The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-02-13
The Orphanage Matter-Pro and
Con

The withdrawal of Prof. Mills from
the Oxford O~lphanage seems to have
had a previous chapter of history. We
find two letters as follows in the Friend:
OFFICE OF
GRAND MASTER OF MASONS
IN NORTH CAROLINA.
BINGHAM SCHOOL, JAN. II, \. L.'S4.
j. II. Nils Esq:
Dear Sir and Brother-I have been
asked so often whether you would re-
main in charge of the Asylum, and have
expressed myself so decidedly to others
about it, hat | think it best to say to
you, as | have said to others, that, as a
mere matter of personal judgment, l
think 1t best for you to retire upon your
laurels. You have made a most wonder
full success. You have been most
strongly endorsed. The fraternity has
said. in the most decided way, that in
the change of policy they had lost none
of their wonted confidence in you. But
do n OF think you would work to your
own satisfaction in the new harness. If
the new policy succeeds, it merely con-
tinues your great success in the past. Ii
it fails. you are not involved. Judge
by myself. | have been running a
personal business, an autocracy, for ten
years, and am thereby untitled to con-
duct it under a directory and | am sew
eral years younger than you are, and so
have more facility left for accommoda-
ton. OF course, the Board decides. |
shall not press my views upon them, but
shall express them fully and clearly.
Please accept this in the spirit of kind
ness and candor in which it is written.
Yours truly,
II. BINGHAM.
OXFORD, \. c., Feb l, 81.
Capt. 4. II. 4. Williams, Sec'y,
DEAR SIR-The town clerk advised
the Ephesians ito do nothing rashly."
| desire to follow this advice, and have
considered an consulted wise and good
men with the deliberation due to the
Directors and to the Orphans. | feel an
abiding interest in the orphan work, and
a tender attachment to the children. |
enjoyed the labor required of me, SO
long as | was cheered by the cordial CO.
operation of the Grand Lodge and of the
good people of the State. But at the
last communication of the Grand Lodge,
my matured recommendations were disre-
sdIucu. oL0 tAO Nasty ouSSCotiOho "
others adopted. Some u~naccountable
misrepresentation were accepted and en-
dorsed without examination, and are now
circulated in pamphlet form. The man
N of the Orphan Asylum was
taken from the Superintendent and given
to six Directors, leaving to that office
the responsibility without the authority
| indispensable to efficiency. The Direc-
tors also made important and dangerous
alterations without asking my opinion.
In spite of the persistent opposition of
the Chairman, they elected me to be
Superintendent, but retained the APP
pointing and diseharglng power in their
own hands. The management of the
Orphan Asylum has cost a long and
arduous struggle during each of the
eleven years OF its existence. Now the
labors and perplexities OF the Superin-
tendent are extended and increased, and
he reduced to a mere figure head.
| DECLINE to occupy such a position,
and to be a public target for the mali
cious and the wicked without any pro-
lection from those who employ me. Ii
will afford me pleasure to give my sue
cessor the benefit of my experience. II
desired. | will remain a short time and
lay in supplies, so that the ladies now
present can carry on the WORK till the
regular tima for the annual election in
April.
With sincere esteem,
j. I'll. MILLS.