Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-02-15
THE FIRST SPEAKER

! OF the evening was Rev. 5. B. Barnitz,
the first President OF the institution,
! formerly of this city, but now of Des
Moines, la. Rev. Barnitz was intro
duced to the audience by Mr.. William
B. Simpson, in a few words. Among
/ other things he said:
/ when we instituted the Children'S
/ Home twenty-five years ago, it was
not necessary 10 uses glasses TO
see the programme. l was much
younger then. IL is impossible, almost,
for me to say anythiuE~iu regard to my
/ ten years connection with the Home
without some egotism. The beginning
( Of the Home was great Jrinmph At
a small meeting OF several gentlemen Of
this city, held in the y. NJ. c. A.
rooms, the needs of the city were
discussed, and among other things the
subject OF the orphans was brought up.
Some of those present said that such
Home as the present one
WAS A NECESSITY.
The subject was thoroughly discussed,
and at the next meeting committee
went TO work TO perfect plans, TO make
an effort to secure charter for the in
sttutlon and 10 attend 10 its other peedS.
The kind and benevolent ladies' of
the city responded noby to the call OF
the committee and did all in their pow
err TO assist in making the undertaking
a success. 1t was 4 very hard matter
at first 10 secure funds, and the first
contributions we're those Of five gentle
men who had met in paror OF one OF
them. who guaranteed SlO0 apiece TO
start the Home. The committee who had
in charge the work OF securing q char
ter from the State Legislature worked
earnest.g early and late, aud finally
after mauy viciSsitudes, managed 10 get
the bill through on the last day OF the
session aud at almost the last hour or
the day The first building occupied
by the home was
The OLD FORSYTHE MANSION,
at the corner Of Market and Seven
teeuth streets, now tbs parson-
age of the Independcut German
Church. The first year OF the
Homes existence the people Of
fthe city contributed generously to its
support. The second year was one of
great trials and fluctuations, bat out Of
despair and darkness came light, AID
before the advent of the third year, we
had passed through some very hard
trials. through sickness and worst OF all
we were in debt. Through all the sick
ness in the Home, which consisted
of smallpox measles, etc, the
noble matron, Mrs. Jane Oldham,
and Miss Wheat, whom ! an
sorry to say cannot be with Us tonight,
stood by the President and Board Of
Directors. When l remember the
struggles and anxiety consequent on
the beginning Of the Home; when /
think OF these things l cannot help but
repeat the words which appear al the
TOP OF the programme: Hitherto hath
the Lord helped us. From the dark
DAYS of the second year until the pres
ent time prosperity has been smiling on
ms. From that small beginning has
emsnsted
THIS BLESSED WORK,
which is not only blessing to the little
ones who have been taken care Of, but
slso 10 the city OF Wheeling and Ohio
county as we'll. During the period Of
nv connection with the Home | did
everything 10 my power TO further its
interests. II is with pleasure that
saw that no where has such an insttu-
ton been managed better and looked
after with greater care. by the ladies'
connected with it, than the ChiItrens'
home IN this city, and TO say that an
proud OF this tweuty-hye-year-old child
is but feebly expressing myself
The next speaker was Rev. w. Is.
Thompson, the second president. now
~ Detroit. Mich. Rev Thompson
smoke very pleasantly for short time
and said:
"My connection with the Home was
verv brief, only being connected with
the institution about year.
When Brother Barnitz was called
awav from Wheeling to &.
wi6er field Of labor l was prevailed
mon 20 take mis- place at the head OF
ne institution and continue, 10 meas
ure. the work SO molly commenced.