphan Asylfm Cc mittees ere composed of zealous, influential, active helipers. of the cans the plan works in an ideal way- In this same meeting- cf 1878 Grand Master W. R. Cox was requested to confer with Governor Zebulon B. Vance with regard to the constitution al obligation of hte State to pricvDle for orphan, children, and t suggest to him the propriety of a statement in the, Governor's message to the Gener OXFOSD PUBLIC LEDGER, FRIDAY, JUNE 24, Trained to Become Useful Men al Asembly that the same object might be more economically accom plished by an ap yrc-pr jation to aid the Orphan Asylum at Oxford. The G-rE-rd Master ccr.feied wl-jii Govr o.r Vance. The 'Governor in his mes sage briefly presented the matter. V. S. Han-is, Senator from Franklin, introduced a rescLut'cn ma-kirig p-pro-priaaticn cf $3,000 per annum. Wit! sLrguiar unanimity the measure passed both Houses. In 1S81 the a mcunt was raised to -$5,000 and Dn 1885 to $10,000, which is the apprcpri ti'on at this time. As far back as 1879 some slight effort had been made, without much result, to raise an endowment for the institution. The regu"sr mainten ance of the Orphanage was the obli gation more directly upon the hearts and hands of the Mas-ens amd their fellow., helpers. In the year 1879 a 'house to be set apart icr hospital use was construct ed. The following year the Grand Lodge approved the .recommendation of Brother1 Mollis, that a. separate build Lng for the boys of the Crrhiainage be erected. The sale of a aprt cf the unoccupied land cont-guous to the town of Oxford was authrized to help meet th eexpense of this addi tional building. The small? amount of endowment fund w-as eisced at d'ts posal of the Committee on boys' buile ing for investment in tn:s improve ment or in land. The new buildlmg, located on a hill several hundred yards from the Saint John's College boiMin.g, was completed in 1SS2. To aid ,in paying for this ad lit '.tona.se v en acres were sold for $2,500. Seven acres out near the boys' building site were bought at 200. a Tlhe resoluiltcn passed by the re ligious denominations of the State at their gatherings in 1879 and 18S0 were strong in their commendation of the wcrk at Oxford a,r.d cf their p v. r pos 3 t o , e out i n ue ,a nd . iii'cr e a s e, t h eh aid to the cause. During these years there was a quickening of in terest in Orphanage work in the State. From 1372 to 18S4 the Superintend ent of the institution reported direct to the iGirand Ledge by which Body he was aintnually elected. The mainage ment of tlie wxik was to a great ex tent vested in the Superintendent, alley 19119. In January, i884, upon recommsnda tion of Grnad Master Bingham and the Orphan Asylum Ccmittee, the Grand Lodgeappointed a Board of Directors for the institution. Brother Mills was at this time re-elected by the Grand Lodge, but he declined to again, accept tbe Superintendency.He agreed to reimain im charge untili the Board could meet and provide for the further crgandzaticn f the Asy lum. The Directors first eYected were: H. F. Grainger, Goldsboro. Julian S. Carr, Drrham. Thos. Kenan. Raleigh. A. H. A. Williams,, Oxford., H. H. M unseat, Wilmington. H. F. Grainger withdrew, and "II. T. Bahnson, of Salem, was selected as bis siucessor. Since that day, in addition to the above named, the Board has biad as members these by the Grand Lodge, been fitted up in the Saint John's 1 ness. Many whom she served will : Brethren C. T. Bailey, and J. m. ' -puejuicedns W Suppijnq Sjroo i rise up and cali ber blessed. ; Cuirin, and the pressnt Directors on ent 2nd his family. i In May 18!.4, Dr. Black gave up I the part cf the Grand Lodge: G. Ros-1 In the year 1S34 the instution ac- ; the work deeply interested,in,its,fur ! enthal N B.-..B rough. ten, T. A. G're'n, ! quired, by purcha e.from,R..O.,Gre?oiry i tcral and peraching ministry of the i J. V.