Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1877-12-27
More About she Infirmary.
For the Chroni lie.

Mhs IIOlIOh s-lk - ociicSCu ihnt
the time has come when publ atteD-
tion should be called to the Belmont
County Infirmsry. This eleenosynary
institution is, in many respects, an
honor to the County, as it is an evil
deuce of the christian enterprise, be-
uevolence and humanity of her citi-
zens. 1t comprises farm Of sufficient
dimensions to meet the public necessi-
ty. The location is elevated and
healthful. The buildings are substan-
tial, sufficiently ornamental, and, in
their internal arrangement well adapt
ed to secure ease and facility In the man.
agement Of the Institution, and to
promote the comfort of the inmates
And, judging frOp the official state
ment Of its yearly expenses, il Is fair to
infer that its supplies" are commen
surate with IFS necessities. 1t is to
none OF these things that we invite at
tention. In all that pertains to the
material concerns of the Institution.
we have nothing to say; nor do we
know that anything ought to be said.
It is in behalf of the moral AID relig-
ious necessities of the Institution that
We plead. The Belmont County Infir-
mary is without adequate provision t.
meet the moral, religious and spiritual
wants of its inmates-old, middle-aged
and young. No syste matte arrange
their Aants. And, as consequence,
there has been almost no preaching
during the past year, in the Institution;
and this, in the face of the standing
propositions from the ministers in the
vicinity, to preach, at least two Sab
baths month during the year, with
out cost to the Institution. Also, there
has been no Sabbath School for the
moral and religious training of the
tweuty-or perhaps twice twenty
children congregated there, although
christian men and women stand ready
to DO this work, "a labor of love, if
they receive the co opei alton sf those
ia authority. And shall it be said,
ihese children are not only without
direct moral and religious training, but
without sufficient intellectual training.
1t is said that no provision was made
during the past year to furnish them
with the merest elements of an educa-
ton. 1t is no Offset to these state
ments, that the Belmont County Bible
Society donated to the Institution
forty.One Bibles. Should the inmate
he asked, ''understandest thou what
thou rea1est ?" the emphatic reply
would be given. "how can 1, except
some man should guide me?" This
Institution must necessarily be resort
for the vicious, the prOfane and the de
prsved; there is, therefore, In the very
nature of the case, the sreatest neces
| 81 fDp nd rols,vi0,,r inAnonoos
to counteract this depravity. 1t is OF
the moral and religious who seek ar
lasylum there. Shall we then deny thi.
Insti utiOn those benign influences, ths
want of viii n hitherto, has, very
largely, created the necessity for such
an Institution.
The following statements are sub
stantislly trne: The children art
without adequate moral restraint oI
culture; all have little-and during
Hong intervals, no public religious
teaching: the old are without spiritus
consolation; no warning is given TO tbs
i wicked; no hope held out to the in
quiring; no comfort administered Il
the dying; and the dead are buried
without ceremony. Profanity abouIds
lIicentiousnes5 is unrestrained; Sabbath
Il iesaeratiOn stalks abroad with brazeI
front; and those who return to society
are often seven-foid more a pest and /
curse to the community than they wer,
before. If there is any where within
the bounds of our County a field TO
missionary enterprise it is the Belmen
County Infirmary. The attention o
the christian public is called to thi
matter. Shall this Institution be bio
: upon the christian escutcheon of ou
County, and contradiction to our pro
fessed christian character?
We have written in the interests G
no party or denomination, but OF ou
common christianity, and in behalf o
those at our doors who are perishin
for lack of knowledge. Yours, &C.,
M0REs