The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-04-25
BETHESDAS JUBILEE DAY.
Orphan Boys and Girls Enjoy a Great
Feast and a Good Time.

Festal Board-Meeting of the Union
Society, and the Election Of officers
for the Ensuing Year-President
Z Estilrs Report and the Condition of
the Society's Affairs-An Interesting
and Instructive Address by Rev. A.
NJ. Williams.
Bethesda could not have had more
glorious and propitious gala day than yes
terday was. The weather was fully in
accord with the spirit of the occasion,
which was brightness and Joy.
Those interested in the orphan house
began to leave the city for the grounds on
the early morning cars, and before noon
the grounds looked as if they had been
captured by picnic party. -Four or five
hundred people had assembled at the
orphanage, many of them enjoying them
selves during the morning in the cool
shades around the grounds, while others
were enjoying dance, for which music
had been provided, within the hall.
The boys of the orphan house were
playing games about the grounds as
happily as if they were the sons of
princes The girls of the Savannah
Female Orphan Asylum-sixty in number
in charge of Miss Julia Ward came out
about II 80 in the morning to participate
in the festivities.
THE CHILDREN AT DINNER.
No more interesting sight can be
imagined than that of the sixty little girls
and the 1O4 orphan boys seated around
the tables in the long dining hall. Their
elaborate feast, the contributions of their
charitable friends, was prepared at 1890
o'clock, and they all came in with rush
at the sound of the gong.
After Rev. A. NJ. Williams had asked
the blessing the little fellows went to
work with a determination, but they were
always quiet and orderly. Perhaps the
presence of their little girl friends had an
influence over them which made them re-
member the good training they have had
at Bethesda.
After the dinner there were several
songs by the little girls, and then they all
called for Col. Estin, the president of the
society. Col. Estill made the orphans an
interesting speech, praising them for their
efforts and giving them encouragement
and advice for the future.
PEOPLE WHO MADE THEM HAPPY.
Mr. r. B. Reppard was the master of
ceremonies, and he did much toward MAX
ing the children all have a good time.
The dinner was in charge of the stewards
of the society, MeSSrS. j. B. Fernandez,
II. p. Lowell, H. j. Sutcliffe, G. w. Stroh-
bar, II. w. Cowan, A S. Nichols Walter
E. Coney, j. S. Collins and Il. d. Latti-
more They were fully equal to the oc-
casiou, and gave the boys a magnificent
and hearty spread.
The following ladies greatly aided the
: H.
serving the dinner for the boys and girls
Mrs, II. p. Lowell Mrs. o. Butler, Mrs
| w. 0. Charlton, Mrs. S. Ross, Mrs f. w.
| Cubbedge, and Misses Josie Smith, Belle
| Hopkins, Vannie Charlton, Matte Charl-
/ ton, Mamie Gardner, Elise Chapeau, Susie
! Sasnett, Rosa Maxwell. Miss Middleton
/ and Master Robert H. Rice.
THE soCIETY's MEETING.
The meeting of the Union Society was
! called to order by President j. H. Estill
| after the dinner was over and the stew
ards were free to attend.
There were present al the meeting: Col
j. FL. Estil, president; Mr., d. r. Thomas,
/ vice presidents Mr. r. w. Cubbedge
treasurer; Mr.. w. K Wilkinson, secre-
tary; Col. r. D. Walker, Gen. A. r. Law
ton, Rev. A. M. Williams, Rev. Z. II.
| Blenus, Rev. L. G. Vass, Rev. r. Webb,
Messrs. S. Gardner, r. =. Lowell, H. w
| Cowan, S. p. Hamilton, William Estill,
w. p. Schirm, j. B. Fernandez, S. B.
Adams, Il. b. Reppard, A. p. Solomon, J.
+. Lewis, William baltimore, A. kessel,
A. S. Nichols, William Pringle and Col
William Rogers.
THE PRESIDENTS REPORT.
The reading of the minutes was dis
pensed with and President Estill read his
report for the year, which is as follows:
Bethesda, April "a, ls94.-To the Members
Of the Union Society: have the pleasure of
presenting to you my annual report and those
OF the officers and committees of the society.
IL VIII he seen from an examination of them
that we have lOi boys in the orphan house
against O6 at the last anniversary, and that
the cost OF maintaining the orphan house for
the last year, including uew furniture repairs
and improvements, was Sl1500.74. against
Sl2537.l2 for the previous year, a saving of
over $1,000. expected to be able to keep the
expenditures within the receipts but the con
tinued failure of our Central rall-
road securities excepting the Au-
gusta and savannah railroad stock
TO produce any income, the non payment of
interest on other investments, inability TO
collect rents from several tenants, and fall,
ing on in the membership, all directly at
tributable to the financial condition OF the
country, and the payment of two years
commissions on collections since the last
report has, as Will be seen by the report of
the treasurer, resulted IN our expenses ex-
ceeding our income 10 the amount OF 80 400
1t is TO be regretted that we have had to draw
on our reserve funds 10 meet this dedcit. but
IL could not be avoided, and practically
makes no difference, as all funds are in
tended for the maintenance of the orphan
house II is In such times as these when
charitable institutions are compelled to ex-
tend their work to the utmost of their ability
that it is most dificut to secure the means To-
do so. and il is o thing to be thankful for that
this society has teen able to pass through the
past three years and more, of the greatest
money strlngency ever known in this
country, without embarrassment
The expense of maintaining Bethesda
might be still fur her decreased by reducing
the number Of benenoaries but with The
daily claims that are being made for admls.
sion OF boys to the orphan house Il would he
very difficult to do so. So far as l am con.
cerned, would rather see al the funds. not
permanently invested, expended in maintain.
ing the orphan house than to refuse admit
lance in these trying times to any orphan or
destitute boy
BY the direction OF the board OF managers
/ accepted an offer OF $3.50 from w II Hart 4
Co, OF Waukon Iowa for the i2l acres of
land in Allamakee county owned by me
society. The price appears to be yery low
but from information the board had. they
thought IL best TO take the amount and avoid
any further expenditures on the property
The Iowa land was given to the society many
years since, and it has cost at least $500 Ia
own 1t. The party to whom it was sold has
not yet paid for il, but shoCld he coInnlete
the purchase, IL Will save the Society an an
nual outlay for taxes
The society's property in the city, with the
q ion Of uFaTTlfa q q