Newspapers / The Duplin Times (Warsaw, … / March 11, 1954, edition 1 / Page 10
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REV. STETHEN SMITH Native ot Wayne County and Free Will Baptist Minister who Is head of the FWB: Middlesex Orphanage.' Mr. Smith moved from his home in Beulaville to take over the duties .... ot the Orphanage. . t , . Br DALLAS MALLISON , MIDDLESEX N.C. Serving 'omt 9S0. churches throughout N.C. with a constituency of nearly 80,000 s is the local Free Will Baptist Or .phanage. an institution which under the guidance of "Pa" and "Ma" Smith Is not just an Institution but fa real home for orphans of this State. .. TO those who visit this Orphan age it is obvious that the Smiths, - who livett 28 years . without any ' children of their own, ; are real mother and father to the nearly 80 children now at this home. Their longcherished prayer and desire ,for children of their own have been 'answered at last with many boys and girls, all of whom they con Elder as their very own. , , Nestled on the rolling hills ot v Nash County some two miles from this town, the Orphanage is located amid nearly 300 acres of farmland ." and woodland Which make up. the ' entire land area of the institution. ' Begun In 1920, the entire plant now totals at least six buildings valued at least at (300,000 and with a total : operating annual budget of about $70.00t. . . ; . Now operating without any bur ' den of indebtedness and embarked on Its most ambitious expansion and building program, the home is setting its sights to serve .even -, more of the orphaned youth of this State. It does not confine its mem bership to children of parents ot Free Will Baptist faith, and it opens its doors to every section and part ot the State. The Orphanage is operated by the H.C. State Convention of the Original Free Will Baptists and it Is the biggest project both in cash outlay and size ot enterprise now maintained by this faith. The Or phanage is a part of now the regu lar budget ot virtually all churches in the denomination and all mem ber church contribute financially to its support The Free Will Baptists are not as usually viewed confined to the Eastern part of the State. They have a large membership in the mountains of this State and Bun combe County is one of the counties ranking high in total membership among this faith. There are some 300 churches of the Free Will Bap tist denomination scattered over most of the 100 counties of the State with a total membership now nearly 50.000. - There are now 270 acres included in the total properties making up the institution, of which at least 125 acres are in cultivation. It open ed Its doors on May 23, 1920, to four children and now it has a total of 79 beys and girls within its con lines. Located off the main State high way and boasting a new paved road of its own, contributed by the State, the home had its beginning with a gift of fifty acres of land by the late Elder Benjamin Deans, a for mer Free Will Baptist minister of this section. The remaining acreage has been purchased by the Brother hood. At the present time there are six buildings making up the physi cal plant of the home, consisting ot the dining hall which also contains the superintendent's office, a boys dormitory, home for the superinten dent, and a modern new church. In addition there are also barns and other farm buildings, including a modern dairy barn. ' A total of 70 children, ranging .in ages from three years to 19 years old, are. attending the institution. They come from as far west as Swonnanoa and Walnut near Mar shall and as far east as the coast The children remain at the home ntil they are graduated from, high chotL. All attend the local 'public schools. There are only six pre school. All attend the local public which means that seventy children are now enrolled in the public schools, .v ' ' 'A diversified list of crops and livestock are produced at the local children's home,' the aim being" to supply as near as possible all their , own requirements and dispose of the surplus on the open market There are only three full-tune hired amen working .on the farm .and around the buildings, which means Hat a large share of the labor In volved In the operation of the farm is furnished by the children them- .rtv V. rt; '"? , ; Crop grown include ' tobacco, wheat, corn, oats, various small - grains, and garden vegetables. The farm has a tobacco allotment of 13 .acres..' , - The home has a, laying flock ot 800 hens. It bat 37 purebred Here- . ford and Black Angus beef cattle, valued at at least $5,000. There is also a herd ot 100 hogs. Around 15,000 worth of surplus, hog meat was sold thi year. -u:. 