The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-03-02
Impressions OF a Visitors.

New York Church journal:
To the Editor of the Church Journal!
Knowing your readiness to pu6llsh any IN
formation tending to show what the church Is
Soin@ at home and abroad, will communicate e
briefly something which l have learned from
personal observation in regard to o most in-
teres:ing branch of her work In Charleston.
I alude to the Orphanage and Home school
for bows founded by Rev. A Toomer Porter,
rector of the Church Of the Holy Communion,
and now maintained under his supervision IN
connection with that parish.
Having passed q Sunday most delightfully."-
with his beloved and faithful brother, glad,
Iy accepted his Invitation to visit the school
on the following day. The buildings devoted
to this purpose are Immediately adjoining the
church, aud 10 there are assembled, oay oy
day. over two hundred boys who are recelV-
Ing. under competent instructors, thorough.
practical, and above all truly Christian edu-
cation. Out of the whole number Of hoys who
ara here being trained, about ninety are also
maintained al the institution, OF whom forty
are unable to pay anything toward their own
support, and the residue pay severally accord.
Ing 10 their ability, from one dollar to twenty
dollars per month, the latter sum being the
minImum required for the support of each
boy. But I was informed thai very few OF
them were able 10 pay the full amount. And yet
those who are thus maintained and educated
are the sons of men whose fortunes, only few
wears ago, could. have been counted by mil.
lions. It Is unnecessary to say more IN order
to convince any one how grlevous has been
the ruin which has been wrought in this
portion of our beloved land. In view of this,
the magnitude of the work which Mr.. Porter
has mere undertaken strikes one very forctbly,
and especially in view Of the actual dearth OF
means at home with which TO carry It on. But
as he himself says, 1t was WORK wnlch was
imperalively demanded in order to prevent
Aof oil
on which the future welfare OF the State must
largely depend. And 30 this devoted servant
of Christ undertook 1t in faith, believing 1t to
be. as indeed it Is, Gods own work, and trust
ing that He would move the hearts OF Chris
tian people elsewhere to furnish the means 10
carry 1t on.
Rev. Philip Gadsden, lately deceased, wac
was for many years most able and esteemed
presbyter In this diocese. He Is assisted In
the various departments by several male and
female teachers, all of whom seem animated
with a spirit of like earnest devotion, "a devo-
ton to The good cause In which tuey are gu
gagged. Oue of them, gentleman from Al.
bany, N. Y, said he had never known set OF
boys on whose perfect truthfulness he could
rely SO implicitly as those now under his
charge. Surely this spoke volumes for tne
high tone of character which the parents OF
these boys, once abouudlng In wealth, but
reduced to p0yefy, nave Nb%Tan Teen a0le TO
In company with the rector went through
all the departments of the school, and had an
opportunity of seeing bow thoroughly the
bovs are Instructed In all the branches OF
sound, Classical and practical education. The
dormitories and dining hall and other home
arrangements of the school are under the I'm
mediate charge of q refined Christian lazy,
the daughter Of former wealthy planter, VINO
seems. ike all her associates, to have devoted
herself most heartily to the good work IN
which she is engaged.
But without going any further into details.
Is there not enough In the above statement OF
facts to interest all whose hearts are open 10
the claims which the church is making upon
uB for the various portions Of her one common
work How can II be Otherwise? These Two
hundred boys who are thus being trained for
future usefulness are the sons of our own
brethren-''Done Of our bone and flesh OF our
fesh." And though born in many instances
to aff1uence, they are now, through the muta-
tIons of life, almost wholly dependent on
others for their education aud support. Gan
any appeal come nearer home than lnis ana
shall not the Jealous minister OF Christ, VINO
has thus far struggled on with his good work
against 30 many difficulties, shall he not be
cheered by the supply of means to Increase lts
usefulness far beyond his utmost expectations:
Applications are pressing upon him from all
quarters, and he has not the heart to reject
them. But he must have increased means 10
order that the school may be enabled 10 meet
the demands which are made upon It. IL ls
emineltly work Of the chur :, In the best
interest OF reunited nation, and should re.
ceive the hearty support OF all those who
know neither sect nor party IN the one,
neither North nor South In the other, but who
love the one Holy Apostolic Church, and claim
to be citizens OF one common country. q.