The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-09
Rev. H.. c. Meserve Heard.

The Rev. II. G. Meserve, pastor of Plym-
outh Church. addressed the society and
audience on institutional Care of De-
pendent Children as follows:
said a friend to me, after a speech in
his church, L am so glad you didn't give us
the history of our denomination. 1t is not
my. purpose TO give a history of a work
which 1 know, and can know at best, but
imperfectly. | am a specialist in one thing
only, and L find that it requires all my
time and energy to keep pace with that one
thing. But | do claim to have a large and.
l nope. practical sympathy with the work
represented here tonight, and it is my
purpose TO inspire you with something of
the deep interest which all must feel who
come into close contact with this Organiza-
ton.
set with the paternalism Of the State. This
Is not a new idea altogether. although it's
application is comparatively new. The king
assumed 10 be the father of his people,
but under the monarchical systems the
greatest poverty and degradation have ex-
listed. If the king concerned himself with
the suffering of his people really, he quickly
cleared his debt by the gift of money or
institution which, under the care of the
church, should alleviate distress. So char
lty was dispensed with often liberal,
though unwise. hand, and the real condition
of the people not much. if any, bettered.
We have come to a new and higher prin-
ciple. The state to-day dispenSes, not char
ity, but equity. 1t is fulfilling not the law
Of sentiment, but of brotherhood. 1t is aid
ing the weak for the enrichment of its
own life and to pay, if possible, the debt
it owes every member of the community.
"To it's State Board of Charities and kim
dred organizations, therefore. it has COM
mitted the care of all children in need. If
misfortune comes to any. then the State
is ready with its preferred aid to bridge
the chaSm between ~indigency and s~elf-Sup-
port. be ii for a brief period or until ma
turity. If the parents are taken and the
child'S natural guardians removed, then the
State has its orphans home to provide,
so far as possible. that lack of parental
care. If the parents or guardians are in
competent or criminal the State has its
Board of Children's Guardians. who pro-
vide for the dependent one. If the child
Is incorrigible or himself criminally in
clined, then the State has it's reform schools
to eradicate. if possible. these faults. So
it is. in theory at least. that there is not
a condition of the dependent life which the
State is not competent TO meet.
Now this, l say, is the theory, and il is
a good one. For, though there be prac-
teal difficulties in the way at times, and
though there be objections that may arise
and for which no general law can provide
a remedy. yet the working of the system is,
on the whole, successful and the results
satisfactory.
HOME o STATES WARDS.
lit is, of course, the ideal of the State
to provide a home for It's wards. Not an
easy thing to do after all. for the ideal
contained in that word home is difficult
u dlldAA tN0A AiLt AHS ~
circumstances Yet. so far as it can, the
State is carrying out this idea. One of the
most successful fitting schools of which
1 know is organized upon this home plan.
And that it is to a large degree success
full have reason to know. Little compa-
MES of boys are grouped in different houses
about the campus, under the care of a mas
ter and his wife. Here the home life is set
up and maintained and the master and his
wife stand in something like the relation
of father and mother TO the boys under
their charge. This plan has proved sue
cessful so far as it has been introduced
into our own institutions, and, with proper
buildings for the further development,
would be a great aid in the right holding
of the child life.
Indiana is, with cause, proud OF many Of
its public buildings, but this pride need not
with cause extend to the buildings given
over TO the use of its children. (When l
speak of the state l am all along using a
generic term and do not attempt TO assign
responsibility to city or county or society or
Individually Those in this city are for the
most part old and hardly suited TO the uses
TO which they are put. Perhaps an out-of-
town location. with greater facilities in the
way of Fairgrounds. buildings (cOttages)
and good country air might be a great adj
vantage, but here l am speaking from the
point of view of a sympathiZer rather than
as an expert. One thing | may say with
pOsitiveness and as a taxpayer. That in
work of this kind it is not wise to count
AHt tOSA dl Nlt tNDtISt VI ilt NlllbltH =
best good. Ii is wiser, for instance. TO fix
up an old building at large expense df a
new one cannot be obtained) than to endan-
ger the health and lives Of the children by
waiting till a possibly far-Off decision in
favor of a new building is reached. In fact,
every dollar properly expended for the
benefit Of our dependent children is an in
vestment of untold value to the coming
generation.
SCIENCE OF SOCIOLOGY.
Thanks 10 careful study. there is a
science or something that approaches TO it.
of sociology. and especially in this depart
ment OF which we are speaking. II has
brought TO the front men and women who
are competent, by nature and training. for
the work represented by these institutions
Of which we are speaking: and. so far as
l have observed, that fitness does not fol-
low political affiliations nor does a worthy
superintendent cease TO be so with every
change OF administration And this recog-
milton OF worth which is now coming 10 be
felt by all mer having the good OF the State
at heart has added not a little 10 the eff
cheney OF our institutions.
"A word about our local institutions.
They are four in number. The Home Of
the Board OF Children's Guardians at
Irvington, the Indianapolis Orphan Asylum.
the German Protestant Orphan Asylum and
the Home for Friendless Coiored Children.
The Board OF ChilGren's Guardians is the
only institution owned by the county. The