'PA' SMITH AND CHILDREN his institution in this case, the: DINING HALL This building is used . as dinin? nd assembly office. , The kitchen is being remodeled soon. f . ALBEMARLE COTTAGE Used completed in 195L CORN FOR THE LARDER Free truckloads of corn arrives to augment the larder ot the orphanage. ? The home, raises much of its food and has fine herds of beef cattle and also hogs.- , : ... . .r. ... ;. There are 30 acres given over to pastures of which 20 acres are for cattle and the remaining 10. for hogs. . Indicating how well they provide for the lean winter months, this year they put away a huge room ful of vegetables, and filled at least three larger freezer lockers with meats and vegetables.. Every avail able foot of freezer locker space in nearby Zebnlon was rented for this winter, and three of the huge lock ers are 21 feet in size . The institution boasts a two-acre fish pond, the gift of Dr.. and Mrs. M. Hinnant ot Micro. JDr. Hinnant is the chairman of the Board of trustees of the Orphanage. Built in 1949, the pond this year has been stocked with thousands of young brim and bass. x K . When the Kev. Stephen' A. Smith came hero to assume the duties, of superintendent on November L 195L he found the home laboring under a capital debt of 130.000 This debt which represented the amount Supt S. A, ("Pa") Smith is at his pre - school tots. iiiilpl V - ' f ' " 4 as dormitory for boys. Capacity is 1 owed on the new boys' dormitory I has, been erased and the home is I now operating free of debt 4; s Smith has completed the new boys dormitory, valued at $60,000, and . which has a capacity' of 40 boys. It is of the modern cottage type and is named "Albemarle Cot tage." ...,-. .vM'-; Under the guidance of Smith the new $75,000 church has been com pleted saved for the addition of the steeple which is part Of the 1954 building program. Smith had to raise $20,000 in order to complete the building. ' , 1 ' -Bids are now being advertised for on the construction of the new $50,000 girls' dormitory with con struction of the new $50,000 girls' domitory construction scheduled to begin . in early January or soon thereafter. The new unit, to house 40 girls, is to replace the present out-moded girls dormitory. 1 rt . Smith estimates that he has at least $30,000 on hand of the needed minimum - ot $50,000 i to construct' happiest when with the small fry at . -- - . ' - halL It also houses the superintendent's mm about 40 boys. A modern building the new building. Free Will Bap- tist churches have been emphasing the new nuilalng In their budgets and throughout the State a special offering was taken at Thanksgiving tor this purpose. I The present building and reno vation program also include re modeling of the kitchen which will cost from one to two- thousand dol lars, Smith said. Money for this purpose has already been donated by a friend of the hpitte,. he report ed. ' .-.,- .. "The basic purpose ot our home," said Smith, "is to instill into the young minds and hearts of our children Christianitv" "With this," ' continued Smith, "will come humility, Integrity, tol erance, -and Jove for .one. another because these things are Christiani ty." i "We can provide a home with an abundance of the essentials ot life," asserted the Superintendent, "but without training our boys- and girls, to love the- Lord and to be fwV "in' s- ,A i N"'-' ' '. -? A T ri '-' !- n v -' , r 1 1 ' -I t""1 v . ' ''"i '3 come k,tian men and women we will defeat our purpose." "It is our desire," stated the Eev. Mr. Smith, "to send forth Into so ciety young "people who have a sense of feeling tor their fellow man; who are willing and ready to take their places in life and accomplish worthwhile things." ' .' Thus the home places emphasis upon the spiritual side of lite, work ing to turn out socially-adjusted boys and girl who will be both willing and capable ot contributing their -bit to this world. They are desired to become useful and law abiding citizens, and Independent, self-reliant, mature, persons in the modern world. ' . ' ' - So ideally "suited 'are "Pa" and "Ma" Smith for their work ' here that in a very literal spiritual sense were they "called" to this field of service , by , the Lord they serve. Smith gave, up a lucrative income when be finally decided to come here and he came only, after much prayer and meditation. Stephen A. Smith was born in 1905 in Wayne County and is now therefore) 48 years of age. He never did complete his high school educa tion but did attend the old -Free Will Baptist Seminary once operat ed in. Ayden. , ,, ,!';;':'i;.i.'i;;V ;:'.,. He began preaching at the -age of 25 and his first church was the Christian Chapel Church in Lenoir County not far from