Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-04-27
St. JOseph's Male OrphaRage-An-
nuR. Report.
We present herewith the annual report of
st. Joseph's Male Orphanage, which will be
found Of much interest:

st. Joseph's Male Orphanage, which will be
found of much interest:
WASHINGTON, GA, February !, 1882
Rt ReU W. H. Gross d. D., SdUGnnah, Ga:
RI. REV. AND DEAR BIsHoP-After a lapse of
four years it is again my happy privilege to
tender you the annual report of ST. Joseph S
Male Orphanage. 1t affords me great pleasure
to say that the institution. in every respect, is
in a most hourishing condition.
During the year just past thanks to your
| fatherly interest in the institution. the new
| house, which you directed to be built for
the greater comfort and convenience of
| has been entirely finished. Its dimen-
| siOns are as follows Length OF main
| building, eighty feet width, thirty-two feet;
length Of wing, forty-two feet; width, thirty
| two feet. The building is two stories high,
with eleven feet between floor and ceiling in
each story. There are. fifty-two windows in
/ the building. that open top and bottom, secur-
| ing plenty of light and fresh air. The main
building is capped by a cupola which connects
with the boys dormitory, and affords perfect
ventilation. Down stairs we have large roomy
| chapel, school room, play room and bath
| room. The entire upper story of the main
| building is used as a dormitory, while in the
/ wing are infrmary, clothes room and neces-
sary closets. 1t is painted with three coats, in
| side and out. with all necessary blinds for the
windows, and piazza extending around three
/ sides. This new building, in addition to the
| large two story house with brick basement,
purchased with the estate, and which contains
ETC., affords ample room for all demands like
| ly to arise for some time. The school room is
well supplied with necessary blackboards,
maps, etc. A large, well shaded play ground,
supplied with trapeze, vaulting bar, ETC., etc,
| gives the boys every facility for cheerful and
healthful exercise.
Washington is proverbial for its health, and
| the orphans have shared in this blessing to a
remarkable extent During the year most of
| them had the measles and humps and required
extra care; aside from this, even a slight indis-
position has been rare among them. Your own
| generous support and the cheerful cooperation
Of the pastors and priests Of the diocese have
/ to great extent made my labor light and easy
as far as raising the necessary funds is concern
| ed. AS an acknowledgment of this generosity,
| | would say that the pastors must not regard
it as a favor to them, whenever they have to
ask admittance into the orphanage for the
| poor and needy orphan boys Of their respectivs
parishes. l shall always look upon it as my
| simple duty TO comply promptly with their
| wishes in this regard.
1t affords me great pleasure to acknowledge
| in this public manner the noble deeds of the
| lady collectors of the different cities. Thanks
| be to God for having raised up band Of noble
women Who in the midst of the many calls of
| duty in their own concerns, find time to go
| each month, no matter what the weather, to
| collect from door to door for the orphan boys.
God alone knows how these good ladies labor
| and toll in the accomplishments Of their blessed
| work. Their perseverance Is astonishing. |
have met them regularly each month of the
| past year at the meetings held in their respec-
| tive parishes, and have been cheered and en-
couraged by their DISTINGUISHED generosity.
Many of these noble women have labored
in the cause for years, and are
to-day just as willing and cheerful as in
the beginning. Surely their names are written
in the Book of Life, as l know they are in the
hearts of the orphan boys, whose grateful
prayers to God in their behalf will bear blessed
| fruit in time and in eternity. The names Of
these devoted ladies will be found in the finan-
| cial statement, which will show for itself what
Of
great charity.
In the financial statement will also be found
| the names of all those who have made special
donations to the institution In the name OF the
poor boys they have SO kindly remembered, ]
| would return grateful acknowledgements and
assure them that, as far as the boys can help
| it, the investment will return a large and per-
manent interest, that cannot be counted by
dollars and cents. l would gladly place in ii is
report the names of all the yearly and monthly
| contributors to the support of the orphanage,
| but find it almost impossible to obtain cor
rect list of them. Ihope that shall be able to
present them all in the next report. In the
meantime let them remember that all
they have done for the orphan boys is
seen by the Father in Heaven, and He
| knows how to bless and how to repay. The
names of the lady collectors of the Sacred
Heart Parish of Augusta will appear in the
next report, the society not having been or
ganiZed soon enough Ior pnem 10 appear IN
this.
During the past year seventy boys have
been cared for, eight have been provided with
| places, while three have, at their mothers
| request, been returned to them. There are now
at the orphanage fifty nine boys, accredited to
| THAR respective cities as follows: Savannah,
| thirty three; Atlanta. ten; Augusta, seven;
Macon, five; Columbus, two; Sharon, two.
Their ages range from two to fifteen years
| forty-seven of the number range from two TO
| twelve, while there are twelve whose ages
range from thirteen to fifteen years. Several
| Of the older boys could be usefully employed
| about the farm, but they are so backward IN
| their studies. some of them having been sent
here at the age of eleven and twelve, not even
| knowing how TO read. it would be unjust to
keep them from school. There are two schools
| as heretofore namely. primary and intermedi-
ate The hours of school are from nine to
| twelve and from two to four. No pains are
spared to advance them as thoroughly and
rapidly as possible in their studies. Their re-
ligious training receives the most careful at
tention, while the good influence or the sis
tiers OF st. Joseph over their morals IS most
beneficial. The older boys are well instructed IN
their religious duties, and are eager TO approach