Baltimore commercial journal, and Lyford's price-current. [volume] (Baltimore, Md) 1840-1849, 1848-03-11
1854
BLOoNuNGDALE ORPHAN ASYLUM.

then the reason of the great yield would have been
better accounted for probably by Of its readers
than that which is said with reference to the ma
nure, &c. although Ice believe in the efficacy Of
properly preparing the ground as well the tGih
which is necessary in planting it; for the Holy Bible,
which was the rule and government Of ISABELLA
GRAHAMs faith, among its othertruisms, says, paul
may plant ami Apoos may water, but COP must
give the increase" That those of our readers may
understand what We aude, we copy from that
excellent Book, 1.-THE Life and Writings of Mrs. lisa
bella Graham the following article, giving an ac
count of the origin and progress of the Orphan A>y
lam during Mrs. Graham's life. And who was Mrs
Graham We have not space, neither is it our OBJ
ect to be too minute upon this subject, but would
simply answer, that she was the mothcr-in-law OF
DiUie Bcttune, a distinguished merchant in his day
in New York. and father of the Rev. g. ", Bctilrne
at present of Philadelphia.
On the 10Th of March, lSO6, the female subscribers
10 proposals for providing Asylum for Orphan
Children met at the City Hotel; Mrs. Graham vas
called 10 the chair, Society organized, and board
of direction chosen. Mrs Hoffman elected the
first Directress of the Orphan Asylum Society Mrs.
Graham continued in the office Of first Drcctress OF
the Widows Society, but took deep interest in the
success Of the Orphan Asylum also; She or of
her family, taught the orphans daily, until the funds
and superintendent She trustee at the time /
of her dcccasc. The wish to establish this So
ccty was occasioncd by the pain which it gave the
ladies of the Widows Society TO behold family of
orphans driven, on the dcccasc of a widow, 10 seek
refuge in the aims house, no melting heart TO feel, |
rcdecming hand to rescue them from 4 situation
unpromsing for mental and moral improvement.
"Amongst the afflicted Of our suffering race, thus
speaks the Constitution Of the Society, 'nouc makes
stronger or more impressive appeal to humanity |
than the deSttnte orphan. Crime has not been the
cause Of its misery, and future usefulness may yet
be the result of It's projections; the reverse is often
the case of more aged objects. God himself has
marked the tathcrlcss the peculiar subjects Of his
divine compassion. \ father of the fathcryss is
God in his holy habitation.' when my father and
my mother lOrsakc me, then the Lord will take me
up To b. the blessed instrument Of divine Proyi-
dcnce in making good the promise Of q d, is privi
legc equally desirable and honorable the byncvU-
lent heart"
Aud truly God has made good his promise towards
this benevolent Institution. He has crowned the
dertakln@ with his remarkable blessing. 1t was
begun by his disciples IN faith, and he has aCknOw
lodged them in it. Having for fourteen months occu-
pied hired house for Asylum, the ladies enter
tanned the bold idea OF building A. yum account
OF the Society. They had then about three hundred
and fifty dollars as the commencement Of fund for
the building: they purchased four lot, Of ground in
the village Of Greenwich, on healthfsl, elevated
site, possessing fine prospect. The cornerstone
building fifty feet square; from time II time they ,
proceeded 10 finish the interior Of the building, and
to purchase additional ground their funds would
permit; and such was the lIbcraity Of the legisa-
ure and Of the public that the Society possess
ed handsome building and nearly Of ground,
all Of which must have cost them little short Of ,
twenty five thousand dollars. In that house Mrs.
Graham and Mrs Hoffman spent much of their time;
there they trained for eternity the children of those
whose widowed dying mothers they had checrcd ,
with the hope that when they should be taken away,
God would fulfil his gracious promise and preserve
their fathcrlcss children alive.
Mrs. Hoffman survived Mrs. Graham seven years. |
Her end, like that Of her friend, was PEACE. But
though God removed those mothers in Israel their =
prayers are still before him, and the Institution
tnucs 10 prosper In 1886, the city having extended
TO where the Asylum situated, and the property
at the same time increased in value, the Society be-
came desIrOuS TO remove where the children would
enjoy purcr air, and have greater convenience for
garden and pasture for cows. With the advice Of
their patrons, they sold the property for about
$4,000; purchased nearly ten acres Of ground at
BloomngdaIc, and the 9Th Of June the same year
land the foundation stone Of their present beautiful
building.
In the 3lth annual report Of the Society, for 1870.
we find the following record Of Gods goodness
son no former occasion has the board Of direction
Deem privileged to make 10 the friends and patrons
OF this Institution more favorable report than the
present. The ORPHANS HOME is cOmplctcd. and
the beautiful building on the banks of the Hudson is
alike an ornament 10 the city and memorial of the
llberallty OF Its inhabitants. Within il are found
not only ample accommodations for a numerous flm-.
ly, but place for the Lord, habitation for the
orphans God. On the 10Th of November last the
chapel was opened for religious worship; the SER
vices were performed by reverend clergy of differ
ent denominations; and a highly respectable and ,
apparently gratiiied audience attended. All the
children, loo in number present, from the in-
liant IN arms TO the youth who will this day pronounce
the yaedictory.
''TO those who have witnessed the progress Of this
Institution from the small frame house Of 800 10 the
noble cdiice of l949, accompanied by the rccollcc
ton that the door has never been closed against the
destitute orphan, how deep must be the cony ction
pTOyllpuCp-tlc q he del ,
claraton, that God is the father Of the fahcrcss in
his holy habitation, and the fulilmcnt Of his gra-
cious promise, Leave thy fathcrlcss children, will
preserve them ave!' Nor is the orphan family
merely furnished with sufficient accommodation for
dwelling and moral and religious education: the I
grounds afford ample room for exercise and rccrca
tlon; the garden supplies them with fruit and vcget-
ables; and there being pasture for several cows,
wholesome milk is added 10 their simple breakfast, :
while the abounding river inygoratcs the frame by
a saline bath,-and by casting net into it, furnishes
occasional dinner Of fresh fish,
LITTLE FARM BUT GREAT PRODUCT AND
PROFlT-HINTS TO FARMERS.
We are enabled, by favor of the Secretary of the
American Institute, to publish the following interest.
ing extract from the forthcoming Report of that in
stitutiOn: New NORK. Feb. % ISIS.
To b. WAKEMAN, Esq, Sup. -fgi Am. Inst.
DeU Sir: Circumstances have recently brought
within my observation the situation and condition of
the Bloomingdac Asylum
The Asylum has 40 acres Of land, 10 of it in wood.
Including buildings and immediate Enclosures, per-
haps about 80 under cHtiUdtiOn, garden and
farm was so much pleased and in particular with ;
the management and produce Of this branch, and
thought it honorable the Governors Of the Hos
Iltal, that sought for aud obtained copy Of the {
summary OF It's debtor and creditor amount / hasten
TO communicate the 10 you, believing il will be
an eTh6t OF great usefulness TO the American Insti-
ute: IT illustrates the benefits and the profits which
Will arise from the proper and cultivation of the
SOIL 1t shows what YOU might expect 10 accomplish
II the Legislature, its wisdom, should grant the
petition OF the American Institute to establish an
Agricultural School and Experimental Farm near .
.I,