The broad ax., 1898-04-16
NEGRO ORPHAN HOME.

us 1upLCA4C OC1AkC AoE oSssCA
condition and for q nobler human
itS has recently found an express
sion in our midst In the purchase
of these beautiful grounds and
buildings for an orphanage. A
home for the parentless, the neg
lected and INDECENT children of our
community. This idea originated
with Prof. Richard Hill and some
Of the associate teachers OF our
public schools . year ago. Since
that time it has grown and de-
veloped through the tireless efforts
of its promoters, until today we
meet to formally open and dedicate
this Eden Spot to the service of
uplifting the helpless and neglected
children of our grand old common.
wealth, the state Of Tennessee, and
apraiseworthy undertaking this is.
When We think of the army of boys
and girls growing up in our city, in
ignorance, vice and shame, without
any care and protection, we are
appalled,.
1.-THE subject of the vorkhouse,
the chain gang, the haunts of
-Magdalsne' and the victims of the
penitentiary. In Nashville we
have a negro orphanage and neg
lected population of not less than
1000 children. Think of it, 1000
negro children in our midst parent
less and neglected.
81 submit, my. friends, it is an
unwelcome thought, but a stubborn
fact, nevertheless, an army of chill
dren growing up without Christian
influence, scarcely any moral
teaching, and without an education
to fit them for life's duties. What
does this orphanage movement
mean, you ask. 1t means an effort
to save at least q few of these un-
fortunate little ones from abject
poverty and possibly a life of
shame and ultimate ruin. 1t means
an effort at their education, their
moral and Christian development,
and fitting them to be intelligent,
honorable citizens. 1t has behind
it the spirit of the highest and
best humanity, and our duty to-
ward it as citizens is first to give
it our moral support.
"When l think Of the hundreds
that swarm in BLACK Bottom
'HelPs Half Acre. Smoky Row.
Tin Cup alley 'Crappy Chute
Wood Maney's Bottom and
many other low wards of the city,
my soul staggers. When 1 look
into the faces Of hundreds of little
urchins 1 meet daily, With dirt
stained features, and whose hands
and hearts will soon be stained
with crime, it seems to me that l
hear the football of a coming
army, whose breathings are not for
the health of society, the city, the
church or nation.
IL listen and ] hear the coming
tread of a generation of men who
not only care nothing for the gov
eminent in which they are born, who
not only care nothing for the flag
under which they are supposed to
march as citizens, but who care
nothing for the church and the
name of Jesus Christ. 1 tell you
here today that these children
growing up IN the back wards of
our city without an education,
without Christian influence, can.
not be left alone with impunity. LEI
We do not look after them and help
them, then they viii make us do 80
as q matter of self preservation.
This institution purposes in it,
humble way to help at least a few
of these unfortunate little ones,
and in so doing save them from a |
life of crime and shame, and if it |
shall be able to help and save but a |
few or but one, it will be taken
cognizance of and recorded among
the moral force that worked right.
eodsnesa in the twilight of the |
twentieth century.
"But, my friends, this orphan
age win need more than sentiment |
and prayers. Our duty towards it |
viii be to give it our financial sup
port, as well a. our moral support. |
No institution can be run without |
money. 1t viii require money to |
make this orphanage live, the
grounds viii have to be beautifed,
the buildings enlarged and ali |
necessary arrangements and equip
ments provided for, incidental to |
the running of an orphan home,