The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-04-25
UNDER BETHESDA'S OAKS
THE UNION SOCIETY CELEBRATES
ITS 18TH BIRTHDAY.


Orphanage-The Society's Annual
Meeting President Estilrs Report
j. F. B. Beckwith, Esq, Delivers the
Anniversary Address-The Orphan
BOYS Dinner-The Old Officers IMAM
iously Reelected.
The 13Sth anniversary of the Union
Society was celebrated yesterday at
Bethesda. Special trains were run all day,
and crowds of people awaited
themselves of the opportunity to visit that
historic place. The day was quite cool, re-
markably so for this season of the year, but
that only made it the more pleasant.
The annual meeting was held in the
public room at lis p. M, and the reports
of the President, Superintendent, Treas
urer, Committee on School, and Committee
on Town Property were read, and ordered
to take the usual course.
THE PRESIDENTS REPORT
BETHESDA, April %, 1888.
To the Members of the Union Society:
In presenting this (the 13sth) annual report Of
the work of the society, it is a source
Of great pleasure to state
that its disnterested charity has covered
wider field this year than ever before.
One hundred and six boys have been under the
care of the society during that period, and
eighty-nine are here to-day Owing to want of
room we have been obliged TO restrict, TO a GER
tain extent, the admission of boys-limiting the
new benehciaries, except in urgent cases, to
those belonging to this county. The number
now in the Orphan House is about as
unless build the eastern wing
and largely increase the number of employees.
We have been compelled already to employ an
extra seamstress and additional help in the
laundry. OF course in the future, as in the
past, no boy will be turned away from Be
thesda's gates whose condition is such that
there is no other place where he can be cared
for. For helpless orphans there is always room
In our institution and while sometimes we can
not see exactly where the money is to come
from to feed them, it is always forthcoming:
and, it would appear from the past history of
the society, just when our necessities are most
pressing.
THE ORPHAN HOUSE AND ITS INMATES.
am not prepared at this time to recommend
any measures looking to a still further increase
In the number of beneHciaries, except in such
cases as l have referred to. trust, however,
that in another year the income OF the society
will be such as to justify us in completing the
eastern wing of the Orphan House, and employ
ing an assistant teacher and other additional
help. It is TO be hoped that the DAY is not far
distant when the much to-be-desired technolOg
ical department will be established, and our
boys have an opportunity Of learning theoret-
ical and practical mechanics With fair edu
cation, considerable experience in farming and
the training of q chronological school, the boys
who are brought up at Bethesda win 90 forth
into the world well equipped TO fight the battle
of life
1t would be very pleasant to me to recommend
and urge that we take this long stride and raise
Bethesda to n higher grade by adding to its
charitable features those of an Industrial school,
Having, however, some practical experience in
managing Bethesda with an empty treasury,
am unwilling to recommend any large expendi-
lures until our investments are in such a shape
that We know exactly what we have to depend
upon TO maintain our present status. 1t will
take another year 10 figure out exactly what
income the perman ent Investments will pro-
duce. and, in the meanwhile, if the necessity
should arise and our means admit of 1t, the
Board of Managers viii arrange to provide for
any emergency that may arise.
The total expenses of the Orphan House for
the year ending March 81, was S6,602 %, or an
average OF Sos Sc per boy This includes sub
sistence, salaries, clothing, farming and educa-
ton
The boys have enjoyed excellent health and
have behaved well, | regret to report, however,
that one OF our little boys, Dougald Exum
aged z, was drowned on July IS, while bathing
THE soCIETY's PROPERTY
Our real estate is in better shape than it has
been since have been in office.
The eastern half of lot letter o, Heathcote
ward kelly legacy, upon which the new Whit
field building is to be erected, of course, is
bringing no rent. The western portion of the
lot is still under rent to prompt paying tenant.
The property known as 154 South Broad
street is in excellent condition and rented to a
good tenant.
and jefferson streets is under lease to good
tenants and at a fair rent. The improvements
now being made in the immediate vicinity
justify the expectation that the property will
rent much better in the future.
All the Springfield lots are now bringing in a
regular income. Owing to the non-payment of
rent by the estate Of Finegan, and Mr.. Hanlon,
we re-entered the lots rented by them and
rented them to other tenants.
The Tipperary place and the Iowa lands are
still on our hands.
THE WHITFIELD BUILDING.
The committee appointed in January, 1887,
consisting of the Committee on Town Property
and the President, to employ an architect to
prepare suitable plans for a building on the
eastern half of lot letter o, Heathcote ward
secured the services of Mr.. w G. Preston. of
Boston, Mass. The architect prepared plans
for a very handsome building. but the estimates
were so much higher than the sum the com
mittee were authorized to eXpend that the plans
were changed twice before the estimated cost
came within the means of the society. The
contract was not given out until the 18th inst.
when it was awarded to Mr. W. +. Chaplin.
The building will cost when completed, includ-
ing architects fees, excavating, sidewalks, etc,
about $4,000. II will be ready to rent ON the
list of November
The entire interest Of the society in the estate
Of the late w. F. Holland has been turned over
by the executor, Hon. L. A. Emery The So
ciety received SlS,4ls u net from the estate
The city OF Savannah bonds amounting to
5000, left the society by the late Andrew Low,
have been turned over by the trustees.
The Bethesda property is in good order. No
improvements have been made this year, ex-
cept the boring of an artesian well, from which
we now have an inexhaustibe supply of pure
water. 1t is a source of comfort and conven-
fence, and think has contributed to the health
OF the inmates of the Orphan House.
OUR OFFICERS.
Mr. A. V. Chaplin, superintendent; Mr.. G. w.
Lee, teacher; and other officers and employees
have discharged their duties To the entire salts
faction of the board Of managers
We are indebted to Mrs. Ferguson and her
daughters, and several other ladies and q num-
Der Of young gentlemen, for the interest they
have taken in the Sunday school at Bethesda,
and Drs. Duncan, Dupon and Codng, and
Messrs. Lawton Cunningham for professional
services free Of charge.
Fred Oborn, the one-armed sailor boy, who
was admitted TO Bethesda in 1892 has grown to
manhood. Owing to his misfortune, we have
not been able TO put him at trade. He has
been acting as teacher OF the smaller boys in
the school, and has been of considerable assist
ance. II the society could arrange TO send him
10 n high school or college, so as TO prepare him
for professional career, il would be the means
OF giving Fred fair chance with other bows Ia
make "A living
The Examining Committee visited the school
several weeks ago but have not yet received
their report. ] understand, however that the
committee were well pleased with the condition
Of the school.
refer you 10 the reports OF the Treasurer
the Committee on Town Property ana the
Superintendent for further information, anC
with many thanks for the confidence you have
- WF..n1..