The morning news., 1889-04-24
BETHESDA'S BIRTHDAY.
THE UNION SOCIETY CELEBRATES
ITS 10th ANNIVERSARY

Outing Under the Oaks-The Ami
versary Dinner - Hon. P. W. Mel
drirn's Address and Preside ent Estilrs
Annual Report-The Society's Off
GERS for Next Year.
The 139th anniversary of the Union So
ciety was celebrated yesterday at Bethesda.
The morning was little cloudy, but before
noon the sky was clear and bright over
head and the day was all that could be de-
sired. The usual special trains were run on
the City and Suburban railway, and they
were well patronized by those who had de-
cided to take an outing at Bethesda.
The annual meeting was held in the
orphan house and the usual reports read
and disposed of. After the election of officers
the society adjourned to the stand under
the oaks, where the exercises were opened
with prayer by Rev. Richard Webb, after
which Hon. P. w Meldrim delivered an
eloquent and instructive address. The ad-
dress was intended more especially for the
Bethesda boys, who, to the number of over
eighty, were seated in frcnt of him. It was
listened 10 with the closest attention by his
auditors.
A resolution thanking Mr.. Meldrim for his
address and requesting copy for publica-
ton was adopted, and the meeting ad-
journed after bsnedlction by Rev. Mr..
Webb.
AS usual very important feature Of the
occasion was tho anniversary dinner,for the
boys, provided by the stewards of the soci-
ETY., as almoners Of the citizens of Savan-
nah. At the close of the exercises at the
stand the boys, headed by the brass band aud
under the direction OF the stewards, Messrs.
Dial I'll l.
Cubbedge, r P. Lowell and j. A.
Thomas, marched TO the dining hall =,
where three well-loaded tables awaited
their attention. With their we'll
wbetted appettes and the table drill
which their friend, Manager r. p. Reppard,
put them through, toe boys acquitted them
selves with great credit in the knife and
fork exercise. After dinner, Manager Rep
pard and several others made short addresses
to the boys, which were received with ap-
plause.
The following officers were unanimously
reelected:
President-J. H. Estnl.
Vice presidential. L. Hartridge.
Treasurer-John Sullivan.
Secretary-W. K. Wilkinson.
The president announced the following
appointments:
Managers-D. r. Thomas, R. G. Fleming,
T. NJ. Cunningham, Rufus Z. Lester,
Thomas Ballantyne, r. B. Reppard, Sam
uel Herman, E. 4. Lowell, J. A. G.. Carson
Honorary Managers-George S. Owens,
Abram Minis, A. r. Lawton, r. D. Walker,
G. NJ. Sorrel, William Rogers.
Stewards-Osceola Butler, John B. Fer
nandez, L. w. Cubbedge, J. A Thomas,
Joseph Ferst, Thomas S. Morgan, II. J.
Sutclif.
The stewards return thanks for dona-
tions from Messrs. NJ. Ferst & Co., John
Lyons & Co., J. McGratn & Co, S. W.
Branch, w. q. Cooper, Mrs. p. Herman,
John Derst, Thomas Nugent. Theo Rad
| erick, E. Lovells Sons, A. H. Champion,
J. s. Colhns, Straus Bros, d. B. Lester,
Mrs. r. NJ. White.
THE PRESIDENTS REPORT.
The following is the report of President
Estill:
It affords me pleasure to welcome you to his
| toric Bethesda on the occasion of the both an
| niversary Of your society, and, at the same
time, present for your consideration this and
| the reports Of other officers of what has been
| done during the past year The noble charity
| condition; Whithelds House of Mercy" is
/ filed TO overlooking with the beneficiaries OF
| tbe society, and your treasury is not empty.
| There is, however, shadow over our beloved
| society. Three OF its most jealous members
| and efficient officers have passed away since
| our last gathering under these oaks-Maj.
| Henry I Bolts, OF the board Of managers, and
| Frank w. Dasher, ESQ.,, of the committee OF
| stewards, and the venerable Edward Lowell
| Esq, eX manager. Bethesda hal no warmer
| friends than these lamented gentlemen. 1t is
the common practice to pay tributes OF respect
| 10 the memory of the dead, worthy or unworthy.
What is said about them is often untrue; the
| virtues attributed to them they never had
This is notthe case in what has been said in the
| public press about our lamented fellow mem
| bers. the Union Society never had on its roll
| Of membership, extending back through
| nearly century and half, three men who
were more active in its good WORK. They
| made no parade of what they did. They never
had to be called on twice TO 10 their share toward
! advancing the interests OF the society. In them
| felt that had coaborers whose hearts we're il
| their work, IL was MIR. Lovell'S kind offer to me
| as he stood before yonder building, to contrib
| ute $500 toward completing the western wing
Of the orphan house that gave me courage u
| attempt to do that work Ii was the ever pres
ent offers Of assistance from Maj. Bolts anC
Mr.. Dasher IN getting contributions that en-
| courAged me at times when needed encoura 20
ment. Feeling as do, you will excuse me fol
stopping on the threshold of this report to pay
my feeble tribute TO the memory of those whose
loss is one which even this society, with its dis
tinguished membership will feel for years Il
come,
AS stated in the beginning Of this report, the
orphan house is filled with our benedciaries
We had S5 boys at the last anniversary. We
now have 81: - have been demiGted for various
causes, as VIII more fully appear IN the super
intendents report; q boys have been admitted
They have enioyel the best Of health, the onl,
complaint during the year being an epidemic o
the itch. introduced last year by new conner
1t had spread among the boys almost before it
presence was known.
The contract for erecting the whitfield
building was mentioned in my last years report
The building was practically completed or
the lst OF March last, and was leased out ON
that date TO the county commissioners as
a temporary court house. The lease is from
March / 10 September ], 1889 with the privlleg,
OF renewal for one year from the latter dats
and the sum to be paid $1,000 year. There il
slill part Of the last installment due the con
tractor, which is withheld from him until thu
architect Certltces that toe building is com
pleted according TO contract. The cost Of tn,
building, including arctitects S fees and the side
walks, viii be about $4,000.
ON the 9th instant the city was visited by
most diaStrouS contiagratlOn, in which n mum
her OF prominent buildings were destroyed
The Whitfield building had a narrow escape
the buildings on the western part of the blocl
(also the property OF this society being de
sCroyed by the fire The burnt property wa
insured for 81 0JO, which fairly covers Its value
though we lose $3.50 year in rents. | sugges
that, If the funds OF the society permit a hand
| some building, suitable for small hotel o
boarding house, tie erected on the site Of tn
burnt building. The location Is better slute'
for that than any other purpose.
W. b. Rice, Esq, the purchaser OF part Of
the Holland property, Bar Harbor, Maine
asked an extension on his note for two years
The note ~ Tor Sl2.5O0, and was due on the 4tl
OF August last. The COMMITTEES on tow
property, IN consideration Of MIR. Rice paylni
au annual bonus OF Sl25 in addition TO The In
terest specified in the note, acceded to his re-
! quest. The committee also allowed MvssrS
WHY * Clarke, executors OF John NJ. Cooper