The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-12-11
THE ALABAMA METHODIST oRPHANAGE

Alabama Christian Advocate.
 The spiritual offspring of the two Methodist Conferences of Alabama was
 in the year 1889. by special resolutions of the two Conferences and by legisla- tive enactments of the State, given to the church under the name of the Ala
 bama Methodist Orphanage."
 Artificial life was given by the Con- ferences and the State to this corpor- ate body, authorizing it to acquire and sell property" and empowering 1t to sue and be sued"--the first clause nec- essary and religious: the latter regIlly righteous. but morally unnecessary. Rev. S. P. West of the North Ala
 bama Conference, was the father of
 this great movement, seconded by the loving hearts and wise heads of such
 men as Dr. A. H. Mitchell of Summer field, Senator Hargrove of Tuscaloosa.
 pr. J. w. Newman of North Alabama Conference, Col. s. W. John of BirInlny-
 ham and Miss Sallie Byrd of Selma. A joint committee of the two Con- ferences met in Calera in 1889 and sEg- gested a committee that was subse- quently. legally named by the Slate Legislature and constituted by the State, a Board of Directors. consisting of three preachers and two laymen from each Conference; this committee consisted of pr. J. W. Newman. Hon. A. c. Hargrove, Rev. S. P. West, Rev. R. A. Timmonds, MT. W. s. Brown, Dr. A. H. Mitchell, Dr. A. J. Lamar, Rev. J. NJ. Patton, Judge F. G. Wood and Mir Fl. H. Stewart.
 At subsequent date late tn the year 1889 or early in 1890 the Board Of Di- rectors met in Calera and organized by naming as an Executive Committee of the Board: pr. A. H. Mitchell, Judge P. G. Wood. Mir H. H. Stewart. the latter being designated aa Secre- tary and Treasurer of the Board.
 In January. 1890. this Executive Committee took formal charge Of the Home at Summerfeld." and thus was inaugurated one of the grandest move mentsl of Methodism in Alabama, and an impulse given to the charitable heart of the church and a spiritual en- ergy put forth that has been so strongly emphasized in the maturing life of the institution and that will be felt for decades by religious body caring for the destitute and loving the fatherless of the State.
 On the cash book--a complete fn9n- cial record of the Orphange-the first entry bearing the date Feb. 27, 1890, is found to be as follows: ITO currency from pr. A. H. Mitchell, paid hy Fred H. Smith. $25; Mrs. Soulton. $100; and others, $4; equaling, $12S." A nucleus that has grown from $129 on that date to a contributed fund to Oct. IS. 1905. inclusive. to $67.040.77, and shel tered and cared for the bodies and souls of AS helpless little ones
 Can any one calculate the value of this first dollar given or the uplifting power of the first energy expended for this righteous cause? Would any de- cry the value of the one or the grow ing power and strength of the other?
 The buildings were repaired .n the spring of 1890. and on the 5th day of September, 1S9e we received the first child in the Home-Mrs. Andrews of Norfolk. Va. at that time matron of the Home, and on November 12, 1905, we admitted the last children into the Home-Miss sudie V. A. Hunt (present matron).
 From Sept. 5. 1890, to Nov. 12. 1905, we have received AS children; from this number 351 have been placed in good homes; 77 are now in the Home or under the special care of the Board, during that time we have lost by death fifteen.
 or this number now in the Home. 2S are boys and is are girls. Two Of our !