-' Cot ten and B S Rcyster. The and wife 1125 .acres cf land adjoining ; Methodist Church. ! rand Master of Masons is ex-officio its grounds. In addition to this, the ; The Board elected Mr. N. M. Law ! Chiairmsiy of th.3 Eor rd. ' Orphanage acquired a small tract of j rence. of Tarboro. Superintendent. In 1S93 the' Orand Lodge requested land of sbout786-100 acres from L. C j The Institution had became more and j Governor. Carr to appoint three Birec- Taylor and wife, giving the instil- more thoroughly established and was ! tors' on the part of the State and he tution abou t242 acres in all. I in a strong, vigorous, healthy cor Rmsay, of Seaboard and Fielding Among the progressive step taken j diticn, and the Orphanage, work, inthe chose B." N.'Evjke, of Durham. J. N. ! at this time was the iciproveiuent j State had enlarged greatly through j Ramsay, of Seaboard, and Field .ing: pa a ;:ei:t, an :i7in-- -nrm? j the establishment of Orphans' Hom- Knott of Oxford. Upon the resiigiia-; ronigly by Dr. Dixon and Grand Mais- c-s by the Baptist, J'rsebyteri-an and ! tion of Mr. Knott in 1896 C. W. Toms; ter Bimg'ham and approved by the ! Ep'sccpal Churches. of Durham was appointed his success - or. Dr. Ramsey died in 1904 a.nd E F Lovellof Wonto County, was chosen to fill the vacancy. When Ben Duke j resigned in 1901. en account of his i removal from the State.Dr. FredPea - cock, then, of Greensboro was chosen by the Govennor as Mr., Duke's) suece j j ssor. ; In 1S89 an Advisory Board of threq j Granvi&e Cdunty masons waais crea- tea Dy tne grana lxxige. 1 rae i:rst me mbers of that board were Jotai W. H i N. A. Gregory and J. M. Currin. S. H 1 Smith and W. L. Mitchell naive rend - j ered service on this board and it is today composed of T. L. Booth F. P. Hbgood and W. B. Ballon. j Since the board of Directors and the! Advisory Boa.nl were established the change in thei' perscn;n.el have been j remarkable few. The institution has 1 been greatly olessed in the appoL- ntment ot gool business men, cr a high order of iateligence and charac- ter and deeply interested in the " well' fare of the -int tution One ci the first acts of the newly created Beard df Directors at ist meeting January 25 1884, was the re lection of John H. a Mil Is to the Su perintendency cf the Orphanage. Bro ther Mills was 5t7,l convinced that the time hard -icme for him to with draw. He d-ecTiijed to accept the posi tion, but remaiaed until his successo ar could be &e cri2d aid stalled. After Mr. Mills nad laid down the work at Oxford, he became probbably tlie greatest human agent in the op portune and successful movement to found the Babtist Orphanage, at Thou asville, an instution whidh has grown to be one of yf Hargest and most efficfe Southland. Since that time in all our all of the leading denominations cf North Carolina have established or phans homes of their own; and by do ing this they have greatly projmoted the work in tlie State. Dr. B. F. Shelby.now Auditor of the State of North Carolina, wa.s the choice of the Board of Directorial for Superintend en to succeed Mr. Mills. He entered upon his uties April 1, 18S4. Mrs. Letitia Morehead Walker in 1841 offerd a thousand dollars to be invested in a bath house at tlie Or-, phanage as a memorial to her son, John Morehead Walker. This amount was gratefully- accepted and, later, by consent cf all interested, was used in the Walker memorial residence, th home of the Superintendent. Stilli late this building was added to and i't was the residence of the Superin tendent until 1904 when i twas conver ted into a hospital, rooms having 1910 School Building and Women in the Battles of Life 1 Fraternity. j The corner stone of an industrial j building was laid Jure 24 1886.. with ! Gov. A. M. Scales President, who pai. j stitution.Thfis build'cg was occupied 1 about March 1887. In May a shoe ma king and repairing department was! added. -The boys then had opportu- j nity for imidustrial training in the ! printing office which ihad been estab-1 iiished eanlj in the history of the , ms-tution, m the shoe snap and on the farm. i Superintendent Dixor, in his re - ! port December 31. 