Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-10-05
Avn Orphan Asylum Founded on Faith.

and illustrates how much good may be at
complshed by single philanthropist withou
the aid OF any of those exterior or adventitiou
helps which are commonly deemed indispensable
to the accomplishment of enterprises dependen
on public favor and cooperation for their sue
cess. That the sum of nearly half million Q
dollars should have been voluntarily contribute,
towards the foundation and support of an Or
phan Asylum, "without any one having beel
personally applied to for any thing" and with
out publicity given to the name Of single do
nor, is statement which reflects honor on hu
man nature as well as on the unselfsh zeal 0
the individual who could inspire such confcenc
In his human endeavors.-Nat. Lptelligencer.
THE "NEw ORPHAN ASYLUM"
In the neghborhood of Bristol, England, ex
lists an institution but little known to the genera
public, yet of such singular nature that it ma
be fairly classed among the wonders of the age
1t is situated at Ashley Down, one Of the mos
beautiful suburbs of the city, and is simply ant
unobtrusively named ''The New Orphan Asy
lum." Within it's walls three hundred faith
erless children, aged from few months up
wards, are fed, clothed and taught. The eide
girls are instructed in sewing and all domesti
arts, and at proper age are each provided wit
an outfit and suitable situation the boys ar
similarly fitted ont and apprenticed; and 81
this is done without any regular funds or sub
scribers, by man who neither does now no
never did possess any property or pecuniar.
means. Nor has single shilling ever been so
licited for its support, for the New Orphan Asy
lum is founded ON faith. .#
This statement will probably raise smile
incredulity; but it is, nevertheless, fact which
cannot be gainsayed. There is the extensive
range of buildings in substantial stones and NOR
tar; there. too are three hundred living witness
es, the recipients of its bounty and protection
On every Wednesday the doors are thrown O.
pen to all who choose to inspect for themselves
this monument of love and charity. Enter: in
this stern practical matter.of fact nineteenth
century, it is refreshing to halt for moment on
such verdant oasis. There is no charge ioI
admission; neither are the attendants permitted
to receive any fees; but in the entrance ball Is
small box labeled "for the use OF the orphans,
and if you choose to drop coin therein you
may do so Visiters are shown the dormitorles,
each little bed with it's snowy coverlet; the
wardrobes fitted up with presses wherein every
child deposits his or her Sunday clothing with
precision of folding and arrangement; /;
the nursery and its tiny inmates, their basinets
and TOYS and the diniDg-room, SO large and
lofty and we'll ventilated that it must be pleas
nre TO eat therein. Then there are the schools
three in number, the girls, the boys, and the
Infants. all of whom go through their exercises
and sing their simple melodies, wearing withai
a healthy, hearty, and happy expression which
speaks volumes for the system under which they
are trained. Passing on we visit the "cutuog
outn and making up" rooms, the bakery, the
dairy. the kitchens, the laundry, the bath rooms
all well arranged and indeed perfect in their ap-
pointments. Another range of offices is devoted
to various store-rooms. There are stores OF flour
of bread. of meat, of rice, of oatmeal, good
Scotch meal, which forms the staple of the chill.
dren's breakfast. There are stores OF shoes, OF
clothing, of soap, of linen, of crockery, and e.
ven of TOYS for the delectation of the younger
ones. The staff of teachers, nurses, and SER
wants is large and efficient; the mental and phys.
ical wants of the children are amply provided
for. and their comfort most sedulously studied !;
and all this has been brought into existence lit
erally out of nothing. Doubt it not. Were you
as incredulous as Thomas of Didymus, yet must
the evidence of your senses convince You OF the
reality of this extraordinary fact. Seek not to
explain it away, for the truth OF the history at
tacbed to that asylum is incontroyertibly estab-
lished. :. Is
That history is to be read in little book en-.
titled "a Narratioe Of some Of the Lords Deaf
mas aoith George Muller"-a quaint strange til
tie. which of itself seems to remove rs tar from
the world of steam and gas and electric tele-
graphs. 1t is written in o simple style, wherein
is no seeking after effect or ornament, and con-
ssts principally of extracts from the authors d-
ary. | much fear that in giving the substance
of this narrative shall be unable to render it
due Justice but my limited space forbids expan-
sion. Here it ls:
George Muller's creed is so unsectarian that
have never yet been able to ascertain its precise
nature he indeed distinctly states that he does
not belong to any sect, and his writings, no less
than his deeds, confirm the assertion. He is a
Prussian by birth, and emigrated in 1929 to
England, where, to quote from the narrative, he
"began the service of caring for children who
are bereaved of both parents by death, born in
wedlock, and are in destitute circumstances, on
December 9, 1885," For ten years he carried
ON his work of love in Wilson street, first rent.
ing single house for the use of his proteges.-
AS their number increased other premises be-
came necessary till in 1S45, four contiguous
houses were occupied by about one hundred and
thirty children. ,,
The expense of supporting these establish
ments was entirely betrayed by unsolicited con-
tributions. Upon this principle they were start.
ed, and even when sorely pressed were rigidly
adhered to. A perusal Of the authors journal
shows that he was often reduced to great ex-
tremities, from which he was always relieved in
what will no doubt be deemed an unaccounta-
bic manner. Thus, under date OF August ~,
10, 1874, is the following passage: r.'.,....
''In the greatest need, when not one penny
was in hand, l received e5 from brother at
Hackney" And again: .fA y
august II, 1S45.-Our poverty is extremely
great. The trial of faith as sharp as ever, or
even sharper 1t is ten O'Clock, and yet there
are no means for dinner. l thought now OF
some articles which should be able to do with
out, to dispose of them for the benefit OF the or
phans, when one of the laborers teachers gave
me Ell. There were also taken out OF the box
es in he orphan houses Is 3d., and by knitting
came in 2s. g., and from A. A., 2s." --'' -'--
Such passages as these are of continual recur'
renee. Frequently the last crust OF bread and
sip of milk was consumed, and Muller never
contracted debts. Over and over again the dsi-
" record commences with "Not penny In
hand ~ and ends with only few pence left :
and there was no treasure to draw upon save
the inexhaustible fund of faith-a fund which
indeed appears to have fully answered every
demand upon it, for the wants of the day were al
ways fully supplied. ',i7I'1 ~. = 10 :,
But the great work was yet to come. In
1916 Muller first began to conceive the idea Of
building an asylum for the accommodation Of
three hundred orphans, and, having fully consid.
cred the undertaking II Judged" he says 'tha'
the cost would be 10000 ; and on November4tf
1 began asking the Lord for means." Strange
ly enough, on the following 10th December
91, 900 came to hand. This was the largest do
nation which up to that time had ever been re-
ceived /; shut when this money came" he writes
II was as calm and as quiet as if had only re-
ceived one shilling; for my heart was looking