Pink HilL He served this congregation for six yearsv w-w;.ite--K Smith has also served churches in Onslow, Duplin .and Craven counties. . His last pastorates were at the ' Daniel's Chapel Church in Wilson County' and . the Spring Branch' Church .near Walstonburg in Greene County..' , . ' , In 1934 he moved to Beulaville in Duplin County and remained there until November L 1951, when he transferred to the home for his duties here. During his seventeen years in the Duplin town he preach ed regularly and built up a very lucrative fertilizer business. . The Smiths had always wanted children but never had been bless ed with any of their -own. They were married in 1926 and Mrs. Smith is a native of Duplin County herself. After 25 years of childless mar riage, they now have become both the guardians and the only parents they know for some 75 children. There is a very close and intimate relationship between the children and the Smiths and its quite ob vious that there is a mutual feeling of love and respect One seems to feel the very sweetness and under standing that is a part of the re lationship between the Smiths and their charges. The Smiths have quickly taken their places as members of the local' community and take an active part in local civic religious and educa- tional activities. Mrs. Smith is presi- dent of the Middlesex Parent Teach- ers Association while Smith is sec retary of the local school board. All the 70 children at the home who are of school age attend the local school. Twenty-two ot these are enrolled in the high school de partment There are only six pre school children at present The present Middlesex senior class has four members who come from the Orphanage, all of whom are better than average students. Generally speaking, the children from the home are equal to or sup erior to other children in scholar ship, personality and personal ap pearance. Discipline and conduct among the -orphaned students are very good. An example of an outstanding student from the home is a senior, Faye Watson, who has averaged straight A's during her four years as a high school student She came here in her sixth grade from Bel mont in Gaston County. She is now both editor-in-chief of the school paper and ot the school annual. , Faye has served as cheer leader, president ot the Beta Club, vice president of her class for two years, and a member dt the dramatics teams tor several seasons. She is also a member ot the Glee dub. Her classmates have chosen her as the most versatile among the senior class. Faye's ambition Is to go to col lege and while the way has not yet opened itself, financially, she is con fident a way and the means will .be. found. . -.? Faye has been a member ot one of the summer concert groups which go all over the State every summer presenting programs in the various Free Will Baptist churches of the State. Usually two teams composed of six members each make up the concert class that goes visiting and doing their bit toward better public relations for the Orphanage among its own churches. , ; - . Some Indication of a practical and convincing nature of the calibre and type, of students turned but here' Is gained' from a study of some outstanding young men and women who have been at this home. .Among these are Robert Brewer who is now. dean of men at a col lege In Florida; Haywood Howell, an outstanding high school voca tional ag. teacher; and Walter, Croom, who has earned his Masters -degree and who, was . himself super intendent' here tor some years. .- Others include Bruce Hawkins who is now a senior at Wake Forest with major, in- dentistry; and Charles Harrell now a junior:' at East Carolina College majoring n business education. , , Twe5 brothers who are gradu ates of the home have made out standing records in the ministerial field and one is now pursuing grad uate study in divinity.? They) are Rev. W. B. Raper and Rev. W. R. Raper, natives of Lucama in Wilson County. The first is now promo tional secretary with the State Con vention ot the Free Will Baptists. He-is a graduate of Duke, The "second Is also a practicing I WM It CONCERT GROUP Shown above is a singing ances in the State each summer in minister and is now doing gradu ate work in theology in the doctor ate level at the National Bible Col lege in Nashville, Tenn. Beard of Trustees The Board of Trustees of the Or phanage is composed . mostly ;.of professional men, farmers and min isters. There are nine regular mem-J bers and one nonary member. Dr. M. Hinnant of Micro is chair man of the board and R. L. Spen cer a farmer of Columbia ir secre tary. Other . members are H. M. Mai-. lard, a farmer of Trenton; Jesse Gay, farmer of Walstonburg; Ral- vin MnLeod. farmer of Dunn: the Hpv M t Baxlev of Red Serines: the c B Hinsley of Newport; the Rev Wayne SmIth of Swan. ...... .