The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-10-18


Fem and Gibbs, and Hon. William W. Thomas
Then one Of the children read piece.
The President then read the following origin
al hymn, prepared for the occasion by a lady
from out of the city:
For the Orph ans Home.
Homeless aud fdendless, in poverty's guise!
Is it thus, that the Master comes to me?
Then open oh hearth and quickly arise,
That thy welcome warm and hearty may be.
Is it food and raiment, shelter and care,
The Master himself demands at thy hand?
Then pour forth thy treasures stint, spare,
For thy guest so poor, is kingly and grand
Shall we hear Him speak? IT'S the king of kings,
Though a crown of thorns for our sake He wore;
And unuttered Love through His words now rings,
AS unuttered pain on the cross He bore!
Gin as much," said He "as ye do for these,
Even the least, it is unto me.
And blessed are they who their Lord thus please;
They shall dwell in His light eternay.
In humanity's guise, then, Master dear,
In the weak and poor thou dost come to me;
Then open oh heart, pour thy treasures here,
That thy welcome warm and hearty may be.
After which there was singing by the children
of another original hymn, prepared for the
occasion.
This completed the programme.
Among those present yesterday were the
first president and the first inmate of the Asy-
lum.
MANAGERS REPORT.
The life of charitable Institution, fifty years
old, may be considered long. In history, q
space of time, so short as hardly to be counted,
and yet when few. months ago, our whole
country was alive with Centennial rejocings,
only two fifties had made up our history as a
nation. Time, money snd strength were given
up without stint, that the epoch might be suit
ably recognized. We called upon foreign coun-
tries to join us in our national jubilee. There
was no lack of enthusiasm. The United States
in spite of great financial depression rejO ced
and was glad.
So ace rejoice to-day in the semi-centennial
birthday of our orphan asylum for girls. With
friends and means increasing, with no marks of
decay, but stronger and healthier than ever, we
offer up our hearty thanksgvings to Him who
has so blessed us. Not only to the fatherless,
but even to more forlorn children of misery,
has it proved home. 1t has brought them
into wholesome atmosphere and given to each
poor child an outlook into life of decency and
responsibility.
We knoo it to be an asylum which God has
blessed!
The society commenced its work in the spring
of 1927 having received an act of Incorporation
the February preceding.
The building first occupied was on the corner
of Free and South streets, on the site of which
Mr.. Shurtleff's house now stands. Next house
on Congress street, afterwards moved back into
Tolman Place; then building on Church
street, which was burnt in the fire of 1866;
then house corner of Myrtle and Oxford
streets, was occupied until We moved into our
present commodious abode. Mrs. Rich, as
matron, with ten children, formed our first
family.
The early meetings Of the board were held at
the house of Mrs. N Dana, on Free street,
now occupied by Mrs. Charles Jones'
Mrs. Henry Smith, our revered and beloved
townswomoD, was the first president of board
of fifteen managers. afterwards increased to
eighteen. Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Nathaniel Da-
ma of Boston, are the only surviving members
of that board.
Praise and honor to the women who fifty
years ago laid the foundations of this charity,
in which we to-day rejoce Far greater honor
than to US who have followed in the path so
we'll marked out. Especially to those still with
u.s. who look upon the tree which they planted,
then sapling, half century since, we offer
most respectful and loving congratulations.
The irst board of managers were the follow
ing:
Mrs. Sally Smith, President; Mrs. Thankful
Hussey, Vice President; Mrs. Mary B. Storer,
Mrs. Elizabeth L, Fox, Secretary; Mrs. Alice
Ilsley, Mrs. Eliza l. Goddard, Mrs. Lois w.
Dana, Mrs. Susan Wood, Mrs. Charlotte An
drews, Mrs. Marcia Hill, Mrs. Elizabeth P.
Atwood, Miss Mary Ranford, Mrs. Susan Rich
srdsop, Mrs. Nancy Cushman; Miss Lucretia
rockingham, Treasurer.
Mrs. Mary Storer, to whom this Institution
is probably more indebted than to any other
person for the executive ability and good jndg'
ment, retained the place OF secretary until her
death in 1871, 43 years. Those of us who were
associated with her as managers, will remem.
Der her zeal, her untiring labors and faithful
ness in all that pertains to the interests of oul
asylum.
daughter. Miss Abby S. Barrett, our present
secretary.
In 1885 Miss Elizabeth Bailey was chosen
matron, and remained more than twenty years
in that place. Alive to her important work
with great gentleness and patience she excited
a most beneficial influence over the children
and was much approved by the managers
She and her sister as assistant. with the aget
mother, were at the head of our family, diff
fusing refining influence long felt.
The first effort made in providing an asylum
for orphan girls was received with almost uni
versal favor. Qaoting from the first printed
report "The following gentlemen, forty II
plumber, have generously relDquished to the
Female Orphan Asylum of Portland, thei
shares in the building now occupied as tht
State House, which amounts to more than hal
its value" The donors were James Neal
Arthur Mcclellan, David Dana, William Wood
and Sc Others The income from this building
was no small accession to our resources.
Mr.. John Neal, in the Yankee of March
1928, says: 1.-THE best thanks of society are due
to the lberal-sprited men who have done thus
much for the destitute of our neighborhood.
OF these benefactors one only continues will
us-Mr. John Mussey. Mrs. Mussey was fo
many years a generous and efficient member
of the board. The first fair ever held in Port
land, 1881, was suggested and largely aided b.
| her, for the benefit of the asylum.
1t would be interesting to give with SOM
minuteness the early doings of this institution
but unfortunately, like many other associa
| tions in Portland, nearly all our papers ant
records were destroyed in the fire of 1866. w
depend principally upon the memories of thos
| who were our pioneers in the work.
Probably no similar object eves called out s.
much interest. energy and personal effort o
the women of this city. The first year, tn
population at that time being about l., 000
| from 355 subscribers, were received 1926, AM
donations in money amounting to 81, 692.2 =
these last reserved for a building fund Fiv
of the original subscribers still pay the annus
subscription of two dollars. In a number Q
instances these subscriptions were increased t
So, So and SIS per year.
AT one of the early meetings of the society
1--WE refer to this in order to show the zeal Q
|
The same attendance cannot be expected i
these days, but we may be pardoned if we cor
trast with emotions of regret that meetin
with those which have come under our ow
| observation.
Other charitable associations were formed il
Portland prior to our own.
"Tbe Portland Marine Society" in 1896, fo
the relief and education of seamen and the
families.
1.-The Portland Benevolent Society" in $50;
for the relief of persons who have seen bette
days, and for unfortunate strangers.
"The Female Charitable Society, to provid
clothing for the poor" 1925.
''The Samaritan Association, to provide foot
clothing and money for the poor of all demon
nations" in 1928.
All these societies still carry en- their respe
tive work, dealing out help to the needy eac
in its own way. Smaller and shorter lived a
sociatons existed, for We find in the first r.
port among the benefactions, were gifts fro
THE Mutual Information Circle" "The
venle Society" aud IRE aiding circle in tt
Third Congregational church."
AT Its very outset, the asylum was place
LOT those tmes) in a prosperous condition
All hearts were open to its wants. These wan
probably were fewer and less imperative tina
ours, at the present day, when necessary e,
penses are SO much increased, but we may SAT
Iy conclude the call for help was loud ar
clear even in those days."
In 1913 Mr.. Asa Clapp left us very gene
hsa Ior ITS Sc kr.,,