Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1879-06-26


dence. 1t is in the private family, not in the
public Home, that this help Is to be secured.
In 1877 six counties having public homes,
with an aggregate of $40 children, placed by
indenture or adoption 119 children in families.
During the same period eighty infirmaries,
with an aggregate of 2273 children, placed
but As. Believing that this constitutes the
best favor possible to homeless child, and
that the family receiving such child is equally
blessed, the conviction follows that every in.
terest is subserved by making this the con-
slant aim in the administration of a county
Home.
Once more, this Heme is to be a public
charity. 1t does not follow therefore that
extravagant outlays of public funds are to be
made, or even that an increased burden of
taxation is to come upon the people. During
the past year the average cost per capita in
tn eCounty and District Homes in the State,
has not been in excess of the per capita cost
of inmates of our Infrmaries.
Finally, when we hsYe said all that the
claims of these classes Of dependents would
justify-all that facts of experience would
warrant us in saying-to. commend this form
of public charity, still it remains to be said
that if in institutlng this care it shall in any
degree tend to lessen the feeling of private
benevolence or relieve personal responsibility
upon the part of our citizens, then the proba-
bilities of success in the work of the Home
will be greatly diminished. The character of
the work, as well as the manner of the sup
port, should enlist the sympathies and secure
the co operation of all good citizens.
l have Row presented in general terms the
nature and object of this Home In the pro-
lection of the enterprise as a matter of local
interest, it would scarcely meet the public
views of the proprieties of this occasion if we
were to omit to mention with special com
mendation the Society of Friends-whose
members here as elsewhere, are interested in the
cause of humanity, and always ready to do
good works, bore possibly the initiative in se-
curing this local public charity.
l know too that speak the sentims MT of
the Brethren of Frindship Lodge of Barnes
vile, when we offer our fraternal good will
with many thanFs to our brethren of visiting
Lodges. In behalf of the county officials, and
of the citizens generally, 1 feel authorized 70
thank Friendship Lodge for its good work
to day and benevolent care of the brethren.
| Here, then, upon the corner stone, ''well
formed, true and trusty, and correctly laid by
skillful and faithful craftsmen" the Home for
the poor children of this county is to be erect
ed. Upon this stone corn and wine and oil,
emblens of plenty, gladness and peace have
been poured. The blessing of God has been
invoked upon the completion of and preserva
ton of the building, and upon the workmen
who shall carry forward the work. Under
His blessing these walls shall rise to embody
your charity. Here as on the bosom of a
loving mother the poor child shall be nour
ished. Here, from within its sheltering walls,
the hand of rescue and protection shall reach
out. From its door and under the benedic
tion of this Home the young life will go forth
TO its struggle with the world. These cere
monies may seem meaningless and these
words cold and formal To the eye of the
world the work here proposed may seem
small indeed, but to you who minister These
charities the day will come when He who
holds the life of childhood as something
worth. will say, 'lnasmuch as ye have done
it unto the least of these, ye have done it un
to me-"
At the close of Mr.. Byers' address
calls were made for Hon. VIM. Bundy
Col. Benz. Mackall, veteran Mason, in
his 10th year, and Sample Clark, Esq.
all of whom have taken an active inter.
est in the construction of the Home >
and they responded in appropriate terms
The speaking at the stand being con-
cluded,the Masonic bodies, headed by the
Bands and the people, marched to the
northeast corner of the foundation walls
where the ceremony of laying the Corn.
er Stone was carried out under the forms
laid down in the Masonic ritual.
TheSt. Clairsyille Band played an ap-
pirate air, and Grand Chaplain Hingely
offered up the following impressive
prayer:
o, Lord God, Creator of the Universe,
Preserver of Life and Source of blessing
We thank Thee for the Grand Grafton
recognizing Thy Being, acknowledging
Thy goodness and clarifying Thy holy
name. Receive our praise and regard
our prayer, when for Thy great nercys
sake. we ask Thee to bless all here as
sembled to do honor to the benificence
now begun 50 auspiciously in Thy great
name. ...
Superintend its erection; preserve
from accident and death all who may be
employed upon it, and bring it to a JOY
Gus completion. Bless all who have OF
may contribute anything thereto. May
it be a source of good to many; an
honor to the county and means of glory
to Thy holy name.
Bless the Brotherhood here assembled
strengthen the bonds of our affection
enlarge the means of our well doing. To
it may we devote our lives, and at their
close receive us to Thyself in peace.
Amen. ~
Upon the closing of which Grand
Treasurer E. G. Barnes, deposited in a
cavity on the under side of the stone, a
metal case, securely sealed, the following
articles, which had been collected by
Col. Mackall, the Secretary of Barnes
vile Lodge. viz:
A copy OF every paper published in
Belmont county; a list of the officers and
members of every Lodge, Chapter and
COmmandery in the county; the bylaws
and charter of the GAINESVILLE Lodge
and Commandery; copy of the Mary
land Journal printed at Baltimore Au-
gust 20, 1773;a a Bible; business cards of
Barnesville firms; all the U. S. coins in
silver and copper, and the minutes of
the proceedings of Ohio Lodge No. 1OI.
of Wheeling, ever since its organization
in 1915. Wheat, oil and wine were then
poured over the stone as it was lowered
by means of pulleys to its place in the
corner, the Band played, and thus ended
the formal ceremonies of the day. The
best of order prevailed, and but for the
intense heat and dust the occasion would
have been highly enjoyed.
The Commissioners of the county, and
all interested in the success of the
"Home," should be gratiied at the pub
lie interest manifested on Tuesday, and
no efforts should be spared in compile
ting the structure at the earliest possi-
BILE moment, in order that it may be
started out on its mission of mercy.
BarnesviIIe District Conference.
The 18th session of the Barnesyille
District Conference, began at st. Clairs-
Vile, Ohio, June II, 1879, at o'clock in