The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-26
BETHESDA'S DAY OF JOY.
CELEBRATION OF THE UNION So
CIETY's 14OTH ANNIVERSARY.

The Attendance Large and the An
nIversary Celebration a Success in
Every Way-The society Declined
TO Accept President EstilI's Res
ignation-AII of the Officers Re-
eIected-steps 10 BE Taken to
Arouse "a More General Interest
Among the People of Savannah in
the work of the sOciety-A Larger
Membership Needed in order to
Maintain the Work on It's Present
scaIe-An Eloquent Address De-
Iivered to the Bethesda Boys by
Rev. j. Y. Fair. ID ID, Upon 'the
Battle of Life"
The Union Society celebrated its 10Th
anniversary at the Bethesda Orphan
House yesterday. The celebration was one
of the most successful and satisfactory
in every way in the history of the society.
The weather was especially suspicious,
and the day seemed as If made for the
occasion Scores of the friends of the in
stltution were there, enjoying themselves
and adding TO the enjoyment of the or
phan boys.
The only drawback to the pleasure
of the visitors was the tedious ride
from Sand Fly 70 the Bethesda sta
ton behind that relic of the dark ages.
the street car mule. The decrepit old en-
CINE. which formerly did service on the
Montgomery branch was reported to have
gone to the scrap pile. Five trailer cars
were furnished by the street car company
and the board of stewards provided the
mules to haul them back and FORTH The
mules were evidently not in practice, and
The rate of progress was slow. Fortunate
ly. however, this portion of the ride was
short
The stewards were successful in their
sale of tickets and there must have been
a considerable addition to the revenues of
the society from this source. Cars left
Whitaker and Second streets at $3.50 and
1920 a. M, u M, and 2:SO and $3.50 p. m.
filled in nearly every instance.
The anniversary Is always the gala day
of the year at Bethesda, and Supt. Chap
lin and his assistants had made appro-
pirate preparations. The rooms were all
handsomely decorated with festoons of &C.
dar palmettos, and wreaths of moss with
a profusion of roses and other fioWers.
The dormitory in the east wing had been
converted into ball room and the young
people enjoyed themselves in dancing. Mu-
sic was furnished by Middleton's band.
In the opposite wing the tables of the
large dining room had been loaded with
the good things secured by the members
of the board of stewards through the kind
ness of the people of Savannah. 1t is very
probable that this feature of the annivers-
airy far outweighed ali others in import
ance in the minds of the young charges
of the society. When the big bell was
rung for dinner there was a very rapid
Fastening from all portions of the ground
of the little fellows, who had been await
ing the signal. The boys were marshalled
in double rank, in military order, accord
| ing to hight by the superintendent. BY
| far the greater number were very small
boys, the majority being under years of
| age. The little fellows behaved WELL and
when marched into the dining room took
their seats at the table without disorder
The blessing of kind providence was in
Yoked by Rev. DR.. J. Y. Fair.
At each plate was a large yellow bag
Instead of beginning to eat at once, each
boy al once opened up his bag and pro-
ceeded to fill it with the good things be-
fore him. To visitors who had never at
tended a Bethesda anniversary this was a
novel feature. 1t is feature, however.
| that the boys would not willingly have
omitted. They were assisted in filing
| their bags by the lady attendants, after
which each boy proceeded 20 put in a
| hearty meal from the bountiful supply
| that remained. The stewards had been
very successful in their work, and there
| was a plentiful supply both of delicacles
| and substantials. A party of girls from
the Savannah Female Orphan Asylum was
present as the guests of the home, and
was provided with a special table in the
dining room.
| The older persons present enjoyed
watching the children az their feast for a
! time and then Supt. Chaplin led the way
! to the teachers dining room on the first
| floor, where the officers and trustees OF
| the society were served with dinner. None
| of The large crowd of visitors went hun
| CRY. The board of stewards and the lady
attendants enjoyed their dinner after the
| children had been served, while through
| out the spacious grounds numerous par
ties picnicked under the trees.
Dinner being over, the exercises began.
| The annual meeting of the society was
called to order by President Estin The
attendance was not as large as the Off
GERS of the society would have liked, but
those who were present were evidently
thoroughly interested in the work ana
| suggestions were made and plans adopte5
which it is believed will lead 60 a larger
interest in the future.