Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-01-22
x26.O52 60

Incidental expenses 426 SO 1870 GA
se,os2 o5
Less real estate 5000 90
Funds available S4,os2 O5
Mrs. Mary j. Hamilton, recently of the Conn
Industrial School for Girls has been elected Mat
ron, Miss c. NJ. Blown of Chesterville Asst. Mat
ron, and Mrs. d. w. Currier of New sharon
Housekeeper. These ladies come to their work
with earnest devotion and entire consecration to
| the delicate and important duties before them
May their efforts be directed by that wisdom that
is from above.
Tomorrow the school will be open for the recep-
tion of such girls most need its benign and ell
awaiting influences. Here they will find home
and ready hands and willing hearts to teach the
better way-the road to usefulness and happiness.
| Gov. DINGLEY.
AT the close of Ex-Governor Perha m address
Gov. Dingley was called upon, and expressed his
great pleasure at being present he had witnessed
with intense interest, the progress of the nstitu-
ton, and was present at the Inauguration of the
enterprise to-day he was specially gratfed, in
ing its complete success. He thanked in behalf OF
the State, the persons who had carried forward
| and finished the work. lie remarked that up to
this time there has been no open door, puolic or
private through which the homeless and neglected
little girls could enter and be protected He re-
joiced that to-day there is Home for those who
sadly need one As years roll on this Institution
hearts Of the people. He felt sure that the inst-
tuition would never be allowed to suffer from neg
lect or Indifference of the people. 1t is much
cheaper to provide Home like this for unfortu-
nate girls, than to provide one for them when they
have grown up; those who can not be cared for in
such Home must bye and bye be cared for as
criminals. The Governor instanced the extraordi-
nary fact that a certain girl in New York State,
thrown upon the world seventy years ago, has had
900 descendants, 200 of whom the records show to
have been criminals. One branch of the family
had seventeen children, and of these nine served
sentences in prison, while all of the others at diff
ferent times were inmates of some reformatory
| institution. In addition to the 200 descendants
who were convicted criminals, many Others were
vagrants, lunatcs, paupers, or worse. How much
wiser it is then, to provide for vagrant girls than
for yagrant boys Nothing affords a stronger
proof OF the progress of Christianity than nstitu
tions like this. They were unknown in ancient
times, but grew from Christianity, surely the
church spires that point towards heaven through
| out all Christendom. The Governor concluded
"You have dedicated noble work, ,-consecrated
its roof to God and humanity, and long shall the
praise go up of those who raised it"
| SPEAKER THOMAS.
Speaker Thomas, of Portland, being present,
was called upon, and responded in happy and
hi hly pleasing manner He was impressed by
Gov. Dingley's remark that such institutions as
this are'the outgrowth of the religion profess
There is no stronger line of demarkaton between
| religions than is shown by institutions like this
The religion of the antique world culminsted in
! architecture and statuary; their religion was the
worship Of the Beautiful that religion produced
poetry which has not been equalled; but it was
the religion of a few. 1t remained for Christiani-
| ty to prove the brotherhood of man and establish
broad and systematic beneyOlences-asylums for
| deaf, blind, insane, the reform school, and the
| Industrial School for Girls. The latter which we
dedicate to-day, is in the line of progress, religion
and humanity. Speaker Thomas was pleased with
the location of the school, and esteemed it beau
| tiful as well As bcneticent object, and noble
monument to some of the worthy ladies of Halo
well. lie spoke of the hard and finally successful
| laborS of Mr.. snow, the member from Hallowell,
in bringing the institution before the last Legisla
| ture so as to secure for it desired grant. The
Speaker closed by expressing his confidence that
the institution will be managed prudently and
economically, and be benefcent Home for the
unfortunate girls all over our State.
| Hon. j. l.. STEVENS.
| lion. }. L. Stevens of Augusta, was then called
upon. lie said society is responsible for the be-
havior Of the younger, well as the older people.
| The duty and sefinterest of society point in the
| same direction government /; not merely to pro-
tect and foster the safety of society, by punishing
| the individual, and sometimes eXpelling him from
the world. 1t is as much the states duty to pro-
| tect and nurture the young OF society As to
maintain police or armies. This truth has
led to institutions for REFORM the for
an asylum Tor tne Olinu apply Win equal force 10
| the Industrial School for Girls. No reasons
be successfully urged for the former that can net
| be urged with equal force for the latter The
province Of this school is twotold-frst, the mate
rial interest Of society, and, secondly, the moral
and general welfare OF the girls sheltered by 1t.
Facts prove that seventy five per cent of the girls
committed to Institutions like this are saved, and
| Mr. Stevens showed conclusively that such insti-
| tutions when properly conducted are powerful
helps i'll protecting the treasury; but he repudiat-
Ied
State which takes care of its material interests, Is
equally bound to go to the fatherless children and
restore them to purity and truth We are all chill
dren of the same God; one cannot suffer unless
all sutfer-that is the way God would have us be-
lieve. Mr.. Stevens expressed hope that the leg
islatures of the future would foster this school,
literally, as it deserves.
The Quartette then sang in a delightful man
ncr-
81 love, love it,
| The laugh Of child" etc.
which from its appropriateness to the occasion
was doubly impressive.
| Hon. BENZ. KINGsBuRY, JR.
Hon Benz. Kngsbury, Jr., of Portland, was
next called upon. lie said we have built Home
one of many years of thought, and not few
prayers, trust; to-day we put on the cap-stone ;
| there are two women who have reason to shout
| those two-Mrs Flagg and Mrs. Dummer,-who
put their trust in God and cast their bread upon
the waters 1t is true, have carried this Home,
or Home like this, on my heart for many years,
and to-day THANK God that it is success Judge
Kingsbury alluded vividly to the time when he
was municipal judge of Portland, and many little
girls were taken before him for punishment-littlc
waits, who actually lived in the streets for weeks
by pilfering and sleeping in alleys inches, and
he could not decide, and God did not seem to tell
him what to do with them. Sometimes as Judge
he had six or eight of these little girls in the pris
oners box at one time to dispose of; he had the
power to send them to Jail, but he thanked God,
the records of the Jail will not show that he ever
sent one TO such place. All could do was to
talk, or preach to them-poor preaching though
it be; | said to the Recorder, what shall do
with these chidren:" "Send for wet nurse,
Judge" There are scores of such little girls who
need Home; the question is not-"Where are
the Girls to fill the Home to come from ;" but it
lis-"What shall we do with those who can not