Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-04-24

The following stewards were dppOlHt-
ed:
f r. Lowell. J. W. Fretweu,
Joseph Phillips. r. W Dazher,
The members then proceeded to the stand
in the grove. 4 prayer was offered by the
Rev. Richard Webb. after which the Presl-
dent read his annual report. The ami
versary address was then delivered by
Rev. Thomas Boone. of Christ Church.
At the close of the address Edward Lowell,
Esq. offered the following, which was
adopted:
ResoIred. That the thanks Of the society are
hereby rendered to Rev. Thomas Boone Ior
his able.address. and that he be requested 10
furnish a copy thereof for publication.
The exercises closed with benedlction
by Rev. Mr.. Webb, and the society adj
iOurned.
After adjournment the visitors spread
their lunches under the trees in the grove
and the boys sat down to magnIncent
dinner in the dining room, Messrs. W. q.
Purse. E f. Lowell and F. W. Dasher,
stewards of the society, giving the wants
Of the boys their personal attention.
After dinner the younger portion OF the
visitors filled the large rooms and hallway
/ of the main building with dancing sets.
and this enjoyment was kept up until al
most time for the last train to leave. The
music during the day was furnished by
| the Guards Band.
The visitors were we'll pleased with the
| appearance Of Bethesda, and the unlyer-
| sal expression Of opinion was that the
| place was in excellent condition.
THE PRESIDENTS REPORT.
BETHESDA, April %, 1884.
| Ia the Members Of the Union Society:
herewith submit for your considera-
| ton A report of what has been done dur
| ing the past year. The society has had
successful wear as far as its work OF be-
| nevolence and charity is concerned. We
/ have had a full quota Of boys to provide
| for. and no worthy applicant for the So
ciety's bounty has been turned away. we
have good reports from all the
| benefcIaries who have gone forth
from Bethesda to fight the battle OF
! life. and those who are still within its
gates are doing well, and viii, trust,
one and all. be a credit 10 the institution.
Ofthe financial condition Of the society
shall have something TO say further on.
The outlook is not very bright. but those
| who are versed in the history OF Bethesda
know that its heritage is poverty
| In spite of its many misfOrtunes, how
ever. it has outlived many similar insti-
buttons. and | trust it viii continue its
good work Of providing for fatherless and
! destitute boys. and stand for centuries
| to come a monument to the memory Of
Whitfield and his cO-labOrers.
By reference to the list of boys
YOU will find that % were admitted
| during the year; Il left the Institution
| during the same period, ana there were on
| the 1st instant 46 boys still under our
| charge. The health Of the beneticiaries,
as well as of the officers, has been excel
! lent. There has not been death from
| disease at Bethesda in seven years. Lee
Rov Walls died suddenly on the oth OF
/ july while on a visit to MS mOther ~
| Savannah. He had been complaining Tor
several days, but was not supposed 70 pc
| seriously i'll. and was permitted 10
| leave Bethesda with the hope that
| the change might be beneficial. The
| society bore the expense of his lnterment
| ON the lst inst. Henry Woods, aged 10
wears. while cleaning a window III the
| third story of the main building Tell 10 the
ground and broke an arm ana Leg. he
| was sent to the Savannah Hospital, where,
| under the skillful treatment OF the sur
| eeous. the broken limbs are rapidly mend
! ing.
| The school has been kept open without
| intermissIOn. except the usual holidays,
| and the boys have made commendable
! progress in their studies. Messrs. Baker,
/ BOgart and Thigpen, ofthe Pubic ochools,
visited Bethesda on the 18th ult. and eX-
amined the scholars. In closing the
/
| men say: 1.-THE subordinate spirit OF the
! BOYS and their respect for superior au-
! thOrity were particularly noticeable and
| deserve special praise" l think the Be-
| thesda school is entitled to share OF the
/ funds raised for public education, and
| hope renewed efforts will be made by the
| Board of Managers to secure the recognl-
/ ton Of its claims. The school house was
| in such a dangerous condition that IT
| 4 11nfanQnfqhIp
| I had to expend about $50 in repairing It.
| | hope. before many years, we viii be IN
| condition, with the assistance OF friends oil
| the society, to build the east wing IN the
| plan of which a schoolreom is provided
| for.
| The farm operations were not as sue
| cessful as during the previous year, but
/ we are very hopeful of profitable result
| this season. Sixteen acres OF land just
/ outside the gate have been taken in this
| year. The new field adjOins the vege-
! table garden, and being near the house
and Immediately under the eye OF the
| Superintendent it is expected that more
can be done with it than with the Binah
| field, which is some distance from other
| cultivated land and which has usually
| been Improbable. 1t is proposed not TO
/ cultivate the latter hereafter The thrifty
/ appearance of the farm is source OF
| much satisfaction.
| A much needed improvement has been
/ made to the road from the railway station
/ to Bethesda gate. 1t has been widened
| and graded. and a row Of gum trees
| planted on each side. In few years
| there will be beautiful, shady avenue,
| where before was a narrow crooked wagon
road.
The financial outlook of the society for
| the coming year is not at all satisfactory,
| and were we not engaged in work which
| must 90 on we might be discouraged at
! the present outlook. As it is, those who
are in charge of the Bethesda Orphan
| House must be hopeful and persevering,
| trusting to their fellow-citizens, whose
| representatives they are, to help them in
! the good work.
/ The expenses for the year were $6,olb 5l,
| 81 693 IS of which was for items other
| than those incident to maintenance OF the
| orphan house. viz: Bills standing over
| from last year for building the new wing,
/ $567 80; amount paid the trustees OF the
late Miss Telfair, being the Indebtedness
| incurred by them upon the property left
/ to this society, $4j6 Is; amount
/ paid for rebuilding school
| house, putting in drains, pump and pip
| ing in wing, fencing and clearing new
/ field. and improving Bethesda road, etc,
( 1910. Deducting these amounts, we md
/ that it took s., I'D 50 to keep Bethesda
| curing the year. Inc Elll bdAcS luiS
! year are 81, 404 Al net, which, If we
| take last years expenses at Bethesda
/ as a basis, make our fixed charges
/ So, $50 80. To meet this expenditure, pro-
| viding we collect all our income, we
| have S6.526 so. This leaves a balance Of
I 50 cents-rather a meagre margin. We
have a note out for $1,000 and other in
| debtedness, for which provision will have
| to be made. The city taxation on the sOci-
| etv's town property, from which is derived
the funds to support Bethesda, is nearly
one-ouarter of its entire net income. The
DayIaent Of this amount is a burden which
the society cannot bear unless its lncomels
increased, of which / see no present pros
meet. 1t may necessitate the sale OF It's real
estate and the investment OF the proceeds
in property not so heavily taxed.
The society lost during the past year
1851 80 by defaulting tenants, and the
prospect is that it will take excellent work
on the part of our collector to prevent fur
Their losses this year. There is 81 ,4l5 due
for rents by lessees Of Springfield planta-
ton lots.
The Iowa lands and the Iipperary
plantation are still burdens on our hands.
we have a half interest in the latter place.
At present it will not bring anything near
its value. and il is therefore best not TO
foroa ffa eofa The iowa lands however.