Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-20
AN ASYLUM FOR BOYS
Fiftieth Anniversary of st. 10
seph's Institution.
CHILDREN NEVER HAPPIER
Supplied Pleasing Program of Songs
and Exercises.
REV. DIR. STAFFORD PRESIDED
Addresses Delivered by Messrs. N.
81. Shea and M L Weller-Con-
gratulatory Remarks.

The entertainment yesterday afternoon at
g o'clock in New Carroll Hall, street, be-
tween 9th and 10th streets was a happy
elimination to the days exercises in COM
memoration of the fiftieth anniversary of
ST. Joseph's Male Orphan Asylum. The
boys of the institution provided a pleasing
program and several speakers delivered ad-
dresses. The children never looked happier,
il was remarked, and the enthusiasm with
which they sang patriotic and other songs
and performed calisthenic exercises went
far toward lending conviction TO that view.
In addition to the program published yes
terday in The Star a poem, Fifty Years .
was read by the author, Mr.. John Murphy.
who was reared at the orphanage and is
studying for the priesthood al the Mar
ist College of the Catholic University. Mas
ter Cornelius Callahan read "A Jubilee
Thought" Miss Katherine Lackey officiat-
ed at the piano.
Rev DR.. Stafford, president of the board
of trustees of St Josephs, introduced the
speakers the first of whom was Mr.. n. II.
Shea, secretary of the board of trustees.
He said, in part:
Something of the pride of ancestry,
something of the boast of heraldry, some
thing of the glory of achievement enters
into our thoughts today in the cQntempia-
ton Of half a century's completion OF an
other development of Catholic charity.
Natal Day in 1856.
est. Joseph's Orphan Asylum's natal day
was August %. 1856, but this celebration
was appropriately advanced a few months
and finds its occasion on St Joseph's day,
its patron saint under whose spiritual pro-
lection the orphans are sheltered, having
the august protection of our Lords foster
father supplying the losses of their natural
parents
II might call incidentally that this ceIe-
bration also marks about the iftieth ami
versary of the advent of the order of the
Sisters of the Holy Cross, and the foun-
dresses Of ST. Josephs Orphan Asylum IN
this country, an appropriate monument, IN
deed. to their zeal and ferVor.
THE temporal welfare of these wallis OF
our modern civilization was tntrusted TO
experienced hands, and to Jealous and de-
voted hearts, consecrated to Gods holy
service in all the varying phases of human
suffering. that the tender hand of woman
can soothe, In the many orders o. the
Catholic ssterhood
1.-The choice of it's first superior fell upon
one whom we have all learned to love, ad-
mire and respect venerable Sister Euphra
STA. Twas to her guiding hand, her mature
judgment, her administrative ability that
this newest development in our midst of
male orphan asylum was tntrusted She
inaugurated and launched this charity
amongst us, her work being taken up sue
CeSSlVely ana successfully by sister Clr-
cumcission, In 1857; Sister Henrietta, 1851;
Sister Alphonsus, 1888; Sister Hortense.
1868: Sister Irene. 1872 and In 1875 Sister
Euphrasia was again called as its di-
rectress.
I'm our review of the past are the gap
ing vOids made. too by death, but we can
not speak of st. Joseph's without rennem-
bering the warm, generous hearts that once
beat in its interest. the eyes that moisten-
ed in its cause. The eloquent, tender
hearted Father Boyle and Father Mcclure,
whose voices were so often raised in the
cause of charity; the kind and charitable
Fathers Walter and Gloyd, Fathers Wiget,
O'Toole and Clark. all earnest workers in
the same holy cause. And among the lay
men those honorable names from distin-
guished citizenship: Nicholas Callen, A. E.
Joyce. Geo. Bogus. VIM. Calf j. L. Bar
bour. NJ. c. Wilson, Dennis Mann. Theo.
Sheckels, Lawrence Gardner, DIR. Toner,
Maurice Murphy and Gregory Ennis. . . ."
Sheltered and Protected.
Under the roof of such an institution
thousands OF orphans have been sheltered
and protected during the half century of its
existence. growing in strength and virtue
before God and man, and winning the APP
proving smile of the Heavenly Father in
choicest blessings l need but refer to the
extraordinary low death rate of these young
charges varying in ages from five to four
teen years. as being but nine children that
succunped 10 dSeaSe-such history up
SETS all existing record of the mortality of
children between these ages-to have you
recognize, as l do the direct protection of
Gods care and benevolence. and speaking
In glowing terms of the maternal solicitude
these motherlesS ones received from the
kind hands and tender hearts of those Sc
lected by the Father of the fatherless to
supply the place of a fond parent.
ut is a cause of no wonder that when the
busy eye and engrossed mind of the states
directed
should be enlisted the aid and sympathy
Of a Vest, a. Sherman. a Blackburn Voor-
hees and Henderson.
That the kind hearts, too of the chart
table were RESPONSIVE, and friends were
found In a Corcoran, a Cromwell, a Gait, a
Riggs Mrs. Lewis Johnson, Mrs. Barbour,
Mrs. Mccartney, Miss Whalen and many
other charitable ladies and gentlemen, with
the many requests from those departing
from this life. that the good work be kept
on, and the prayers of those innocent little
ones uplifted In supplicaton and interces-
sion for their benefa ctors.
Substantial and timely aid has been con-
tributed, too, by the Catholic Knights of
America, the Ancient Order of Hibernians
and the knights of Columbus. The Thanks
giving eve entertainment of the first men
toned society is a notable yearly occur
renee, and has been for nearly a quarter
OF a century, and netting as II does. a
large revenue, Is the main support Of the
institution.
Management a Marvel.
The management of the institution has
been a marvel. too. of economic success.
When 1 tell you that 1t takes less than
$1,000 to house. feed and clothe an average
of 100 orphans and to minister to ali the
wants of the sisters In charge I but utter
a fact, neverU eless we will wonder at IL.
AN orphan asylum conducted as St TO-
seph's has been, has great cause to he
proud of the results accomplished. Death
stalks abroad and many a loving parent
falls beneath the scythe leaving the young
to the shelter of such a home Years
spent in such atmosphere has de-
veioped characters that have come under
our observations as being worthy honor
able, upright citizens, an ornament to the
community. blessing to the country"
Mr.. NJ. /. Weller was the next speaker
He is member of the board of trustees
OF the institution He spoke. in part. as
follows
I'VE have assembled here today for the
purpose of fittingly celebrating the fftieth
t,ra. 1f he lsIs.