Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1867-07-26

iowa Orpllan's Home. -
It's History, Objects and Condition.
REPORT or coaMrTrEE. 6 4
TO tAc people ef the Sydtc Of Io,cd.
/ Tho undersigned were appointed by
the "Iowa Stats Sabbath School Asso-
oiation, - Mt its meeting In Davenport,
to visit the Iowa Soldiers Orphans
Home," and report the result of our
observations to the public. -
In the discharge of the duty imposed,
we visited that branch Of the "Home''
situated near the city of Dayenport.
The history Of the "Hornen is part
Of the history of our growing State 1t
is known to most Of the people OF Iowa
that there are three branches Of the
Home, located respectively Mt Daven-
port, Cedar Falls ard Glenwood. all
under the management of Board of
Trustees, elected by the General As
sembly.
4 IT'S OBJECTS.
( The great mission Of the ''IIomc'' is
ren, orphans of Iowa soldiers, rs may
be placed under Its caro- by the mothers
or friends of the children. s''
No child In received for a less period
than one year, unless an especial agrce-
ment is made for y shorter time. s,f
The Home" does not propose to OK
ercise any legal control over the child
rem for q longer period than may DO
specially agreed upon by and between
the officers OF the institution and the
friends Of the children. 1T Is UNDER
stood, however, that the officers and
friends of the Home" will aid all the
children In obtaining permanent situa-
tions In business, when their age and
circumstances render their stay at the
institution no longer profitable. But
persons wanting "bond servants, need
not apply to the Home" the officers
having no disposition ner legal right to
thus dispose or the children.
BRANCH AT DAVENPORT.
We can only speak of the branch at
Davenport, which is under the man.
agement Of DIR. M. B. Cochran as
Superintendent, and Mrs. Annie Wit
tenmeyer as Matron, aided. by a corpe
Of efficient cottage managers and tcnch-
ers. 3fs fsaf
The average number of children for
May was 5l0. These were divided into
sixteen families, occupying as many
cottages, under the care OF efficient
christian ladies' There are about thir-
ty children In each cottage. The child
rem all eat together In the same hall.
DOMESTIC ARRANGEMENTS.
The ladies Of the COMMITTEES person
ally and carefully inspected all the cot
tages, and the various working and GU
linary departments Of the "Homc, y
and find them clean, comfortable, and
well conducted. Everything seems to
be judiciously arranged and managed.
The most rigid economy Il practiced
to meet the wants of the institution,
notwithstanding the present means are
found wholly inadequate to feed, clothe
and educate the children, wirhous the
aid Of private donations. a7'1
EDUCATION. a gls
The committee was gratified to OBJ
serve that the subject of education IL
receiving careful attention. All the
children of suitable age are regular ut
tendants upon the schools, which nre
under the instruction of teachers ot
experience and ability. In the Pri-
mary Department., which the Commit
tee visited, the dlcipline Ia excellent,
though mild; tho most improved
methods of instruction arc employed,
and the training Is excellent. The
committee witnessed some interesting
physical exercise; and the singing, In
which all the pupils are regularly in
structed, Is good.
The advantages at the 'sHomen for a
good elementary education arc decided
" superior to those ordinarily enjoyed
throughout the State. Several of the
pupils are being trained for teachers.
SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS CULTURE. M
We were favornbly Impressed with
the social organization and the religi.
GUS influence of the "Home.o The
cheerful countepances and department
OF the little ones indicate kind relations
between them and tho managers of the
s'Home.n The arrangements are such
rs to supply what orphan children SC
much need--the kind and elevating IN.
ftsences and elements of well regulated
christian family. We think the religi.
Gus exercises are sufficiently numerous
and we doubt not are judiciouslyrcon.
Quoted. A pleasing feature in !, the
moral aspect of the "Home" is the or
ganization Of church, consisting oil
about $50 members, of which only 2Q
are adults, the rest are composed ol
children and youths of the Home
and some 20 more hope they love the
Saviour, and are expecting soon to be
Incorporated I'm the visible fold. Mo &e
For 1870 children, In one institution,
with becoming seriousness and reyer-
once, to receive, at the hands Of the
christian minister, the elements which
commemorate the death of the Saviour,
is spectacle rarely witnessed In this
world.
Onfthe Sabbath there Ia preaching In
the Chapel of the "Home" by the vari-
GUS Pastors Of the city of Davenport In
rotation. half@4}E n Il hsR
We are confident that the great mass
Of the christian community will be
pleased to have the children feel the
heavenly Influences of singing and
other devotional exercises, and while
they would frown upon any attempt to
shape the thoughts and feelings Of tho
little ones to the advancement Of mere
party sectarian ends, they would natt-
rally and reasonably expect that those
intrusted with the mafiagement OF the
@Homen should see to itthAt the word
Of God 10 not only read, but studied
and Feeited 30 that the children may
become intelligent In the scriptures az
they are in other branches OF study |;
for christian morality can ordinarily be
looked for only where there ID an intel
ligent Understanding and reception of
christian truth. es8nsn) o ~ ~ hafsfa4
ai ggl4la RESOURCES, &c. n ,i3 Ilta
The last General Assembly appropri-
ated $8. 33 per month for each child sup
ported at the "Home.n This sum is
found to be below the. cost Of maintain
ing the children. It must not be for
gotten that this sum has to provide
food, lodging, medicine, tuition and all
incidental expenses connected with the
institution.
The trustees are sworn not TO contract
q debt for the support OF tile "Home.u
Now friends what shall be done?