The Savannah morning news., 1901-11-03
.BETHESDA'S HISTORY
oRPHANAGE RESTORED ON THE
OLD SITE.
PURCHASE OF ORIGINAL TRACT
HALCYON DAYS OF THE UNION So
GETTY BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR.

states Broke Out-Incidents of In
tvs History in the First Half of
the Last Century-Three of Its
wards Who Became Prominent.
Ibe Building of the Chatham
Academy-visit of President Mon
roe TO the Home.
continued from Last Sundays News
Prepared for the News by Thorn
as Gamble. Jr.)
Rv 1909 seventeen boys were being
educated and maintained from the
bounty of the Union Society. Eight
wears before this the Savannah Fee
male Asylum had been established as
an outgrowth from the Union Society,"
had received from it liberal donation.
and had assumed the care of girls left
orphans or in impoverished circum-
stances, relieving the Union Society of
that part of its work. The society's
membership had grown, it's available
funds were larger. and it was in posi-
ton to properly provide for all of the
children in it's hands, although it is
probable that the number varied but
little for some years.
In 1915 a Board of Managers was
provided by resolution, to consist of the
president, vice president and six mem
bers. The members of this board were
fined 2 cents a minute for hardness at
a meeting or so cents for an entire
non-attendance. The boys were still
placed under private instructors, but
on Sunday were required to attend di-
vine services, going in a body from the
school room to the church. visiting
different churches on the different
Sabbaths'' No boy was received unless
bound to the society until he reached
the age of Il. Each boy was furnish
ed with "a suit of clothes to be worn
only on Sundays" for the purpose of
giving them IAN uniform and decent
appearance to attend divine worship.
All of the children at this time were
placed with Mr.. John Carr at IS a
quarter each for instruction. Mrs. Ann
Christie received $40 a month each for
their board, in 1917, the amount hay
ing then been increased owing ito the
great rise in the markets" The ex-
pense of caring for and educating
child was much greater than it is now,
$216 year against less than 500 at
this time. Mrs. Christie dying, and it
being necessary to reduce the expense,
a contract was made with Carr to
take the boys to the number of II,
more or less. at the rate of 1857 per an
nun each for tuition, boarding, wash
ing, lodging, mending and such other
attention as they may require or be en-
titled to, as boys in their situation
ought to receive" In 1920 the contract
Price was reduced to $3.50 each a year.
The boys evidently remained under
Cdrr's charge for several years. The
society did not stop with putting them
in the hands of a man considered COM
petent and responsible, but continued
its constant supervision. In June, 1918,
a resolution was adopted that not
more than two of the
boys under the patronage of
this institution be permitted to
sleep in one bed, that they have a
mattress for two and a pillow or boil
ster for each, that they be provided
with a pair of clean, coarse sheets
weekly, and coverlid in the summer,
and pair of blankets and coverlid
in the winter and committees to serve
for two months each were appointed
to see that this was CARRIED into eff
feet.
AS soon as the boys were of sufficient
age and had received an elementary
education they were bound out to some
trade. The board was DESTROYS of To-
eating its wards to the best advantage
and scrutinized with a keen eye every
oHer to take them. One trade came
under AignlhaSIIra "
condemned as unworthy to have APP
prentices. 1t is amusing now, know
ing the relatively high rank the re-
pudiated trade has taken, to read in
the proceedings that the board was
OF the opinion that the printing bust
ness is not of sufficient Importance to
bind any of the boys of this institu-
ton to, therefore, resolved, that the
president be directed to withhold the
binding of said boys to that business
and that Mr.. John Hunter be request
ea TO apply to some respectable car
penter, bricklayer or some other me-
chanic to place such of our boys who
may be educated sufficiently to be
bound out" This was in 1917. -Four
years before this, though, the society
Ihoentured a boy to the printing bust
ness who stands among the most prom
lnent of those who have enjoyed the
auVantages provided by it. In 1907
'LNWell CODD was admitted TO the llSJ
OIL oeneficiaries through jeremiah Guy
Ier, his guardian. and on March 13,
1913, he was bound to r. S. Fell print
er. Tor three years. In 1884 this print
eIs apprentice delivered the annual
audress before the society. He was
men Col. Howell Cobb, one of the lead
Jug men of the state. If the managers
VINO looked so scornfully on the print
ing business in 1917 could return to
earth to-day they would doubtless be
SSHocked to discover the vast strides
mas taken and to find that one of
rs IS leading opponents in the South has
at over twenty years been the presi-
ht OF the institution whose inter-
aeS tney served. One of the boys
nom the managers refused 10 bind
W. the printing trade was A. A. Suares,
10 was assigned to bricklayer the
srLHer boy being apprenticed 10 tailor
ne printers evidently successfully re-
"teu TINS slur upon their occupation,
81 couple OF years later the reports
to ow mat boys were again apprenticed
10 that trade.
az u a remarkable coincidence that
~ HIst substantial remembrance 20
society from a former beneficiary
t from Mr.. Suares. who removed 70
gsI.'iaha when a young man. and be-
At prosperous citizen OF that state.
We anniversary celebration In 1898
Sos .thaea and presented the society
~ sp9Y lie was made a nfe mem
~''9 lhe next year Col. Cobb was