Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-09-24
Conference, with himself in the field as

conference, held at Fort Valley. in De,
cember, 1870, the question was discussed
and the following Board of Trustees An
/ pointed: E. H. Myers, ;. Anthony. G. q
n. MacDonell, J. 5. Key, r. b. Lester. ]
r. r. EVans, Dr. ID. Wimberly, DIR. w. H
Hollinshead, J. w. Jordan. Fl. /. .Tewett
j. W Cheatham and n. D. Query.
The action of the conference was yer,
cautious, and was embodied in the follow
ing language:
" "ReSolced, That it is desirable we should
nave an Orphans Home within the bounds
OF TINS conference as soon as practical"
Inc year following developed consider
able opposition to the practicability OF
such an institution at that time Never.
theless, Rev. Samuel Anthony. of blessed
memory, was put in the field as agent. In
response to his fervent appeals-for he
could plead as but few men could-in be-
nan OF the orphans, a large list of con-
tributiOns was secured
The conference action of 1871, at the ses-
slons held in Columbus, was that the
establishment an Orphans Home
was desirable during the eRSutRG near, and
DrS. j. ;. Key, w. w. Hicks and II. l..
Jewett were authorized to procure a
charter and prepare bylaws to be sub
mItted to meeting of the Board of Trus-
tees III February, 1872. The meeting was
practically failure. A number of prom
lnent members of the conference were Op-
posed to the establishment of such an in
stltutlon by the Church, they doubling its
practIcabllity and supposed it doomed to
utter failure. At the session held at
Thomasyille in December, 1872, there was
quite an animated discussion upon the
merits of the question, and the Board of
Trustees seems to have been discontinued,
and in lieu thereof the following commits
sion appointed: Geo. G. Clarke. A. NJ.
Wynn, j. w. Burke, j. W. Jordan and
James jackson.
In December, 1873, at the annual ses-
sion of the conference, held in Macon,
the commission made the following re-
port: "At meeting held in Macon, they
the commission had free and full con-
ference with several gentlemen, citizens
OF Macon, and received from them the
tender of the following property for an
Orphans Home, to wit: ninety-four acres
of land situated about two miles from the
city, with good house containing ten
rooms; also, several smaller outbuild-
lngs. There are 26 acres under fence,
with fine orchard of fruit trees
and vineyard of choice grapes: fine.
neVer-failing spring of water, with
bathing and washing houses. Several
head of cattle, one mule, all the farm fix
lures, furniture, toOls, wagons, etc. The
should never divert the property from an
orphans home or remove it from the
county of Bibb. We accepted the prop
erty with the conditions stated, and APP
pied for charter according to law,
which has been granted and recorded"
This was the property of the old Blob
County Orphans Home, whose history is
given above, and thus the South Georgia
Conference Orphans Home started out
fD
Of January, 1874. Rev. Samuel Anthony
was continued as agent, and, encouraged
with his signal triumph over all
dltiicultles, he entered upon the years
labor full of hope .and most
sanguine expectations. His subscrip-
ton list was greatly enlarged, but alas.
promises to pay are not money, nor did it
suffice to appease the hunger of orphans.
There were eleven orphans when the
home was transferred, and they were or
phans indeed, having neither father nor
mother. The Home was established upon
DIR. BOring's idea that it was to be a per-
manent home for the children.
AT THE SESSION OF CONFERENCE,
held in Savannah, December, 1874, the
agent reported collections amounting to
$4,000. Quite a portion of this was eX-
pended in repairs. The property was es-
timated at $3.50. Mr.. d. Erwin was
placed in charge as Steward.
Prof. w. d. Williams, Secretary of the
Board. writes:
"Now, when we consider the times, and
that we commenced without a cent and
under discOuragements, and see what we
have done and how much we have in the
Home and how many helpless and needy
boys and girls we are sheltering and rear
ing, we hope, to be useful and happy, we
are ready to say, See what God has
wrought! it is wonderful, and to His holy
name be the praiser Your agent sees no
decline in the sympathies of the public
heart in behalf of the Home. Many have
not paid their subscriptions, but they say
they Will, and even do more. AS YOU
know, lost long time from the work
from sickness, but God raised me almost
from death to preach, pray, travel and
visit often and much, and to many thou
sands of people over the land"
This was the first years operations,
and shows wonderful development, even
in the face of expressed doubt from many
of the prominent men of the Church.
There were at this time twenty-five chill
dren at the Home, all orphans indeed.
The next session of conference was
held in Americus December 10, 1873. The
Chairman Of the Board of Trustees, Rev.
a. NJ. Wynn, made an elaborate report.
The number of children had only
been increased to twenty-five, but the
expenses had greatly increased. Mrs.
;. ID. Matthews had been employed to
teach the children. This was a trying
year to the agent. Although one of the
purest and best men, and one of the most
successful canvassers, he was not gifted
as tnancier. Although he had sub
scrIbed on his books $1S,624, at the end of
the year he found the Home 81 800 in debt.
His industry and zeal abOunded more
and more that year, and if those who
ought to have felt and manifested an in
terest in this noble charity had cooper
ated with him no such showing would
have been made. The agent, who was
advanced in age, and was growing more
feeble from the effects of wounds recently
received, retired from the field. and from
a work in which his whole soul was en-
gagged. and gave place to a younger man,
Rev. l.. b. Payne, who was appointed
agent at this session of the conference,
with Rev. j. b. Wardlaw as Superintend-
ent.
The trustees saw that a change had to
be made in the objects of the Home. The
North Georgia Conference Home had de-
the fact that making the in
5titutiOn permanent home for the chill
lren was becoming too burdensOme.
Those who had arrived at an age when |
they were amply able to earn their own
living were not inclined to go out from |
.he Home, but remained and were |
IN unnecessary expense. The Board |
If Trustees, therefore, resolved /
o change this programme, and /
he doors were thrown open to orphans /
If every class, and the agent was in
'tructed to find suitable homes FOR the |
children in the families of the land, the |
Home retaining the oversight and the |
light to take back their wards should |
hey be abused, or the contracts under
which they were let out be violated. |
They received children who had one pa
'ent living, but the parent was compelled |
20 surrender all right to the child. Its fu-
ure, hencefOrth, was vested in the Home. /
The doors were also open to children who |
we're able to pay their board, which was |
placed at a nominal price: also to a num- |
Der who were able to pay part only. the |
lther being supplied by the Home. |
The boarding orphans, of course, were |
rot liable to be sent out from the Home. /
)ut subjected to all other regulations of |
he institution.
These changes was stroke of wise /
policy upon the part of the board. 1t re-
moved the objections which many had
to the enterprise, and opened
he way for many destitute children.
With one parent, who was unable either
)y sickness or idleness to support them,
% secure the benefits Of the Home. Be
coming a distributing depot, it enabled
he agent-while gathering in those who
needed the fostering care Of the Home
1t the same time to secure good homes
or these homeless ones in the households
If the land. Thus the Home not only be-
zones blessing to the homeless children.
,ut also brings sunshine and happiness
ntO many childless homes. These children
nay be found all over Georgia and all
Oing well. Not single one has ever
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