Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-06-13
BURN The PAPERS.
Public Ceremony Attends De-
struction of Bethany Home
Mortgage and Note.
DEBT is ALL CLEARED
w. 3. Mcintyre Acts as Master of
Ceremonies-History of the AS
ISOLATION Is Reviewed.

The Bethany Protective association
celebrated the clearing off of it's dent
Yesterday afternoon at o'clock al the
Bethany home grounds A short pre-
gram was given before the burning
| OIL the mortgage took place 1t in
Guided an Invocation by DIR. w. {:
Marquis and short sketch}of the his
tory of the association since the time
Of its formation in 1899, by Secretary
George G.. Wenger. Mr.. Wenger
showed that the association was in.
corporated as the Union Mission Sc
ciety in 1899 by DIR. j. W Stewart
hon William Jackson and G. H. Ger
man. c. w. Foss of Augustana col
lege was the first president and F.. G.
Young was the first vice president.
me home was at Eighth street and
Fourth avenue but the accommodate
tons there did not suit long and ii
vas moved to the Silvis property on
Aiken street in South Rock Island.
Three years ago the Moore homestead
on Filth avenue was bought for about
$4,000 and it was heavily mort gagged.
me recent donation of the sum of
Sl,S0o by a number of Moline ladies
cleared off the last obligation and
gave the association a clear title to
the property.
Mr.. Wenger compared the work of
tile first year to that of the present
year which showed that il had more
than doubled. At the beginning, few
children were taken care of at the
home, but at the present time there
are as many taken care of there as
there were over the whole city in the
nrst year. In the last year there were
| SO children taken care of in the city
Mrs. Bennett Speaks.
Following the address by Mr.. Wen
ger, Mrs. w. c. Bennett of Moline
made a short talk as president of the
association, speaking briefly of the
work of the organization, and partic-
ularly referring 10 the efforts of G.
H. German. Mrs. w. H. Gest, Mrs.
Mosenfelder and Mr.. and Mrs. III. d.
home in its earlier days. She recalled
the fact that the clearing of the debt
on the institution comes within Il
month of the ninth anniversary of the
formal organization of the association
which falls on July u.
Burns the Mortgage
Mrs. Bennett introduced as the mas
ter of ceremonies w. B. Mcintyre, who
delivered happy address on the
scope of the institution, and its
| achievements. At the conclusion oil
his remarks, Mr. Mcintyre construct
ed an altar on the veranda of tbs
| house. and the mortgage and note. as
the last evidence of the debt of the
institution, were placed on the altar
end burned. while the audience sang
the Doxology The last ember crum
bled to ashes as the singing of the
verse was concluded. Following this
ceremony, DR.. W. S. Marquis gave {
prayer of thanks as the closing fea
ture of the program.
Give Reception.
The ceremony of destroying thu
mortgage was followed by an informa
reception at the home. Owing to the
threatening weather. the attendance
was much smaller than had been ex
pected, but very enjoyable hour wa:
|spent in sociability. Refreshments
were served by Miss Sue Denkmann
Mrs. Mayer Rice, Mrs. W. H. Whistler
Mrs. A. Mosenfelder, Mrs. NJ. l.. Hen
derson, Miss Dina Ramser. Mrs. ].
Gilmore, Mrs. G. II. Huqtoon, Mrs
| w. c. Bennett and Miss Ada Stephens
The company was entertained by voca
selections by Miss Woodyatt of Mo
line. y