The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-19
TIE HON gle AGED.
1nteres -ing CeremonI.s at the Laying
of the Cornerstone.

and imposing than Lhat OF laying lhe
cornerstone of a building which is to be
dedicated to the service of God through
works among men. 1t is the conservation
Of the structure to its future of useful
ness. 1t appeals TO the sympathies of every
charitable heart.
Certainly the work of the Little Sis
tiers of the Poor appeals to the charity of
all. It is a work in which the entire com
munity has an interest, and one with
out which, having once experienced its
GOOD results, it would be at a great loss.
Much interest has been manifested in
the erection of the new building in which
their work is to be carried on. The fund
for it's construction has been gathered by
hard work from various sources. The
building has risen to the hight of the
first floor, and yesterday was set apart
for the ceremonies connected with the
LAYING of its cornerstone. platform
was built around the cornerstone, which
Is on the west side of the main entrance
on Abercorn street near Seventh. In
spite of the inclemency of the
weather. and the continual drilling rain,
over two hundred people gathered tCS
witness the ceremonies. They were con
Quoted by Rt. Rev. Thomas A. Becker,
assisted by Father Catferty.
BISHOP BECKER's DISCOURSE.
The exercises were opened by dis
course by Bishop Becker. The text was
taken from l Corinthians, xii, 4 to II
verses. .'Now there are diversities of
praces. by the same spirit And there
are diversities of ministries, but the
same Lord. And there are diversities of
operations, but the same God who work
eth in all" Bishop Becker said:
,ta1-r,v 49, ~
Little sisters Of the Poor appeals to the
heart of every child of Adam. II challenges
our admiration and compeIs our cheertul
help: for human nature, though fallen. Is not
totally debased, and when heroism Is plainly
visible and selhshness excluded, all are
moved to take part in Offering aid for the
benefit of the needy.
Among the most destitute we may very
fairly class the aged and in6rrn, whose sec
ond childhood has ever been a fruitful theme
for the moving Of our sympath1eS, since the
tickle wheel of fortune brings often changes
unexpected, and the wealthy OF to cay are
not sure but that bitter want may be their
portion. and the Door house thetrlas shelter
Now it can hardly be called in question
that the work of smoothing the pillow of the
inhrm and aged, and the task OF surrounding
their last days with all the comforts of body
and soul, humanity speaking, possible have1n
this so much Of the spirit OF the good Samarl-
tan that nOne can possibly refuse assistance
Hence the Little Sisters of the Poor" en-
g0ge their whole life service unrequited here
below, in the alienation OF the needy, and
their only reward consists I'm the luxury OF
dying good"
1t is needless to compare the varioJs works
of beDevolenCe as with purpose of eXaltng
one at the expense of another style of charity
This may, however he said that whereas in
almost all other labors some special allure
ments and rewards can fairly be expected
yet in this there is little of gratitude; for the
aged usually deem 1t the bounded duty of all
TO bear with their oddities and whining; they
scarcely consider themselves in any way
obliged to thankfulness, and, in the very ma
lure of the case, they can make no turn
When charity opens her S ores for the Dene it
of orphans of one or the other sex, we may
expect, though our hopes are seldom realized,
that at some future time something may move
their hearts to do for others what has been
done for them
1t is not so in regard to the aged and in
firm" They are usually set in their ways;
they are fixed in notions: disagreeable for
the most part in their habits, customs and
manners, and no reward, save that which
comes from on high. could equal the difficult
task OF helping the King Lears, in their do
tage save the undylng love OF devoted CoFde-
las -rt ---., va
-phe history of our Little Sisters of the
Poor is one which deserves to be written in
letters of gold and engraved on the hearts of
all mankind. From the most me ager begin
ming, they have now upwards of $50 homes in
the large cities of the world, and in the Uni
ted States some $50 sisters minister to the
wants OF more than 700 poor old men and wo-
men, without distinction OF creed, or any.
thing else In the United States The fortieth
home IS here In Savannah On an average
here there are 80 old people. Thier mode of
life is prescribed and is simply devoted to
the service OF humanity, what phil
anthropists talk about - that they
do what is purely abstract among
philosophers-that they render practical hy
feeding the poor, clothing the naked, nursing
the sick, protecting the most forlorn of God S
creatures-the forgotten and friendless. They
may well lie called ministerlng angels, since
they take under their charge those who are
soured and grabbed, Transforming them into
gentle and peaceable souls awaiting the grim
beyond.
= The management of the poor by these
Little Sisters differs in almost every respect
from that found in other asylums 1. The poor
inmates are treated not only as human
beings, but as responsible men and women,
who can here, suitably and quietly prepare
LOT death by having at. least, offered to them
all the advantages of religion. These are
pot thrown upon them, They are not nau-
seated by constant whine on the subject
nut they have before their eyes the lives of
me t1f sisters and their example is more fruit
1ul Than all our preaching.
IL. The inmates are not degraded. They
nave at once the sweet title of children" un-
ger mother and the sisters, who live but for
tnelr comfort, and whose experience in
soothing body and soul is equivalent to a
graduation in charity.
III. They are helpers in the habits of per-
sonal mcekn6 IS and gentleness SO that in a
remarkably brief period even the toughest
ana most boortsh are obliged to change their
ways This is little short of miraculous.
even the cultured might find ground for ad-
mfatlcu IN the education extended to our
poor brothers and sisters, the aged
inmates of the home under the
charge OF the Little Sisters OF the Poor. To
them, as well as to those who help them, we
can Justly apply those blessed words: Pos
sess the kingdom prepared for You; for l was
hungry, We gave me to eat; thirsty and We
gave me to drink: naked and We clothed me;
SICK and In prison, and We visited me-"
THE CORNERSTONE SEALED.
AT the conclusion of the sermon lib
eral contribution was made to the work
by those present.
Bishop Becker and Father Cafferty
read the litany, during which holy water
was poured on the cornerstone and the
sign OF the cross made at its four corners.
a copper box, containing a diagram
OF the building, a Sundays MORNING
NEWS, and other articles were placed in
tne cornerstone and then it was sealed
by Architect Urban.
lhere is no great treasure in that
ooX, said Bishop Becker, as the marble
sIao was cemented on, land it will not
pay anyone TO steal it,
Inc ceremonies were unusually inter
estlng. The work of the Little Sisters"
III savannah is a noble and deserving one.
Inc people realize this, and the iustitu-
lion does not often ask aid in vain. 1t
Is non-sectarian, ministering to the needs
ana wants of the aged and infirm of all