The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-05-19
oH1LDREN,s HOME SOCIETY.
Gratifying Reports Made AT It's An
nuaI Meeting. .t.


nuaI Meeting.
The ninth annual meeting of the Mime
sofa Children's Home society was held
last night at the Park Congregational
church. Reports were read showing the
work of the organization during the past
year. Supt. Hutchins, of the Re-
lief society; Rev. H. F. Stllwell and
James A. Jackson, secretary of the state
board of correction and charities, were
present, as well as Rev. Frank Doran,
of Rochester, who spoke on 1.-THE Benefit
to Society of Caring for Children
Supt. E. P. Savage. Of the society.
reported that during the past year 140
children have been taken under the care
of the organization and 142 were given
homes. During the nine years of it's ex-
istance 1880 children have received care.
Besides the children placed in homes dur
ing the past year, 81 have been otherwise
provided for. The receipts of the society
from all sources were $9,682.S2, expendi
lures 50, 728, 55, leaving a deficit of SIS. The
workers during the year were the same
as formerly, Rev. E. P. Savage, superin-
tendent; Rev. D. B. Jackson, Mrs. A.
Weber and Mrs. E. P. Savage. assistants.
Miss C. Linnel, of Minneapolis, acted as
city visitor for that place during the year,
seeking out needy and destitute children.
A table of interesting statistics accom-
panied the superintendent report, show
ing that of the 40 children received,
thirty-eight were from st. Paul. thirty
seven from Minneapolis eighteen from
Duluth and twenty-seven from different
places throughout the state. OF these, as
regards nationality, the majority were
American, other nationalities ranking AS
follows: German, Irish, Scotch, Italian,
colored, Swede, Canadian, Dane, Norwe-
gian, Polish, Firms, French. The majority
of children placed in homes received proper
care and attention, and in almost every
case were happy and content. OF those
returned, some were taken back by the
society, owing to the fact that they did
not receive proper care and treatment
The choir of Park Congregational
church was present and sang an anthem,
which was followed by an address from
Rev. F. Doran, Of Rochester. He said,
in speaking of the relations of society and
the movements for the proper care Of
destitute and deserted children:
1.-The power of environment has larg-
er effect upon life Of child than heredi-
tary tendencies, though the latter form q
factor which must be recognized The
worst character of our modern civilization
has value of good. If 1t can be reached
in the right way. Every person, no mat
ter how depraved, retains in his or her
makeup the seeds of what, If developed,
might form an influence which would
work toward right living. man was
recently pardoned after serving ten years
at Sing Sing. because 1t developed that
friend of his had confessed to the murder
for which he was imprisoned on his death
bed. The prisoner said, when he was told
of the confession, I would rather have
served the remainder of the term than to
have implicated my friend F"
Even In such character there ie-
manned a principle which would have
done credit to any man. The Influences
which make us are those which surround
our early life The sparks of good need
development. 1t is in this connection that
the significance of work of societies such
as this becomes apparent. If we believe
In the value of human life, then we haze
every incentive to prosecute this noble
work There would be need of but few
prisons if every child born In the slums
of our great cities and in other hotbeds
of degradation could be placed in a home
and surrounded with influences during his
early life which would make for the best
in life ("
Supt Savage followed with an address
in which he spoke of the outlook for the
wears work as bright The work OF The
society is becoming more and more known
and is receiving better support