The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-11-23
THE WORK DONE
At the synodical Orphans Home in
 Talladega.

At the Synodtcal Orpnans ho"e 4" Talladega.
 Bessemer Correspondent Birmingham News.
 The report of the Orphans Home at Talladega was made last night by the chairman of the Executive Committee Dr. I. c. Snedecor, of Woodlawn, to tbe Presbvterian Synod of Alabama in session here Several talks were made on the subject ,Dr. A. B. Curry, pastor of inc First Church of Birmingham. made A strong appeal for the home. He said he would be miserable If he had not some place like this where he could send poor children.
 A collection was taken for the home in cash amounting to S4,250. The expense of the home runs to over 5000 year. In his talk before the Synod Chairman Snedecor said that the church is some- times criticised for not doing more work of this kind. He pointed out that the Southern Presbyterian Church has now six orphanages with 500 children; 1t costs $40 900 to maintain them, and they are equipped with furniture and such things to the value of $27o.o0o.
 The following history of the Home was given by pr. Snedecor:
 Tn 1884 two Presbyterian ministers, Rev. Arthur Small, of Selma, and Rev. James K. Hazen of Prattville, impressed with the awful desolation of the war and the number of helpless widows and or phans in the land, determined to organ ize a home for the rearing of Confed- crate orphans. They brought the matter before the Synod which met In Mont gomery in October. 1864 A committee was appointed to canvass for funds and select a location. They sent out several agents, namely, Rev. Gurdon R. Foster father of the present superintendent of the Home; Rev. A. P. Silliman, Rev. A. J. Witherspoon. known as the fight ing parson,' and Rev. John N. Waddel, who was then an army chaplain. In a short time these men raised over 200. 1000 and an act of incorporation was passed by the General Assembly of the State of Alabama of the Confederate States of America The old military school build ings at Tuskegee were purchased and the home was about to open its doors when the collapse of the Confederacy rendered their endowment worthless. and for a while made it impossible to raise funds for the support of the Home. ''In 1866 the women of the State raised $400O in 'greenbacks' and the HoOe was opened at Tuskegee in June. 1868. Rev. A. R. Holderby, then of Mobile, was elected superintendent. and Rev. James K. Hagen, Chairman of the Executive Committee. The other founder of the Home, Rev. A. W. Small, had been kill ed in the trenches at Selma while defend- ing his home.
 For twenty years the Home was main- tained at Tuskegee, when the building, becoming dilapidated it was determined to move the Home and put up new build ings. This was done in 1890, the Home being moved to Tallsdega and a brick and slate building costing A2.000 was erected. A few years later another large two-story brick building was erected at a cost of over $S,000. Besides these build ings the Home is well equipped for the comfort of the children. there being on the grounds a steam laundry, a large barn, containing a splendid herd of eighteen Jersey cows. The grounds and buildings are now valued at about $30,- 900. The expenses are over 5000 per annum. This covers the cost of-feeding and clothing seventy-flve children, be- sides maintaining the superintendent and three assistants. A regular teacher is employed. and about fifty of the children are in the school room every day from 8 a. m. to 1 p. m. The others are too small for regular school, but have kin dergarten class.
 'All the children are taught to work,
 
 work and the boys do farming and dairy ing The religious influences are of the best. and the discipline is gentle but firm.
 ''The Home IS entirely dependent upon voluntary gifts from day to day. It has no endowment and no invested funds. It employs no travelling agents or col lectors, and none of the managers receive any salary, except the superintendent in charge and his assistants
 ''The children are kept until they are Is years old, unless good homes can be found for them. No discrimination is made in regard to denomination of appli- cants. All needy children are eligible Not 20 per cent of the admissions come from Presbyterian parentage.
 We appeal to the public to assist in this noble work. We need three car loads of coal right now. We need eight bar rels of flour per month. Good molasses is also in great demand; in fact, any and all kinds of provisions will be thank fully received.
 "The Present officers are Rev. J. G. Snedecor. Chairman; J. B. McMillan, Tal- ladega, Treasurer; Gurdon R. Foster, Su- perintendent Mrs. G. R. Foster, Mat ron; Misses Eloise Sayre. Pearl Hubbard and Alice McMilan, assistants