The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-04-29
AT HISTORIC
BETHESDA HOME
UNION SOCIETY GATHERED
TO CELEBRATE THE 154TH ami
VERsARY OF IT'S EXISTENCE.

Reports Read and Officers Elected
for Coming Ycar-Few Changes
Made in Board-Address of Occa-
sion Made by Rev. George Solomon
of Temple 0IfckVa IsrRel-EXercis-
"a Wen Attended Despite COOf
NVeather-CuStOmary Citizens Din
ner Furnished boys by stewards.
The 164th anniversary of the found
ing of the Bethesda orphanage and the
154th anniversary of the Union Society
by which it is conducted, were cele-
brated yesterday.
AS has been the custom for years
the occasion was a gala one, not only
for the boys of the home and those
connected with the institution, but for
a large number of the residents of
Savannah and persons who live in the
vicinity of the home.
The anniversary celebration is gen.
orally looked on in the light of a pic
mic and people always attend
in large numbers. The attendance
yesterday was not so large as it has
been in some years, the cool weather
preventing many from making
the trip, but despite this drawback
there was no scarcity of visitors, the
usual programme was carried out, and
both visitors and boys had a most
enjoyable time.
Under the auspices of the stewards
the annual citizens dinner was served
to the boys and was enjoyed by 124 of
them, as well as thirty-seven
girls from the Savannah Fee
male Asylum and fifteen from
the Episcopal Orphan Home, who were
guests of the occasion, as is custom
airy. The dinner was quite up to the
high standard set on former occasions,
and was served by members of the
board of stewards, and willing help
ers, among them a number of ladies.
Both before dinner and after it, UNI
til the time for the annual address
was reached. the boys and the visitors
amused themselves with various games.
A brass band, carried from the city,
added much to the pleasure of the
occasion. Many of the visitors arrived
early in the day, but it was not until
the afternoon that the greater part
of the crowd came. Then they arrived
not only on the cars, which were
operated on a special schedule for their
convenience, but in buggies and auto
mobiles, as well.
Animal Meeting Held.
After dinner the officers gathered in
the school house, where the annual
meeting was held. The minutes of
the last anniversary and meeting were
confirmed as printed. and then came
the various reports. That of Mr.. G.
H. Dorsett of the Committee on III
nance and Property was of special in
terest because of the suggestions it
contained relative to securing a great
er income for the society. The easiest
way to increase this income, it was
stated, is to increase the membership
of the society. Mr.. Dorsett thought
that it should be possible to double the
present membership, which is about
300. He also suggested that it might
be well for the institution to limit the
number OF boys in future to 100. The
plan proposed did not contemplate al
lowing any of those now in the home
to be turned away, but simply to let
the number reduce itself through the
natural changes until it reached 100
and then keep it at that point by re-
fusing to receive further beneficiaries
until there were vacancies.
This report was received as informa-
ton, and was followed by the other re-
ports, including that of Col. ]. II.
Esull, the president of the society.
Eight new members were elected as
follows: Mr.. Barron Carter, Mr.. ]. S.
Weeks, Rev Dr. George Solomon, Mr.
w. o. Hawley, CASTOR c. Raoul, Paul
T. Haskell, Jr., L. G. Young and Mr.
Peter Rabey.
Election of Omeers.
The election of officers resulted in
the choice of the following:
President-Col. ]. II. Estill
Vice President-D. r. Thomas.
Treasurer-Walter e. Coney.
Secretary-E. w. Cubbedge.
Managers-E. +. Lowell, Samuel Her.
man, w. J. DeRenne, T. M. Cunning
ham, Jr., S. B. Adams, c. H. Dorset,
Z. w. Cubbedge, t. J. Charlton, M. D.,
and F. c. BatteY
Honorary Misrepresentation Rog-
ers, R. +. Lester, J. H. M. Clinch and
r. B. Reppard.
Stewards-A. S. Nichols, j. w. Jack
son, A. II. Chapman, c. A. Vetter, John
O'Keefe, r. J. Davant, A. Kessel, j. c.
Harris, w. B. Stubs, W. NJ. Coney,
Thomas Ballantyne, +. w. Garden j.