The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-01-17
MASONIC HOME REPORT
READ Ar MEETING OF CHARITY
FOUNDATION IN HARTFORD.

Superintendent Buckingham Gives in De-
tail Financial Condition of the Institu-
ton and Makes Due Aclsnowled gment to
Various Clergy and Laymen.
The following is the first report of SUI
perintendent Clark Buckingham of the
Masonic home at Wallingford TO the
president of the Masonic Charity Foun-
dation of Connecticut, and read at the
annual meeting of the Charity Founda-
ton in connection with the annual com
munication of the Masonic grand lodge
in Hartford yesterday:
Luke A. Lockwood, President of the
necticut:
Dear Sir and M. w. Brother-Here-
with we present to you a report of the
first eight months of the Masonic home.
"rhe labors of the superintendent
commenced April is, 1895, and it would
be impossible for me to give you in de-
tail the amount of labor performed to
get the home and the grounds sur
rounding it in proper shape and ready
for inmates. Those who came to the
proposed home at the time a special
communication of the grand lodge was
called there, and then had the pleasure
of visiting us September rs at the ded-
ication, could be able to judge some
what of the amount of labor which had
been performed
1.-The home was in readiness for the
reception of inmates August 5. Previ-
Gus to that time we had three inmates
sent to us whom we took into our fam
lily while we were quartered in the or
phanage building, and l am pleased to
say they have been of great service to
us on the garden and farm during the
past season
1.-THE results from the farm presume
may not have proven to be as much of
a financial success as we all could have
wished; but when we stop to consider
that the land has been cultivated for
the past fifteen years and everything
taken off that could be got, and moth
ing put on to keep 1t in condition to bear
crops, we must not look for large re-
suits at present.
'It will take several years to get the
farm back to Its normal state, but by
careful management and hard labor We
think that you will see a gradual inn
provement in the financial results from
year to year.
Notwithstanding the disadvantages
under which we labor, we have raised
the past season between three and four
hundred bushels of potatoes, also be
tween three and four hundred bushels
of ears Of corn, one hundred bushels Of
beets, one hundred bushels of carrots
and turnips for feed for the stock. We
also have a vegetable garden of three
quarters of an acre, where we raised
all of the vegetables which were requtr-
ed at the home and some to spare.
"The first of May received the horses
and farming tools. I then hired one
man to take charge of the barn and
work upon the farm. During the hay
ing season and gathering Of crops l
have hired by the day at times one and
sometimes two extra men. The stock
on the farm consists Of three horses,
two cows, two fat hogs four pigs, TWEEN
ty chickens.
TN the running of the house the
working force at the present time con-
sists Of an assistant matron, one cook,
one chambern1aid, and one woman in
the laundry three days in week. The
lady members of the home, such as
have been able, have helped in the
kitchen and dining room. Most of them
have been able to care for their own
rooms with the exception of sweeping.
Immediately after the home was
opened we made arrangements for re-
ligious services in the assembly room.
They have been held ever Sunday after
noon at 3 o'clock, and have been con-
Quoted by the several clergymen in
Wallingford Meriden, South Meriden
and Yalesville. With the exception of
one stormy Sunday our attendance has
not been less than seventy-five, and
from that to It's, for which we wish to
express our thanks. Our acknowledge
ments are made to the following clergy
men and laymen up to date: Revs. j.
e. Wildman, F. E. Marble, J. ]. Blair,
NJ Craig, Henry Stone, w. V. Peck,
F. w. Hannah, A. H. Mead, Henry
Blatz, jr, w G. Fennell, G. l.. Coburn,
DR.. Barker, Mr.. butcher, w. S. Perkins,
S. J. Bryant Our thanks are also due
to those who have so kindly assisted
in the musical portion of our services
from Meriden, South Meriden, Yales-
vile, and Wallingford. We also de-
sire to express our thanks to Mr.. and
Mrs j. W. Watrous of Meriden for
their kindly assistance in our Sunday
services.
1.-THE health of the members has been
as good as could be expected when we
consider their age and physical dis
abilities. We have lost by death Broth
er George I. Hopkins of Union lodge,
No 40, of Danbury, who died September
II of heart disease at the age of seven
ty-five years.
eve present herewith a statement of
cash received and disbursed from April
Is to December 81 1896:
cash received from treasurer of Ma
sonic Charity Foundation, $4,000; from
farm produce, 1856 80; disbursed, 81, 678.54
balance in hand of superintendent, sS.26.
''For improvements there was expend-
ed $360.47; paid out in expense at the
house, S949,71; on the farm, 81, DAB 80; for
superintendent, s325O6; making a total
disbursement OF $2,67S56
I'm the house expense account is in
cluded all of the help hired in the
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