The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-29
gETHESDES NATAL DAY.
one AND FORTY-EIGHTH ANNIvER-
sARY OF THE ORPHANAGE,

Ncny People Attended the CeIebra-
tfon-The Orphan ROys' Dinner an
Occasion of Inferest-The Union
Society's Observation-Disclosures Es-
tilrs Report and the Anniversary
Address by Rev. j. ID. JOrdan-An
of the sOciety's Officers Reelected,
But one.
Tho 18th anniversary of Bethesda could
not hve fallen on a loveler day than
Yesterday. The natal day of the society
is thai of st. George, the sd of April.
but The bylaws provide that when that
date lsls on Saturday. Sunday or Mon
day. the anniversary shall be observed
on the following Tuesday, unless it shall
be Memorial Day. when the annual meet
ing shall be held on the Thursday next
ensuing. 1t was by reason of the latter
provision, that yesterday was Bethesda
day.
Ii was feared by many of those who
had arranged to spend= the day at the
ancient orphanage that the weather which
had been rainy. windy and cold the day
before, might continue Indictment, but the
morning was bright and balmy and all
that any could desire for days outing
s i'm the country. The attendance was larger
than usual, and the meeting of the Union
Society was by far the largest in many
years.
The stewards, under the direction of MIR
A. S. Nichols, acting chairman. assisted
by a number OF ladies, provided a dinner
far
tween cakes and ice cream Mr. w. A.
Reaves sang a song. The band of the
First Regiment of Georgia Volunteers fur-
nished the music, 10 which the bovs
marched to the festive board and also for
the dancing parties during the day. Alto
sether the feasting and festivities were all
that the boys and their friends and tho
visitors, among whom were manv voune
men who had started life from Bethesda
could wish for.
Inc meeting Of the Society was held In
the parlor in the orphan house at go
o'clock. The reports of the president and
other officers, and the several STANDING
committees were read, received, and order
ed to be entered on the minutes
Inc election of officers resulted in the
unanimous reelection of the EXISTING
board, excepting Mr. w. K. Wilkinson
who had filled the place of secretary fo1.
WE'VE years. He stated that he exnected
10 remove from the city in the latter mart
VI tne year ana begged to be excused from
Iufther service. Mr.. Wilkinson made a
very feeling speech, in which he REFERRED
10 the Iact that he was indebted to the
Cnloh society for its care over him when
ne was an orphan boy under its charge
Inc officers elected are as follows.
I'resident-J. H. Estill.
wee Presidential. r. Thomas.
Treasurer-John Riley.
~Secretafy-E. w. Cubbedge.
The president announced the reannoir+
ment of the following managers.
Managers-Thomas BalIantyne. r u
leopard Samuel Herman, E. F. Lowell
= T. Hamilton, Samuel B. Adams. G. IT
DoIsett, F.. w Cubbedge, J. r. Dillon.
honorary Managers-R. ID. Walker. q
NJ Sorrel William Rogers, r. e. Lester
9leWards-John B. Fernandez, A. s
TlGnois' walter e. Coney, Hugh Logan,
D. W. jackson, F. e. Keilbach, j. H FIIr
Der, A. Kessel
me presidents report is as follows:
Bethesda, April q, 1S9S.-To the Members
OF the Union Society of Savannah: The
I48th anniversary of your ancient and hon
orable society finds its affairs as prosper-
Gus as at any time within my remem-
orance Though its income is insufficient
10 meet expenses, it owes less than it did
year ago and it's expenses during the
same time were not as great
fo1-will notice from the report of the
committee on finance and property that
our Hst OF paying members is gradually
lalllhS OF. | do not, however think this
Is due to indifference on the part of the
| people of Savannah to it's oldest charity.
| out rather to the fact that there are so
many benevolent institutions in the city
| compared TO what there were years ago
"hen nearly every reputable citizen was
member Of the Union Society. Now the
cams of denominational and other institu-
IONS demand that part of the contribu- |
uohs which formerly were given to the
support of Bethesda, be given to them |
Nhen savannah was a small place, the |
mon Society was the institution of the |
city; to-day it is only one of many similar
institutions, many of which have stronger |
GAINS upon individuals than this society. |
While l am not prepared to urge upon the
society the policy of abolshing dues and
making the membership honorary and the |
cohlnbuuonS voluntary, I think the plan |
worthy of your careful consideration. |
Etner this should be done or we should |
I9tdly enforce the bylaws and drop from
'ae roll all who fail to pay their annual
dues promptly.
am glad TO be able to report that your /
zeal estate is in good condition and we'll !
,enled, excepting the Springfield plantation |
o's with which we have some difficulty |
u collecting the rents. The note due by |
ue estate of William Hone for $1,04400 |
was at the request of the executors, ex-
ended five years, to bear interest at the |
'dle OF per cent. per annum. From pres /
Hi appearances, it seems as though we
saaN be fortunate enough to have the fed /
i1l government as our principal tenant of |
Ae Whitfield building for another year, /
possibly longer
me board Of managers, having author |
1e' The committee on finance and prop |
IP to dispose of the machinery for the !
e.ano.ogical school, they sold part Of the |
a.he for $4S722. There is still a consider
Pc amount of the machinery left, which /
N4N probably be disposed of from time !
'he During the year we received from |
'ted dividends Of Augusta and Savan-
' Hailroad stock 1910, and also $1,C0O /
oiA the board of public education, which