The San Francisco call., 1896-07-28
FARM FOR The ORPHANS
Plan to Pay for the Site by
One Dollar Dona-
tionS.
Pitiful Story of Two Boys 9 and 10
Years of Age Who Had Never
Been Taught Prayer.

There was a special meeting yesterday
afternoon in the parlors of the residence of
Mrs. Chester L. Smith, at 26l3 Pacific
avenue, of ladies interested in the San
Francisco Presbyterian Orphanage and
farm located in San Rafael.
Mrs. P. D. Browne, the president, occu-
pied the chair.
Rev. Mr.. Mcdonald of the advisory
board gave an account of his recent visit to
the home, declaring that il was one of the
most happy homes for children who are
left to the care of strangers that 1e had
ever seen, and he also spoke in high terms
of those in charge of it. He then spoke of
| the site near San Anselmo which has been
selected for the future home and said: 81
| have been all over the State of California
| and have never. seen more beautiful spot
or one better suited for the purpose of es-
| tablishing home such as ii is intended to
build there"
Mrs. Browne said it had always been her
| belief that the country with the beautiful
surroundings of nature and the influence
| of Christian teachings was the best place
| for the bringing up of children, and that
the place proposed TO be secured is under
| the shadow OF the magnificent Theological
College, and that no better place for carry
ing out the purposes of the managers could
be found anywhere. The board, she said,
| will not incur any obligations until the
land is paid for. Then it will erect COM
Portable building, and in time, more sub
! stantial one.
Miss Edgington, the matron OF the
home, gave brief report of the home,
which now has seventy-four inmates-all
il can accommodate-forty OF which are
under years of age, twenty are between
that age and u, and four are over II. The
| children are all healthy, have plenty of
| rla AZ
who are able to attend the public school
have made good records, a number having
at the close of the last term been honorably
promoted. She spoke of the lack of chairs
and benches, and sheeting for the beds,
and stated that for the seventy-four
children there are but sixty-nine bowls,
but under the circumstances, those in
charge make cups supply the deficiency.
She acknowledged the contribution of a
quantity of sugar from Mr.. Spreckels, soap
from Robert Lucy, bolt of muslin from
Hale Bros, and bundle OF brooms from
Armes d Dallam. The children, she said,
want to keep clean, "but, she added, ''it
: requires a great deal OF SOAP"
One of the ladies promised further con-
tribution of that useful article, and another
promised benches.
Mrs. Browne called attention to two
boys who had been received at the home
recently, saying that they had been res.
s cued from evil influence, and Mrs. Edging-
ton added that they were ignorant of theil
letters, had never been taught a prayer
and until last Sunday had never seen The
inside of church. The boys are aged {
and 10. sit is pitiful," said Mrs. Browne
g that such things can be in an enlightened
If age in Christian country"
q After Miss Edgington had taken her de-
parture Mrs. Browne spoke of the youne
= lady's qualifications for the position sh,
- fills and cited an instance to show hel
J: self-denial and interest in the work Mrs
= Noble, the treasurer, and /, !" she said
b ''saw that Miss Edgington contented her
,s self with the food that the children re
ceive and feeling that she ought to be al
:. lowed few extras, for she receives but
's very small salary, so small that / do no
d care to name it, we told her that sh,
would be given $5 a month more. She re
d piled that she would not accept it because
% the home needed it more than she did,
Mrs. Browne drew attention to an illus
e trated article descriptive of the home
u which appeared in THE CALL a few week
q ago, and said that from the, number of let
ters received il was evident that it haS
7 been extensively read.
L The president then outlined the plan b,
&c which it is proposed to raise money to pa,
for the land selected, and that is to hav
:, 5000 persons in the State contribute S
= each, have as many as will contribute Si
e each, and as many as can contribute 50
d each; aud in addition it is proposed L
ask contribution from every Sunday
y school child.
The party from whom it is proposed t
purchase the farm " Ill donate $500; other
e have promised about $780, and at th
y meeting about $50 was pledged.
= At the next meeting of the board tn
. subject will be further discussed as tn
first payment on the land must be mad
= within thirty days after that meeting.