The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-04-24
BEHTESDA'S DAY OF DAYS.
CONTINUED from Eighth Page.l


conditions arise"
second, the measure OF success is the
moral character Of the purpose. II Is
possible TO attain 10 what the world calls
success IN an agnoble enterprise. In one
Of the great cities of our state a man who
owned the finest block OF bu;idines In
the city, l vas told, when . POOR bow
determined he would own that TsroD-
crty II he lived TO be 80 years Of age. He
did what he said he would do but died
al the Sacrince of honesty. His purpose
was 10 get money, no matter how every
thing Went down before that. Here was
success. but success unworthy of a true
man. That man died unwept, unhonored
and unSung.
Take a case on the other side Caorge
Withheld, a young man, came to Savan-
nah LOO years ago. He was marveIouslv
Eifted as an orator. He swayed multi
fudes with his eloquence. As he moved
about these streets his great, warm. low
ing heart went out towards the boys and
the noble purpose was formed to establish
for them school of instruction and
training. The state Of Georgia was a
colony: then seemingly insuperable din
CuIties lay in his way, but he persevered
Thirteen times he crossed the ocean:
and, while this society has undergone i'm
pOrtant changes, vet but for the mighty
purpose of that man you would probably
not enjoy the advantages of Bethesda The
good men who have had it in charge
since his day have had to face difficulties
but have been nerved for their task by the
worthiness of their cause. Henry Drum
mond has written well of the expulsive
power of a pure affection. Much more
might be written of the propuIsive power
OF noble purpose. Once firmly fixed II
laughs at Representatives, History tells of
blind man who had explored the econ
omy of a beehive and, more wonderful
still, lsctured on the laws of light De
mosthenes, the stammerer, determined he
would be an orator and with pebbles in
his mouth and the sea surge in his ears
he attained the end he sought and sWayed.
as no other man could do the changeful
tides of the mighty masses Of Athenian
democracy.
Some of you boys are thinking. 4 have
poor chance to be anything in the world;
no father no mother no money Don't
talk that way. You have a splendid
chance in this great, free country of ours
Poverty is no disgrace; it may be. and
often is, a positive blessing for a boy to
begin life with nothing but muscle and
brain and a good character. With these
If he VIII he may climb to the top. You
have as good a start as had Andy John
son. or Lincoln, or Garfield. or Cleveland.
There is no reason under the sun why
some of you boys here to-day may not,
and lawyers, and DOCTORS and journalists
in this and other communities; no rea-
son why some of you should not, in a few
years. be legislators, and congressman,
and ambassadors in foreign courts; moth
ing. to prevent you from filling the pulpits
and occupying seats OF justice, or even
attaining to the presidency of this great
nation. l do not doubt that the possibi-
ity of all these things are before me to-
day. The brightest kohinoors are often
picked out of the commonest sand. Michael
Angeles browning piece of sculpture was
carved from neglected marble, lnarreQ ana
hacked and thrown out in the rubbish as
worthless. So l say to you boys to-day,
aim high. Have purpose. a definite
purpose, and let II be a noble one. Adopt
Davy Crockett's motto: BE sure you are
right, then go ahead Make everything
bend to the one purpose of being useful
success, do more-deserve IL.
THE second suggestion that comes to
me out of this institution is the immor-
tally OF noble deeds, the imperishable-
ness Of true charity. st. Paul was right
here is meant the love that shows itself
in generous deeds of kindness to such
as are in need. It perpetuates itself in
the character of the doer, for every kind
deed done makes the doer the kindlier
1t is perpetuated in the character and
memory of the beneiciaries. There are
few people I'm the world so bad as to be
absolutely proof against the power of
kindness You remember IN Nietor
jean was saved. Some one has put the
thought in beautiful little poem;
"T saw smile--to a poor man 'twas
And he was old:
The sun broke forth-I saw that smile in
Wrought into gold.
"'wrought into gold; we that pass down
lifes hours
So carelessly,
Might make the dusty way a path Of
If we would try.
Then every gentle deed we've done or
kind word given
Wrought into gold would make us won
drous rich in heaven
'NIr. President and Gentlemen of the
Bethesda Union Society: l sincerely con-
graduate you on the good work you are
doing; on what has been accomplished and
on the vast possibilities of achievement
IN the +d future n tbe op b aPe pudng IN the
your memory more valuable by far than
costly marble. In the years to come some
of these bright-eyed boys will gladden.
your hearts by their grand success in life
and brighten your declining years with
their grateful benedictions for advant-
ages enjoyed under your fostering care"
At the conclusion of the address Mr..
Thomas offered the following resolution:
Resolved That the thanks of the soci-
ETY. be rendered to Rev. J. 0. A. Cook
for his appropriate and interesting ad
dress, and that copy OF the same be
requested of him for publication.
The resolution was unanimously adopt
ed.
The meeting was closed by the benedic-
ton by Rev. DR.. Nass.
Immediately after the exercises Mr..
Reppard and the stewards took charge of
the orphan boys and girls and marched
them to the dining room, where an hour
or more was spent in the annual dinner.
Among the contributors to the anniver-
sary dinner were the Mutual Cooperative
Association, John Lyons & Co., John T.
Evans & Co, Hoyle Grocery Company,
James McGrath & Co., n. Lang, Est S.
grocer; Pulaski Grocery Company Faw-
colt Bros. Higgins & Co., NJ. Ferst Sons
& Co, Savannah Grocery Company, A.
LETTER & Son, A. Enrich & Bro, 6. W.
Tiedeman & Bro, Henry Solomon & Son,
S. Guekenheimer & Sons, Hull & Peoples.
James Douglass, ]. e. Grady & Sons, Fried
q Hicks, George Schwarz, G. d. Hinckley
Grantham Bros, II. Logan, J. c. Slater
Thomas West & Co, G.. w. Allen & Co.
James S. Silva, Edward Lovells Sons r,
Nugent, John Derst, Mrs NJ. c. Herman
Pulaski House, A Kessells, Screven
House, John Schwarz, James H. Furber