-d the Rev. Paul Brown p.vinoriom The nonary member Is Levi Hill a retired farmer and educator ' liv ing in Snow HilL When the Smiths and the scores of orphaned children who are now at the home were brought together. it produced an ideal mating. For in the smiths was louna a pair who literally hungered for children, and in the children there is a great hunger for parental love, sweet and tender and true, which they find in abundant measure in "Pa" and "Ma" Smith. It any proof were needed to dem onstrate that God. still rules this world and still "calls" persons to certain tasks and missions' in life, one needs to go ho further than here. In both a literal and a synvH bolic sense this Smiths have been chosen or "called" to their present mission or role for which they are preeminently fitted both by talents and temperament lis C. Travel Notes A sure sign of spring on the North Carolina coast is Increased ferry service to Hatteras Island and its choice fishing and recreation spots. On March 15, the free auto mobile ferry across Oregon Inlet to Hatteras will resume its full schedule of 12 trips dally, which had been curtained to JO trips for, the winter months.. The first ferry departure from' the north shore of the Unlet wil be at 5:50 am and the final return trip from Hatteras at 6:05 p.m. At least one new ferry will be put Into operation during the peak traffic season his summer.. The Oregon Inlet ferry links North Carolina Highway 158 with- a new paved highway extending the full length of Hatteras Island through the nation's only National Seashore Recreational Area. v Garden Tear in the Sandhills ) The Sandhills resort of Southern Pines, North Carolina, has scheduk ed its annual spring garden tour for April 7, when dogwood, azaleas, and other flowers are expected to be at the height ot their bloom. The tour, sponsored by the Southern Pines Garden Club, includes a num ber of homes; and estates, . Shaw Housejestored and maintained by the Moore County Historical Associ ation, will again be 'headquarters for the tour, , s - s.. C, If V IyAt J 1 Race at Stoneybrook March : SO When the exciting sport of steeple chasing opens its spring season with the Stoneybrook Race Meeting at Southern Pines,; North Carolina, March 20, spectators will see a card of seven races. Of these, four are sanctioned by the Hunts Committee ot the National Steeplechase and Hunt Association: the Stoneybrook Open Hurdle Race; the Sandhills Cup, over timber; the Silver Run, six furlongs on the turf; and the Yadkin, over hurdle. Other events will be the Moore County Pink Coat Rice, the Two Year Old Trial, and - the Pines. Top . steeolechase riders and horses wiU.-;compete . at hundreds of Free OLD GIRLS' DORMITORY Is an outmoded structure in use since the Free Will Baptist Orphanage was established. Funds will be raised to replace the structure in the near future. Stoneybrook before moving on to other sanctioned events on the na tion's hunt racing circuit Sportsfishlng Information From Dare County Channel bass are expected to show up in the surf along the Outer Banks any day in March,, and the Dare County Tourist Bureau has just published a new Sportstlshing Bulletin which includes information about where and how to capture these prized "copper beauties." Available tree on request, the bul letin also contains data on other salt and fresh-water fish, a list of local guides, a map of the Outer Banks region in Dare, housing in-, llo Park 'J makes a home. Your future depends on our planning today. Now Is tie time to save. Deposit an amount of your earn lags into a savings account and insure- your future. 1 "Make Our Bank Your Bank'! BAIIK OF ML OLIVE :f:-!.vi.:.j Mt Olive , Group of the orphanage, which makes several appear Will Baptist churches.' , : . ' formation, and terry schedules. Ap pearance of the first channel bass is the signal for the opening ot many hotels and motor courts, in Dare County. WM. DAVID BARBELL Word has been received of the death of William David Harrell, 77, in a Philadelphia Hospital Sunday night- Mr. Harrell formerly of Rose Hill Is survived, by his wife and four children ot Philadelphia and Washington, D. C, 0 sisters, Mrs. Nellie Teachey and Mrs. CaBie. Teachey of Rose Hill. Mrs. Made Faircloth of Clinton, Mrs. LUlla M. Vance and Mrs. Jessie Herring of Washington, O. Cj 1 brother, 3, D. Harrell of Washington, D. C. Bench 7 II I! Calypso j
The Duplin Times (Warsaw, N.C.)
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March 11, 1954, edition 1
10
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