The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-03-06
RUINED MERCHANTS
CARED FOR.

London Tit-Bits: Gratitude. as we'll.
as b~enevolence, has played an import
ant part in the founding of our many
charitable institutions. In the history.
of homes for the poor and distressed
are to be found a number of splendid
examples of men and women who, ac-
tuated by their gratitude for some good
fortune which has DeraIIen them, de-
cided to share their wealth in perpetu-
ity with their less fortunate brothers
and sisters by founding a home for
their benefit.
In the annals Of charity, however, it
is doubtful if there is a more romantic
story than that concerning the founda-
ton Of Morden's college heal Green
wich, which has lately been advertis-
ing for gentlemen" in reduced circum-
stances DESTROYS of becoming inmates
of the college home. The latter has
accommodation for forty-one inmates.
who must be men of good character,
either widowers or unmarried, and not
under go years of age, who shall have
been either merchants or manufactur-
ers or have been engaged as principals
in some wholesale trade or business for
not less than ten years. and who from
misfortune or accident, have become
reduced in circumstances
MOrden's college was established by
Sir John Morden, Bart, who died in
1908. and who founded the college eight
years before his death. He himself was
a merchant, who, through singular
circumstances, thought himself a ruin
! ed man.
Sir John, after living for a number
Of years in Turkey, amassed a consid-
cradle fortune, and, deciding to return
| to London placed the whole OF his
| m nrrh nIIGp on fhrpn Chiny, hut lilo
the missing vessels of Antonio in The
Merchant of Venice, they did not turn
up, and after a time were given up for
lost. The consequence was that the
once wealthy merchant was reduced to
great poverty, and it was only by act
ing as agent for certain tradesmen that
he was able to earn a livelihood.
For ten years Sir John thus struggled
on, and then, to his great amazement,
one day came the news that his long
lost ships had arrived in port. In the
joy of the moment he vowed to build
an asylum for decayed merchants.
He purchased from the crown the
manor of Old Court, Greenwich, and on
what was known as the Great Stone
field he erected a college from designs
by Sir Christopher Wren. The original
college consisted Of a chapel In the
center and apartments for twelve resi-
| dents. who dined together in a COM
mon room. Since those days, however,
it has been considerably altered, and,
as already mentioned. there is now ac-
commodation for forty-one inmates,
who not only are provided with sepa-
rate sets of apartments. with furniture,
if required. to the value of e25, togeth-
err with attendance Goals, wood and
light, but have an allowance of e105
annually, with In extra s5 for person.
al laundry. In addition to the resident
inmates, it might be mentioned that the
trustees of he college pay to 1875 out
| pensioners sums of ESQ each, and six
pensions of $50 each annually to
| widows of decayed merchants. .
Altogether the founding of the col
Iege cost Sir John 10000, and for a
couple of centuries poor, honest ana
discreet merchants who have lost their
estates by accidents, dangers and
perils of the seas, or by any other ac-
tcidents, was. or means, in their honest
endeavor to get their living by way of
merchandise to quote the original
wording of the deeds of the endow-
ment, have been thus cared for by the
muniicent bequest of the generous
hearted Sir John Morden. Z