The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-01-30
GENEROUS MR.. DUKE.
He Supplements His Gift of $4,000 to
the Oxford Orphan Asylum with
like Sum Upon the Same Conditions.

He Supplements his uirt OF $4,000 "
the Oxford Orphan Asylum with
like Sum Upon the Same Conditions.
Mos. of onr readers are familiar with
the generous action of Mr.. B. n. Duke,
of Durham, last year in giving $4,000
IL The Oxford Orphan Asylum upon
Condition that the Masons Of the State
should raise a like amount. Abou.
81 900 of this was readily subscribed
bu, from some cause only little more
than $4,000 has been collected. At
the recent meeting Of the Grand Lodge
the deficit was made up and $4,000
was pledged toward offse,ting second
proposition from Mr., Duke to raise his
gift to.s1o,ooo. From the report of
Mr.. n. NJ. Lawrence, Superintendent
Of the Asylum, made to the Grand
Lodge, we take the following extract,
giving Mr.. Dukes letter written just
previous to the meeting Of that body:
THE DUKE PROPOSITION.
At the last Grand Communication
Mr.. b. n. Duke generously proposed
to give S. 900 Ito erect new buildings
and improving those already on the
grounds, provided the Masons and peo-
pie of North Carolina would contribute
like amount" A subscription was
asked for and very near $4,000 was
subscribed. Owing to some mlsunder-
standing some Of those subscriptions
are not available. Up to the present
time SO, 1Cl.97 has been paid in. lam
in receipt of the following letter from
Mr.. Duke, which shows his good will
and earnest desire to help this worthy
cause:
DURHl,i, n. C., Dec. 81, '95.
Mr.. y. NJ. LAWRENCE,
iSup't. Oxford Orphan asylum,
Oxford, N. C.
DEAR SIR:-Referring to my Offer OF
last year to contribute $1,000 for the
erection of better buildings for accommo-
dation of the orphans under your care.
provided the MasOns of the State should
raise, during the year 1898, like sum to
be used for the same purpose, l beg to
say hope the condition has been com
piled with; and that Fam ready to send
check for the S., 900 when you advise me
of such compliance by the Masons.
wish to say, also, that if such sum
has been raised by them, and if they wish
to continue their efforts to provide more
fully for the orphans, l will make the
same offer for the year 1896, and will
pay an additional s., 200 to be used as
stated above; provided the Masons shall
have, during the year 1896, raised a like
additional sum for the same purpose. If,
however, the Masons frave not raised the
$4,000 necessary to be raised by them
during this year, to make my cOntrlbu-
ton payable and wish to extend their
efforts into the next year, [ agree that II
they shall, during the years lS9o-lS96.
raise Tor the purpose stated, either hVe
thousand dollars or ten thousand dol
lars, | will, upon notice OF the payment
by them of either of said sums, pay an
equal sum. | trust, however, that | WIFI
hear from you that the sum Olive thOus-
and dollars has been raised by them dur
ing the present year, so that $4,000
may become Immediately available for
Tue present necuS OK tHe IODle CldIluS
which we havejn charge.
would suggest that you call the atten-
ton of the Grand Lodge to the fact that
to complete the work at the Asylum
already planned by the Building Commit
tee will cost not ess than twenty or TWEEN
ty-tve thousand dollars, with the assur
ance hat all the improvements decided
upon are absolutely necessary to the
placing of the institution in reasonably
comfortable condition. | am. dear sir
with very great respect,
Yours truly.
b. n. DUKE.
This proposition is all the more gen.
erous on the part of Mr.. Duke since he
is not Mason. and in making it he
shows not only his disinterestedness
and philanthropy but his approval and
confidence in the grand work being
done by our noble Order. This is the
opportunity of Masonry in North Caro-
lima for making the Oxford Orphan,
Asylum one of the most effective in
situations for carrying out tho purposes
of its mission. and making it the great
est factor in the State for farming out
good and useful citizens.
FINALLY
If there is anything in this old world
of ours that will put human being in
touch with his God and fill his soul with
the sunshine Of heaven, it is the tender
compassion of that man whose heart
beats with kindly sympathy for the des-
titute homeless child, adrift on the ocean
of life-father and mother dead, and
who with loving pity reaches ont a
helping hand to rescue and to save 1T
This is the mission and work Of the OK
ford Orphan Asylum. Its possibilities
are simply immense, and the Influence
of it is so vast that Omnscience alone
can comprehend it.
God help us to understand fully the.
solemn responsibility we have assumed
that we may meet it as becomes mel
and Masons; and may our Supreme.
Grand Master raise up good men who
will hel p us carry on the work more,
largely and efficiently, that more of the.
destitute orphans of North Carolina
may be redeemed from the slavery Of
degradation and sin, and fitted
for citizenship and heaven.
ReSDectfull submitted