The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-04-24
BETHESDA'S BIG DAY,
TEE I4IsT ANNIVERSARY OF THE
UNION SOCIETY.

The Union society celebrated It's 14lst
anniversary at Bethesda yesterday. Tho
dsv was all that could have been desired
except for the rain from IL TO 10 O'Clock.
which prevented large number Of people
from going out. The attendance, however.
was fully up to expectations, and, in fact
there wSre more members present than is
usually the case on such occasions.
By o'clock the sky cleared off. and the
remainder Of the day was as beautiful ne
could have been wished for. Trains were
run by way of Thunderbolt. and also over
the old Isle Of Hope track. The road
admirably handled the crowd, and every
body was satisfied.
The annual meeting was held In the
superintendents room at the Orphan
louise 1t was called to order at
o'clock by President Estill. The
following members were present:
J. H. Estill, J. B. Adams, Col. R. D.
Walker, j. II. Fox, s. p. Hamilton, Rev.
C. E. bowman, A. S. Nichols, John Sulli-
van, J. 3. Fernandez, ID. r. Thomas. 4.
Ballantyne, r. z. Lowell, II. J. Sutciffe,
e. W. Cubbedge, D. Brown, w. B. Metz
ger, Col. c. II. Olmstead, A. f. Huffman.
W. w. Pringie, Osceoa Butler, George II
Nichols, G. w. Strobhar, p. A. Dunoar
and W. K. Wilkinson.
The presidents report was read ana
ordered spread upon the minutes.
PRESIDENTS REPORT.
BETHESDA, April %, 1891.
To the Members of the Union Society.
According 10 custom / submit my report of
what has transpired during the past wear
Under resolution adopted by the board of
managers, appointed a committee to ask con
tributiOns to assist the society ia com pleting thu
eastern wing of the Orphan House The same
committee was also requested to solicit names
for membership. The gentlemen selected to
serve on the committee were, as | believe
the right men in the right place. "
but after several weeks of earnest
effort they failed to receive sufficient
encouragement to warrant them in continuing
their labors at that time. 1t was proposed
however, to see what could be done later in the
season, but the unexpected stringency in
money matters throughout the country deferred
them from making what would have been a use
less effort. l am OF the opinion that If the
eastern wing OF the Orphan House is ever built
II Will Dc either with money taken out of the
treasury or by contributions of few friends of
the society.
The continued demands upon the people of
savannah, whose charity is proverOial, have
made IL necessary that those liberal givers
should make their contributions quite small. SO
mat they Will cover the neVer-endng calls
made upon them for every conceivable purpose
There is pressing necessity tor more room at
Bethesda, and we must before long increase the
cspaclty OF the Orphan HOuse. The most
feasible way OF accomplishing this
IemnOrarV
relief could be obtained by erecting a OGDEN
structure sufficiently large TO serve the purpose
o. school house and an additional dornitorv
40 nor however recommend this plan, be-
cause think all our efforts should be- directed
70 completing the Orphan House as originally
Designed Permanent improvements are what
IS desired at Bethesda, not temporary expe-
dents. The committee received a few apnlca-
lions for membership, which will be read 10 vor
by the secretary.
Under a resolution of the board of managers
slthorizlnE it secured, through the efforts of
Messrs. Reppard, Adams audWebb, the commit
Zee appointed or that purpose, a free scholar
snip IN Emory College, oxford, Ga, for Fred
Yoorn Oborn is a beneficiary who has only
ms lett arm, he having lost the other
oy an accident before he entered
Bethesda. This misfortune incapac.tated
MN from learning Il trade or becoming a
clerk. 1t was therefore decided to give him a
better education than that afforded nv the
scnooi at Bethesda, in order that he might bs
aoie 10 engage in other than mechanical or
,nefcsntile pursuits. Up to March 81 we mad
paId 9lS9 90 on account of Oborn for boarding
eIotmng and incidentals. From what [ have
learned Oborn is showing his appreciation of
our noeralty by making an excellent record a.
The Parsons archaeological School has not
done as we'll as it should. Mr. ChattertOn who
first had charge of the school. resigned on
Sept. ]. We did not succeed in filing the
vacancy until Feb. /, when we secured the
services of Mr.. H. L. Smith. Tae school is not
giving satisfaction, but am hopeful that in due
II
70 be, a valuable adjunct TO our system of Drac-
teal benehcence. We are inteht4d to Mr.
Edwin Parsons for an additional contribution of
Sl,672. with which to finish tie building and
pay the insurance on same.
Thirty eight boys left and one died during the
year ending April /. Thirty one bows were ad
mltted during the same period, aud there were
ninety boys at Bethesda on the date mentioned
Just after the last anniversary several boys
We're affected by dysentery, and Willie Black, a
BOY IL years of age, died of it. He has every
and of ftnr, bot Nl,A
sIccumed TO the disease. Later on the grippe
made its appearance and only a few at
bethesda escaped an attack OF it. Ffty-six
boys were sick at the same time with ths dis
ease; all recovered, however, without the as
slstance of a physician.
Springfield Plantation property comprisinn
iots Nos. i05, Ill and ~ which l reported as
having been re-entered by the society for non
payment of ground rent, is now the subject of
litigation. Messrs. Joseph A. Cronk and r. r.
ldcnards, attorneys for the representatives of
the estate of Finegan, the former holder OF the
ground rent lease, have entered suit to recover
possession of the property, the society having
refused 10 accept their formal offer
of the amount due for ground rent and
interest up TO the date of the beginning of the
suit. Under instructions from the board of
managers placed the matter in the hands of
our attorneys, Messrs. Lawtou g. Cunnn CHAM
ana Lester a. Ravenel, with instructions TO con-
TEST the matter in the courts In connection
with this. should state that the committee on
town property exhausted every effort to secure
we exercised our legal rights and entered into
possession Of the properly.
The lease of the Whitfield building to the
county OF Chatham expired on Sept. l. 1890 and
the building remained unrented until April /
when the lower floor and small room on the
second floor were leased to the United States gov
e[n.nent as postoffice. This lease was signed
on the gath of January. 1t is for five years at
S2'VOJ per year, though under the usual custom
OF the United States government in rent
ing property, they have the right to
AAnul the lease at any time
tits reasonable TO expect, however, that the
guiding will be occupied as a postoffice for the
tull term OF the lease We expect to secure
ABOUT VI 900 additional rent for that portion of
me building not subject to tie lease, It was
estimated That it would cost us ST. 800 to fit IN
'Ae poStoifice, but it has cost us So, 800.
,, ar W. B. Rice, the purchaser of the Bar
MS notes "a
The city property is in good condition, and
uHlglng fair rentals. Tipperary plantation.
owned Jointly by the society and the bishop of
We Catholic diocese and the Iowa lands. are
eIi,i unsold, The former place have placed in
GhaIge OF Mr.. Charles II. Phillips. or course
lnis properly brings no income to the society
:, Inc property at Bethesda is in good condi-
non and farming operations for tine past year
we're about as usual. For further information
~ regard to the farm etc, refer you to the
'ePorC or the superintendent.
u was present at the examination Of the
detheSda school few weeks ago. II was con
Uucted by superintendent Baker, Mr. Train. Mr.
asnnore and others. | was gratifed to hear
tuelQ that the school was hRttar iI11o-a5