Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-09-24

At the session of conference held ar
Sandersville, December, 1876. the
board reported among other things the
following:
''The agent has raised in cash during
the year SO, 700, also a considerable amount
of supplies, the estimated amount OF
which, together with donations sent direct
to the Home, from different friends and
churches, and the amount contributed by
| the wonderfully successful efforts of the
/ Ladies' Auxiliary Orphans Home of Ma
con, amount to an aggregate of about
I S0,OOO. In addition to this he has oh
I tanned subscriptions, which were to have
been paid during the year, of about 81 900.
most OF which might have been brought
up TO conference with anything like Il rea-
sonable effort on the part of pastors where
these subscriptions were obtained, and
which we think will yet be paid for the
most part.
'Ihere have been twenty Eight children
under the care of the institution during
the year. Eight of these. have been
/ provided with good, religious home in dit
ferent families within our bounds. The
utmost discretion, carefulness and judg-
ment have been exercised in this part Of
/ our delicate work, and we believe the best
/ interests of the children have been served
1 in all these cases. Sixteen now remain in
/ the HOme.'
At this session the office of Superin-
/ tendent and that of agent were consoli-
! dated and Rev. l.. b. Payne was elected
! to fill it. 1t would be impossible to COM
/ pute the value and benefits growing out
of his arduOus labors during the years
that followed. Travelling and preaching
at every available point within the
bounds of the conference upon christian
beneyOlence, he has widened the stream
OF christian sympathy, aud the hearts of
thousands have been enlisted in behalf of
the orphan that heretofore have remained
unmoved. Hundred of homes have been
opened TO receive these helpless ones, and
not few of these children have been
| adopted legally by some of the best fami-
lies in the State.
From January, 1877, the Home has been
under the immediate charge of Rev. l.. B.
Payne and his excellent wife. Their man.
agement has been most well and success
ful. The discipline at the Home is
firm, and ut the same time affectionate.
An effort is made to bring out all the ex-
cellent qualities of the children, by ap-
pealing to their honor and pride of charac-
ter, and to repreSs, and, so far as possible,
to eradicate the evil tendencies of their ma
lures. A most remarkable case is now
apparent. A little waif was thrown upon
the streets of Macon by the name of An
ME Ross, when not more than or years
OF age, and for several years became a
noted arab. begging, stealing and annoy
ing everybody with whom she came in
contact. She was the most depraved
child, and the most foul-mouthed, ever
known on the streets No one could do
anything with her She is about 10 years
old now. Last year she was induced to
enter the Orphans Home.
The writer, during a recent visit, saw
this child, but could hardly recognize the
street arab of other days. So completely
changed in appearance and in actions,
that no one, unless told, could see any
likeness to the miserable little waif that
haunted the streets of Macon for years
past. The christian matrOn told us that
she had been subdued more by kindness
than by harsh means; that she was now
blda5le and was learning rapidly. Her
neat, tidy appearance cOntrasted strange
ly with her former rags and filth
The whole management is moral i'm
tone, and, while the children are taught
manners and music, and all the
branches of an English education,
their moral natures are impressed with
knowledge of God and a loving Saviour,
and an everlasting Inheritance for those
who prepare themselves to enjoy it.
During the administration of Rev. Mr.
Payne, 800 helpless orphans have been
cared for The majority of them have been
supplld with homes among some of the
best people in the land. There are at the
present time about fifty inmates at the
Home.
There is a school kept from S a. m. to 4
p. m. The boys, in the morning and even
ing, before and after school, work the
farm, which produces more than enough
OF vegetables to supply the Home, the
surplus being sent to the Macon market.
There IS an orchard of / 400 fruit trees.
all of which is kept in trim by the bows,
under the direction OF the Superintendent.
All the domestic work is done by the
larger girls under the care of Mrs. Col
Inns, the assistant matrOn. These girls
also cut out and make up all the clothing
ofthe inmates of the Home. They are regu-
larry instructed in needle work and all
household duties.
During the last year the Superinten-
dent has added two wings to the building,
to meet the constantly increasing demand
for room. These wings are about 30x4O,
two stories high, furnishing some admira-
Die room. A new VeFanda was added
to the old building. The value
Of repairs last year are estimated to be
something over $4,000, and what IS better,
all are paid for. 1t is the policy of the
agent not to run in debt for anything.
The health of the Home is prOverbiaI.
During the eight or nine years past only
one child has died, its disease being he
reditary. There has scarcely been a
serious case of sickness during the whole
administration of Mr.. Payne.
As to the future of the Home,
great expectations are INDUCED in
by its many friends, and they
have great reasons to do so. If all the
members of this great denomination were
to give their hearty and earnest support,
confidence and help to the indefatigable
agent the Home would be an honor to this
Church, and a benefactiOn to hundreds of
helpless, homeless orphans over this land.
The agent is making a strenuous effort
to secure an endowment for this noble
charity, and has measurably succeeded.
He has already $4,000 pledged, but the
amount must be raised to $50, 900 before it
can be made available. When this is ac-
cOmplished the agent has another i'm
prOyement in contemplation, that of
securing shops and tools in
order to learn the boy useful trades and
prepare them for useful lives. At
moderate outlay the machinery for car
penter and blacksmith shops. and broom
and mattress making establishments can
be secured. And this suggestion is worthy
of consideration by the friends Of the in
stitutiOn, and an effort ought to be made
at an early day to bring about these
needed improvements. 5. 5. SWEET.