Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-06-19
MALE ORPHAN ASYLUM.
Ceiebr alton of the Firy-First Anniversary
Interesting Exercises.

The ffty-nrst anniversary of the Male
Orphan Asylum was celebrated Sunday
afternoon, the exercises taking place in
the Grace-Street Presbyterian church.
Among those present were the orphans
Of the Richmond Female Humane AS
ISOLATION.
Mrs. Gil presided at the organ. and
the services were opened with the singing
at the Coronation. After prayer by Rev
James T.. Cook. and the singing OF open
the Door for the Children the annual
report of DIR. W. W. Parker was read
by the secretary. Mr.. Robert Il. Rich
ardson.
THE REPORT.
The report says: on June 1, 1893, there
Nere In the asylum s. boys; admitted dur
ing the year. boys; total number cared
for, c.; returned TO friends. /; dismissed
z; indentured g. remaining at asylum to-
day. 81; accounted ~. o.
In the the entire history of the asylum
i remember but one other boy dis
missed" BY the way, this boy is now In
the employ OF the Richmond, Frederlcks-
burg and Potomac railroad, and has
been supporting his mother for years.
The last Legislature amended our char
ter at our request. Boys are committed
TO us by their friends and guardians till
they are q, and while we had factory
and they proposed to learn "a trade In
the asylum, rather than out OF II, we
kept them till =, but we found II 80 diff
cult and often impossible 10 indenture
boys till 81 SO we think It best now to let
them 20 out before they are 81 without
indenture, provided they can get good
situation which seems TO promise sue
cess-the same course We would pursue
in regard to our own sons. No man will
take an apprentice now without d money
mt nd h. in
giving IT, The old law OF indenture is a
dead letter and should be abolished.
EFFECT OF THE AMENDMENT
We are satisfied that this amendment
will aid us greatly In putting out boys
and consequently In taking more In. a de-
sire strongly emphasized in our last re-
port. There are always a large number
OF applicants. but we are limited by our
means. our present limit is 81. The pecu-
mary help given us by the citizens is far
below what Il was twenty-five years ago
a fact as remarkable tbs sad. The
CITY Council makes us a contribution an
nually OF $500. on condition we maintain a
number OF boys from the poor-house.
LEGACIES.
No society can have superior claims to
public help and sympathy than an or
phan asylum We take pleasure In ex-
pressing our sincere thanks for the liberal
requests made by the late Mr. A. G. Bah
cock. and also the late Mr.. Mark Dow
ney. These were $500 each. Also to Mr..
Newman for 81 900. None OF these have
been yet paid into our treasury. We are
sorry TO confess the loss OF 5000, the re-
suit OF the depreciation OF property on
which money was loaned years ago We
nope others now living will initiate these
benevolent and generous gentlemen.
THE SUPERINTENDENT.
The report concludes: We are glad TO
ma increasing evidence from year to
Year OF Mrs. Gill's popularity. especially
among the mothers Of the boys An the
asylum me good seed sown will he
sure to bear fruit long after she passe,
away. While the asylum receives but
little pecuniary aid from the citizens gene.
raiiy. as before said. yet II has some very
generous friends whose modcs,y would
be offended by special mention.
such Is the health OF the boys that DR.
Moseiey's Kind ministrations are not much
needed. Mr.. Anderson. the faithful