Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-06-02
FINANCIAL srATExENT.
81 per treasurer's books, may be summed up

Not always what We might have chosen to
do. So much for the work. As for the
workers-though our number is larger than
ever before, We are but b sndful-"a feeble
folk" and the harvest is great Some have
entered into rest. Three dear names have
been transferred since our last anniversary,
from the roster of the church militant TO |
that of the church triumphant: MrE. VIM.
Forrest, Mrs. s. E. Atkinson and Mrs. ]. c. |
johnson. Three precious namesl To Us re-
mains their hallowed example-fragr&nt |
memeries-aad 'yet sllittle while" to serve |
our blessed Master.
Diner reports by officers of the Association
were read, after which sketch of the or
KaEizatien OF the Association was read by
Mr.. Wilcox, elder of the Second Presbyte-
rian church, and = Biographical sketch OF
Mrs. J. G. johnson by Judge John r. Flip
pin, elder OF the Christian church, after
which the following remarks were made by
the Rev. DIR. Daniel, pastor of the First
Presbyterian church.
mr.. Daniel ON the wsrk Of the Associa.
lion
have listened with much interest to the
reading of the reports which have been pre-
scented here this evening, and / doubt not
that all of us have had very tender feelings
awakened BY these solemn memorial exer-
cises. Feeling, however, is not to be desired
merely Tor Its own sake; it is chiefly valus
BILE when it prompts to action. We all know
that the mere awakening of emotion is Of but
little worth as compared with the practical
acting out Of these good feelings in our daily
life. 1t is we'll enoug b that the fire burn and
the steam be generated; but let us not pause
here nor wait for that steam TO return upon
rs in cold vapor. Let US seek to apply these
powerful feeliugs Of our nature to practical
purposes, that they may be made useful in
propelling the wheels Of true bens6cence. In
other words, If this work, in any or all of its
departments, has evoked our sympathy, then,
to that extent, let us also give it our CO.
operation. II has been my privilege to do,
in quiet way, what could toward assisting
these Christian women in their labors for the
Master. Whenever called upon l have
| tried to preach the Gospel to those they have
gathered togethered in their Mission Home,
and have always stood ready to visit their
sick or to bury their dead. In this
way / hsve become, to some extent,
scquRinted with their work. / have net
time this evening TO advert to that work asa
| whole. would signalize only one depart
ment of it, and direct special attention to
| that in which myself have felt the deepest
| interest. Whenever on Sunday afternoon /
| would 20 to the Mission Home 10 preach to
| its inmates, 1 have noticed that large num-
Der Oh my bearers COnsleNeu Oh very bmall
| children. Very naturally inquired, "Who
are these children? Have they no living
parental" The answer was: "All of them
have fathers or mothers who are still living"
! 'Well, then" l inquired, why are they
here?" "Becauss," wss the reply, "they are
morse ihan Orphans" "But what do you
| nesn by that?n I a,kad. "We mean by
! that" was the response, shat the parents Of
| these children have been, in some instances,
so unfortunate that they have not been able
to take care of them; or, in ether cases, SO
stepped in depravity that they were untitled
| for doing 80, and even unwilling to do so,
| and had virtually abandoned them" Now,
1 assure you that all this awakened in my
| mind an entirely new train of thought, and
these are some Of nay reflections:
l. Undoubtedly there is such q class as
children who are we're than orphans"
This is no mare sickly sentimentslisn. There
are vagrant fathers unto whom their little
children look In vain for bread 10 eat, for
rsiment TO wear; and in this age when in
temperance prevails TO 30 fearful an extent,
there are drunken mothers who have become
so thoroughly brutslized as TO be utterly un-
fitted for taking care of their own children,
and even glad to be rid of them.
2 These children cannot obtain admis.
sion into our orphan xsylums. The ssylums
in most cases refuse 10 take even b alf.orphans
Both parents must be dead, or the child can
not enter. These regulations, in my opinion,
are necessary and wise. Were these not the
rules, endless conf sion must ensue.
3. Therefore, so far sc / know, in all
Memphis, outside of the Mission Home,
there is no place of refuge for children OF
this class. L. the Home the place for them?
The answer is, it certainly is unless better
place can be provided. They are put there
sinply because there is no other plsce in
WHICH TO put them, Whatever may be the
associations in the Home, they are certainly
a Thousand fold better than in the places
from which many Of these children were
taken. Here they are taught daily by one
of the most conscientious teachers in the city.
Here they listen 10 the voice Of prayer and
learn 10 pray themselves. Here they are in
structed in the truths of the Bible, and here
they attend to the voice of the ministry.
Here they sing the praises Of the worlds
Redeemer, and here they are persuaded to
come TO Christ. 1 do not hesitate to say at
in my judgment the most hopeful part of all
this work is that which relates TO these
children who are worse than orphans"
4. But new l come to the thought which
am most ANXIOUS to present. While We are
glad that these children should be here be-
cause there is for them no other place SO
good, still ii is to be most earnestly desired
that we should have for this very class OF
uuforlunates a distinct and separate home Of
their own. This, at least, is my opinion.
Memphis needs just such al inatitution I'M
der the vigilant control OF this Association
into which these children of unfortunate or
vicious parents may be gathered and so
shielded from temptation in their earlier
years. Many a widowed sewing woman,
feeble in body and unable to provide bread
for her little once, dwelling amid the idle
and vicious, her poverty preventing her from
living in any better locality, would feel re-
Iievsd 10 know that her daughter growing up
to girlhood could be safely Kept
for tsw years in such home.
Many father cursed with = drunken wife,
or poor bsd-ridden mother with a dissolute
husband, would be gsd to place their chill
dren there. Reformation is good, but tao
prevention of the need Of reformation is
better. Shield from vice the girl, and you
will have s.vsd from ruin the woman. II
such home as this we're established, many
are the children Of worthless and deprAves
parents V aom The Law would give over to its
kindly keeping. This, then, is the substance
of whist would say: would prefer thstwe
should have a distInct foSter-hone for chill
dren of this class, and earnestly trust that
the day may come when the citizens OF Mem.
phis shall give 10 these ladies the means
rherewith to eslablistr>it. But, until that
day arrives, the beat We csn do ia 10 lend
helping hand in taking care OF these chill
eIen where they are. 10 all this city, 90 far
IS know, there lie no other place to which
they can go; and from personal osservstisn
1 am sure that here they are in the way Of
being fitted for neblsr citizenahip on earth
and higher bliss in heaven.
Among the musical gems OF the occasion
was the singing OF "0Slv Remember What l
IA ave- Done," BY Mrs. w. A. Gage.
Among the gsntlemea present were the
Rev. Mr.. Mshon, Central Aethodi.t; he
Rev. E N. Richsrdsen, of the Chelsea
Presbyjeriao; the Rev. Eugene Daniel,
First Presbyterian; TIE Rev. A. w. Lamar,
pastor Of the Central Bspti't
Cards we're circulated tbrough the sudisncs
dnriug the services Inviting nsw members
aud donations, which resulted in 800 ADD
several Hew members, both gentlemen and
ia1ies.