The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-06-14
Orphan Asylums.

"There is no grander institution in the world
than n properly and purely charitable
orphan asylum, and 1t would be difficult TO find
one that does more good in proportion TO the
money and labor expended. The children Of
want and crime are the wards OF Christianity,
and to neglect the duty which this wardship
compels Is to be fathless to one of the most i'm
portant trusts committed to the hand of man.
Rear child in vice, and his chances of escape
are equal to those of Il man tied hand and foot
in den of rattlesnakes. Not only does he lack
the means of escape and the strength for fight,
but there has been a terrible damage done TO his
moral nature, and he has lost that sense of right
and wrong that would have led him to desire
change. He is dwarfed morally, and, like the
child who is born blind, he knows of the light
outside only in an abstract way, and cannot see
IL when 1t shines in sDlendor and strength all
about him.
"a babe taken from the gutter, where sin has
cast 1t, is placed In one of these homes-such, for
instance. as that located OF ST. CLAIR street-aud
for a few months years is surrounded by geL-
tile, hOmellke and enlighteninY influences. The
home, the school and the Sunday school are to-
gether In its play-room. 1t is given fair clear
start. The influence Of the bad blood that may
have been born into it is counteracted and sup
To-day IL Is an orphan. Tomorrow II creeps
INTO the Open arms OF some mother who has lad
her babe under the daisies, and it has home,
1atner and mother and future. Thousands
and thousands of the best men and wRnen IN
the Nation to-day have passed through this
great transition, and no human line can measure
the merit of the noble men and women who sup
pied the means by which this salvation was ac-
c0mplished. They struck at the root of the
!
Darkness in his search for souls"
The foregoing extract, from the Cleveland
Daily LOADER we think peculiarly appropriate,
and cannot fail to interest the phianthrOpist,
and especially thoso interested in orphan asy
luins. The author, in this concise, yet oOmpre-
henslve article, has wildly portrayed the object
and results Of such charities. We are rejOiced
that the city OF Cleveland, through the noble
phi'anthrOphy of its citize ne, has erected a COM
modious and elegant ophans asylum. IL is To-
Gated at $40 81. Clair street, and has at present
family OF seventy-One enjoying its blessings, in
GLIDING orphans, haf-orphans, abandoned, neg
leeted and destitute children.
In readin their reports, we can but directly
revert to the pressing needs of the indianapolis
Orphan Asylum College avenue. This asy-
lum has, during its existence, provided for over
1000 children, and during the past year 253.
The family at present numbers l02, all OF whom
are under twelve years of age except two. The
demand for it's charities has increased in like ra-
ito with the population OF our city.
The work of caring for these little ones can
not be performed so successfully aud comforta-
bly, as desired for the lack of room and many
much-needed cOnvenences. There is now an
earnest effort being made, on the part of q num-
Der of our citizens, for the erection of suitable
building on the corner of Tennessee and Fifth
Streets the plan of which is large enough to in
sure the present and future needs of our grow
ing city. For the accomplishment of this object
committee of citizens has been appointed
TO canvass the city and to solicit contributions
to add to the building fund, thus hoping to be
able TO erect such building at the earliest
son possible. The lady managers make this ap-
peal because of its pressing need, and ask liberal
support for the sake of helpless children. We
commend the project to the hberality of the
pubic.