The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-05-18
OLD PEOPLES HOME.
Laying the Cornerstone Of a New
Jewish Shelter.
a Large Conoourse Attends the Ceremonies
S. W. Levy's Address-A Substantial
Structure to Be Built.

Yesterday morning large concourse or
Hebrew citizens witnessed the interesting
ceremonies of the laying of the cornerstone
of the Old Peoples Home at the corner
of Mission street and Silver avenue. 1t is
to be a branch of the present Orphan Asy-
lum and Home on DeviSadero street, and
when completed will be occupied eXclu-
sively by the old people, while the orphans
will remain in possession Of the present
asylum.
Both institutions are conducted and main
tanned by the Pacific Hebrew Orphan ASy
lum and Home Society, under whose aus
pces yesterdays ceremonies took place.
The home will stand on a tract belonging
to the society of over eleven acres, of which
a plat 200x600 feet was specially dedicated
TO its use. The building, which will be
pushed forward as rapidly as possible, will
be handsome, commOdous and substantial
ana will cost in the neighboThOod Of $4,000
The exercises, which began at II o'clock,
were simple in character, but remarkably
impressive. Rev. DR.. Vidayer first read
selection frum the holy Scriptures, after
which ). W. Levy, President of the society,
made the following touching and fOTcible
address:
PRESIDENT LEWIS ADDRESS.
come for The fun cOnsummation OF tie purposes
OF this society, as declared 10 its fundamental
law. I he founders OF the Pacific Heb ew Or
phan Asylum and Home Society enacted IN their
bylaws that the objects of The society were:
First, 10 found ana maintain an asylum for
phan children; second. TO establish ana sup
port home Tor aged and inGrm IsIaehtrs.
In The natural order Of even :, AS indicated by
tie name given 10 our society, the home for
orphan children was first to be established upon
4 fun and solid basis. then we were expected to
found home for the INDECENT aged aud infrm
OF cur falth.
For twenty years the fund has been carefully
nuitured and gradually aecumulat FOR tile
commencement Of this last but by no means
least Deuebcent OF Tie Two great purposes Tor
which we were organized.
And now as Ia This formal manner we lay the
cornerstone OF Tie structure which we are to
cohsecrate TO tie noble purpose 0t attOIding a
shelter 10 aged ISraelteS who nave VainIy striYrn
for a home aud nave not found IL. who have beeD
beTeit by misfortune Of The homes which were 10
shelter Them IN their old aye. OF VINO have been
driven from their homes by the ingraIituue OF
unnatural children or heartless relatives, lei Us
unite B lie hope that this home which has been
provided for them by the munlheence OF our
loving friends shall endure Tor all time
dDOue OF serene peace, qu-t Cunteutment and
complete rest Tor the old, The weary and heavy
laCeued.
Tie he plessness Of orphaned CHILDHOOD always
appeals 10 our IeHderesJ sympathieS, fOr We feel
that lhey are sacred charges Thai have been sent
10 US 10 be nurtuied and tenderly cared for in
The purity OF their young lives and guided 10 a
noble manhood ana pure wOmanhUUd, but the
deSOlatlUn OF Improves l5hed Ole age, homeless,
trenches, c0mpanlunleSs ahu hopeless wrings
from our hearts SIN deeper feeling OF pity un-
altelably mingled with sadness. There IS hope
even 10 Tie misfortunes OF youth, but despair Is
the companion vi Impoverished old age.
IN my annual reports, as President OF this
society Tor many years past, | have frequently
had occasion 10 aliude 10 what / deemed the
premature desire OF many Of cur members 10 en-.
ter upon lie establishment OF this u lone for lie
Aged before Tue asylum Tor our orphaned chill
dIen mad been placed upon firm aud lasting
foundation.
RETROSPECTIVE.
have always favored he policy of eontrbut-
ing 10 the support OF our INDECENT aged al their
own homes as long as II was possible TO DO so,
ana until tue emei gency forced upon US OF
establishing a separate home Tor them.
MY reluctance tn tins regard has arisen largely
from the Tact mat hons for the aged Is at best
but d sad and sOTrOWlul alternative, involving "a
Il does tie removal OF tie feeble and lonely aged
from The society OF those near and dear 10 them
who are unable TO maintain Them, and who
would gladly keep them with them If they could
but receive some assistance and relief from this
benevolent society. / have frequently had occa-
sion 90 say that 10 maintain The old, even st mir
humble aud sometimes cOmfOrIless homes with
those with whom they have been accustomed to
dwell, is far better Than 10 provide for them
far moIe luxurious home ia which they meet
only strangers IN misfortune.
For many years past this society has con
trlbnIed IN this way 10 lie support and mainten-
anee OF Tie agrd OF our faith IN their own homes
We FIRST made All allowance OF $3.50 per month
10 be devoted 10 ibis purpose. but soon Increased
thar amount 10 $500 per month. ms sum has
been apportl0ned among large number OF our
INDECENT aged ranging from $40 TO $50 per
month each, and II Is but fair 10 say that we have
never collected any dues Tor our society under
any 'ldlSo pielenSe>,' as mas been publicly
charged Dy society recently organized IN this
city
But now that he time has come FOR the estab-
ljSument OF this crOWaing endowment OF our
beuehcent society, feel deeply the duty deyolV-
ING upon US Of consecratIng II as the abode OF
peace, CheeTiuness aud eoutenlment.
Let Us, therefore. here and now, one and all
register our solemn vow that as our Hebrew
orphan asylum has become famous throughout
the land as place where children are not
treated as orphans subsiStng on charity, but as
children enjoying the riEbtful privileges Of home
that THIS our Home for Aged IsraetrS, shah be
10 them Indeed home, aud not d mere abiding
place. shelter an asylum, maintained as
charity.
CLOSING CEREMONIES.
On concluding his remarks Mr. Levy
placed a casket in the cavity prepared for it
IN the cornerstone, which lie then pro-
ceeded to lay after the time hOnored custom.
The casket contained the following articles
The constitution and bylaws Of the Pacific
Hebrew Orphan Asylum and Home Society,
Eureka Benevolent Association, First He
brew Benevolent Society, Ladies United
Hebrew Benevolent Society, Israeltischer
Frauen-N ereiD, Eureka Benevolent ASsocla-
ton German copy. Congregation Emanu
FL, Congregation Sheriff. Israel, Congrega-
ton Beth Israel and the German General Be-
neyolent Society; also rules and regulations
of NaYo Shaiom Cemetery, list of names of
the Committee on Building, the report of the
Associated Charities of San Francisco
for 1890, reports OF the Pacific Hebrew Or
phan Asylum and Home Society and the
Eureka Benevolent Association for l8S9-90;
the address Of President ). w. Levy at the
laying of the cornerstone ana copies of
The MORNING CALL and other San Fran
cisco papers.
The ceremonies concluded with a prayer
by Rev. DIT. NJ. Levy of Oakland, an ad-
dress by DR.. Jacob NOOr5anger ana a closing
nraTer hV Rev Dr. N1daVer