1890. advised the ; continuance of' all of the industrial features and the addition of other new cnes as fat as possible. Dur'trg his progressive administra- tion the number of children cared fCr went as hlg'h as 264. He and his ; wife, a faithful, capable. he!;Vmeet j performed a service cf lasting, in ; calculable value. j When in September, 1S90. he re- j Durham, an a able and devout man, was elected by the Board. Brother !''i:-!'is narj hardly e;ered his ;mber 19t:; i'ie'd. YvPun f was cal - 1 f n. earthly la- 5 o Lis heavenly reward. Dr. Pilxon was again appointed to admiinister affairs until Dr. Harris' j ther development and improvement, successor could be secured. He ac- and keenly conscious of its great cepted the trust and remained in j need of more buildings of suitable charge until January 1, 1891, when D. f construction and better equipment. W. S. Black .of Raleigh, who had Mr. Duke, desirous of rendering the been agreed upon by the oBaaxd as j most permanent aid to the instiru the man for the place, came to take f tion in thorough co-operation witfii up the work. the Masonic Fraternity, made propo- In his administration, Brother sitions to theG rand Lodge to contri Black and the institution were help- bute half of tlie funds required for ed and blessed beyond estimate by the buildings needed ay nr,nn j the splendid service of his consecrat- ! ed wife, known throughout the State, Upon Dr. Black's advice, the age of discharge of girls from the institu tiion was raised to eighteen years. Early in life of the Orphanage the minimum, age for reception,of,ahiildren had been fixed at six years and six teen had been up to this tilme the us ual age of discharge. The Board of Directors in 1891 ap pointed A. H. A. Wifti&ms, of Oxford Treasurer of the Orphan Asylum. Up on Brother Williams' resignation in urotner u-. itosne&tai, tne pres- ent Treasurer, was chosen. The improvement and enlargement of the industrial features of the Or phanage continued under Ir. Black, a known factory geing one of the leading additional! industries. The broom making was, after a number o years, abandoned. Mrs. Black died October 31, 1893. Her life had counted for righteous- 330 in Number. t mnn inwi Today the Eastern Conference of Lie Methcidst Church also has an Orphanage and a movement is well under way for the establishment of such an institution by the Western Conference of that Church. Early in the administration of Brother Lawrence, the institution was linoorporated as "The Oxford Nor t'i Carolina Orphan Asylum." but was later char ged to The Oxford Orphan Asyiun In 1896, thg Hundley Bros. Wood- ! working shops were purchased to be; j conducted by th einstitution- mora for the industria-1 training of the -boys j than as a commercial enterprise. Th j is one of the leading industries of ! the Orphanage. j Amng the many difficultt asks t j wJiich Mr. Lawrence applied himsfdS j cnergetical!y were the mere thorough. organation nad systematizing of ? tne institution and its ti'ansforma- j tion from the congregate cr barracks! j system to the mior efficient and mod j crn cottage system. Mr. Benjamin N. Duke, a Director of the institution 11 thp na.rt nf tli j State, a man of large means, wan much impressed with the worth ; the wcrk deeply interested in its fur- and urged by Brother Lawrence' the Superintendent. The Fraternity erail offers and toeethf-r' tbv Rk four cottages for boys and a central dining room building, and later on. four cottages for girls. The bovs' cottages and the dining room build mg were completed in 1897. The girt ?I?Se-,WfLennot finJshed and occu pied until 1899. These additions and' improevments to th material plaant were essential to a better grade o work, and Mr. Duke, and the Masonic Order in recognizing the value of such improvements and uniting to make it possible for the institution to secure them, increased the effect-iv-eness and the possibilities of the, Orphanage iirrmeasurably. Since the organization of th" work in 1872 the gifts from Masons and other charitable people through out the length and breadth of North Carolina have been many. In thU Continued on page 8. I !
Oxford Public Ledger (Oxford, N.C.)
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June 24, 1910, edition 1
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