The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-02-24
THE ORPHANS, HOME.


The deep interest which we feel in be
half of this institution, induced US to ad
dress its Superintendent, few days ago
some inquiries as to its present condition
and wants. We received in reply, let
ter of considerable length, and though no
designed for publication, we cannot re
frain from giving extracts therefrom.
These extracts viii show, perhaps, more
forcibly and fully than any formal oil
carefully worded statement, the situation
of the Home, at this time, and Its pros
poets for the year.
The Orphans Home has been in exist.
ence about five years. 1t was established
and chartered for the grand purpose OF
providing home for the orphaned and
destitute children of the war, and to
train them for usefulness and respecta-
bility in the world" 1t was organized on
the broad principle of charity, and that it
has been sustained to this hour by the
voluntary offerings of the people, Is a
credit to our race The maintenance of
the Home has not depended altogether
upon our own State. Louisiana, Tennes-
see, Kentucky, Missouri and Maryland,
have sent substantial aid whenever
called upon. New York and Boston, and
other Eastern cities, have also been liber-
al toward the institution. But it is to our
own people that the Home looks for
sympathy and sustenance. The children
there are the orphans of our dead-the
sacred legacy bequeathed us by our sons
and brothers, and comrades, who fell in
defense of our common cause. Inquiry
having developed the fact that one-half
the children at the Home are the orphans
of Masons, and this being made known TO
the fraternity, the contributions are liber-
al and continuous from that source
Within the past year, this writer has had
the pleasure of transmitting about seven
hundred dollars to the Treasurer of the
Home the contributions of different
Lodges. The Masons of jackson will
send their annual donation next week in
the shape of one hundred dollars worth
of provisions. 1t is by such effort, stead
lily but unostentatiously made, that these
children are kept at the Home.
The Home has encountered considera
BILE opposition - much of it honest,
and good deal factious-and the Trus-
tees and Superintendent, have been much
discouraged in consequence. But they
have a trust which cannot be easily re-
Iinquished. Two hundred or more chill
dren look to them for bread and shelter,
and their reliance upon the charitable and
good everywhere has not yet been entirely
disappointed. Whisperings of Z" bad
management" and incorporation
offunds, +" and prophesies of " a terrible
explosion, eruption, etc., are some
times INDUCED in by persons who know
nothing and care less about the Home or
its inmates professions of friendship and
good will to the contrary Notwithstanding.
1t is charged that the Home is Baptist
institution" and that it is conducted ex-
clusively in the interests of that denOmi-
nation. We assert that it is not so. 1t
is to the credit of these Christians, that
they originated the enterprise, and it is
equally to their credit that the institution
has been conducted on the most catho-
lie principles. All denominations are
in the Board of Trustees; and
we know, from personal knowledge,
that in the deliberations of the Board, a
liberal and generous Difference is observed
by the Baptist members thereof The
children who are taken to the Home are
not asked whether their parents we're
Baptists, or Methodists, or Presbyterians,
or Episcopalians, or Catholics, or Chris
tians. The only question for the Super
intendent to consider is whether they are
orphans, and whether he has the ability
to care for them. Alas, the latter has too
often to be answered in the negative. We
have frequently visited the Home, and
remained there sufficiently long each time
to detect bad management, if any exist
ed. We have partaken, with the child
rem, of their scanty fare; We have been
in their recitation rooms and workshops
and each visit has awakened emotions of
gratitude to the Father of the fatherless
that so great work is a living reality in
our midst. As one not of the Baptist
faith, we should consider ourselves secta-
rian after the straightest stripe, did we
shut our heart and our purse against so
noble charity, because somebody else
set it in motion.
The public is, no doubt, already famil-
lar with the fact that the title to the Home
proved worthless, and that the Federal
Court has ordered the property to be va
Gated. The parties who gave bond for
title proved not to be the legal owners.
They were solvent at the time, and COM
promise has recently been effected by
which the Trustees will recover a good
portion of the original purchase money.
The Trustees were anxious to retain the
present location, and an appeal was made
to the public for funds sufficient to re-
purchase it. The price asked was nine
thousand dollars, and the Trustees agreed
to take it at that sum. But contributions
in the way of provisions almost ceased,
and the money sent for re-purchase had
to be expended, in great part, to keep the
children from suffering, and to meet the
ordinary expenses of the Institution.