, 1874-02-01

among all nef c1af1t1ea CMcaBO mas nos nRd
until within comparatively short time, home 70
foundlings. Dr.. Shipman, OF his own motion, .
few years ago, opened such = home and now
aided by the voluntary contributions of citizens
q permanent building, erected for this exclusive
purpose, has been provided It is charity thai
| appeals to alI. It ia OF equal rank with the
| orphan asylum, and in some respects has
higher claims. It nnltes two charities,-care o1
tho helpless waifs, and care Of the destitute and
! helpless mothers. 1t is preventive Of murder
| by Offering q humane means Of avoiding it,
It Offers to the unfortunate who con-
templates fmtcide, involving the risk of
her OWN Life md death Of her child
g means Of saTing both; it Ispreads the broad
mantle Of charity over her, aud bids her live and
hope tor better future. To the poor as well as
unfortunate who have no means to support
either themselven or offspring, it Offers home
for the child, and nouriahment and comfort for
the mother in her days Of trouble. In either
case it is d refugs for helpless mothers and more
helpless babes, and, in the name Of common
nature, it appeals to every human being. Tho
institution has SO far been supported by the
voluntary contributions Of the public, and it is
to be hoped that so broad charity will forever
be Kept FREQ from sectarian or other exclusive
control The whole community should see to it
that the Home does not want for means Of cup
port or for the mems Of extending its charity.
We are aware that there are many excellent
people who look upon Founding Homes with
distavor, regarding them IS vicious because
encouraging or couptenancing crime. They
argue that to provide homes for tho offspring
Of those who are not married, is, in effect an
encouragement to the unmarried to continue in
sin. They regard the unmarried mother as
criminnl, and her child as no better, aud insist
that both shall be punished rather than
made the objects Of human care and
We do not propose to discuss
the moral or theological questions involved; nc
prefer to look st the practical question, whether
infants. no matter OF what parentaee, shall bo |
left to be murdered by desperate aud starving
mothers, or taken and kindly nurtured and |
whether mothers, hardly able to maintain their !
own existence, shall have refuge for their |
helpless babes in their extreme infancy. Leav-
ng out of view altogether the consideration OF
he sinfu1ness Of the patentage Of these waits.
ordinary humanity dictates that the children
shall be taken care ot, comfortably lodged,
md provided for, and that. whenever
he mother stands in necessity, she,
90. shall have food and shelter until she can
AXE care Of herself. It is not for man to Judge
Il such case8, Food tothe hungry, shelter to the
lome1ess, drink to the thirsty, are matters which
4ppeal directly to the hearts Of MI mon, and de-
nand instant action, no matter how they affect
theological definitions OF sin
This Home for Foundings, therefore, is not
eligious institution; norris itsectarinn; nor does
deal in abstract morAIties. It gives food and
helter to homeless, parent1ess, destitute in
ants; nourishes them in their helplessaess
nd, when old enough, sends them ont
ith faith in the charity Of their fel-
Such an institution is worthy
the support Of all people, md it is
one the less 30 because the knowledge OF its
zistence cheers the heart OF the e1pectant
lother, and silences I'll murderous suggestions.
o those who have means which they wish to
ace where it will do good, this Foundlings'
ONE oilers IN inviting opportunity.