The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-11-16
BARIUM SPRINGS oRPHANAGE.
Annual Report of the Regents Of the Synod 8
Home For Orphans.

The annual report of the Regents of
Tie Barium Springs Orphanage, as
read before the Synod on yesterday by
DR.. Rumple, is of much interest and
will doubtless be read by all interested
in work OF a kindred nature. Ii is as
| follows:
To the Synod of North Carolina:
/. The Regents Of your Orphans Home
at 0Grium Springs are gratifed in being
able to make, in some respects, report
more favorable than any previous one.
For twelve years the institution has
grown in numbers and in conveniences
for the accommodation of its inmates,
and God has continually raised up friends
in time of need.
During the present year there have
been improvements in the teaching de-
partment. The school has been carefully
distributed into nine grades, with four
experienced and enthusiastic teachers,
while a fifth teacher gives lessons in vo-
cal and instrumental music, and it is
claimed that the school will compare ia
yorably with the best graded schools in
the State.
2. We call the attention of the Synod
10 the fact that the long desired Home
for the superintendent has been com
pleted, and the family are now ENJOYING
the comforts of family life for the first
time in twelve years. The residence is
of brick, situated Immediately fronting
the main central building, across the
public road; is two stories in height, con-
tains eight rooms, and is tastefully plan
ned and constructed, and cost two thou
sand six hundred dollars. The money
for its erection was contributed, one
half by Mr.. Geo. w. Watts, a member
of the board of Regents, and the other
half was raised among the churches by
Rev. +. Z. Gillespie, our Synodical agent
for home evangelization. Thanks are
due to these two brethren for their lib
crafty, and self-denying efforts in this
behalf and also to the generous contrib
utors to this good work.
g. The Regents would further report
that $4,000 of the $4,000 legacy left to the
Home by Mr. S. p. Alexander, of Char
lotte, has been paid into the treasury by
the executors of Mr.. Alexander's will,
the other SO, 900 remaining in the execu-
tors hands awaiting final settlement. The
Regents have not yet fully determined in
what manner this legacy shall be ex-
pended but are of the opinion that it
should be spent in permanent improve
ments and beiterments on the premises,
and not be devoted to the support of the
orphans. Your Regents are n the opin-
ion that our people are abundantly able
to feed clothe and educate the children
by their own contributions and that they
will willingly do SO, if the proper means
are used to raise the necessary amounts.
f. The number of children this year in
the Home has been 1870, two less than
last year Of these - were girls and
So boys. The average attendance has been
12n. These children and their teachers
and matrons have enjoyed general good
health. There was one child who was
taken with typhoid fever shortly after
admission into the Home, the disease
having originated elsewhere. By judi
cious care the disease was prevented
from spreading, but it suggested the fact
that our sewerage system was very prim-
tive and deficient, and that steps should
be taken as soon as practicable to i'm
prove the waterworks and sewerage sys
tenn This matter will claim the early
attention of the Board of Regents.
5. Employment of children and proceeds
of the farm.-The forenoons of five days
in the week are devoted to school work
and the afternoons to manual labor. The
children are carefully taught all domes-
tic duties, and are exercised in all do
nestle Iabors so that when they have
finished their term at the Home, they
come out we'll equipped for the duties of
everyday life in the world The boys
are employed according to their strengths
and ability in the printing office, in the
woodward. in caring for the furnaces and