The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-08-22
ODD FELLOWS
AIDING ORPHANS
NoRTH DAKOTA ODD FELLOWS
ARE SETTING ASIDE FUND TO
BUILD oRPHANAGE IN STATE
MOVE is HIGHLY coMMENDED
BY VARIOUS PUBLIC MEN.

Regarding the movement of the
North Dakota Odd $FelloWs to build
a state orphanage, much favorable
comment has been heard. Discussing
this at length Editor Hall of The
North Dakota Children's Home Find
er says:
The Odd Fellows Of North Dakota
have long been setting aside a fund
with which to build an o~rphanage in
this state, and at their recent grand
lodge meeting at Cakes considerable
discussion was given this subject. OW-
ing to lack of information regarding
the latest and most approved methods
of caring for. dependent children, there
is considerable difference of opinion
among the grand lodge representatives
as to the best cours to pursue. A
fund of $4,000 has been amassed for
the proposed home, and this would
erect a very respectable building, but
the maintenance expense later would
eat up a large sum. From an expert
ence of twelve years we recommend
the good brethren of the grand lodge
to try the placing-out system for a
year or two before investing large
sums in buildings, and piling up main
tenance expenses bound to accumu-
late wher a number of children are
to be permanently cared for and edu-
Gated. Orphanages are going out of
date very rapidly for normal children;
even a considerable number of Catho-
lie orphanages in the east have been
converted to other purposes. n their
children placed in Catholic family
homes. The writer became an Odd
Fellow in 1883, and has long been
familiar with the good work done by
the order in caring for the sick and
educating the orphan. While not at
present connected with the order, we
desire to see its orphans cared for
in the best and most practical way,
and believe it would be a great fin
ancial saving as well. to have a plac-
ing agent who should seek out fami-
.ly homes for Odd Fellows orphans in
Odd Fellows families, or others ac-
.ceptable to the grand lodge. This
agent should also carefully supervise
these children after placing, and every
home should be open to visitation of
representatives of the grand lodge at
any time. Children could be tempo
rariy provided for in selected family
homes pending final placement, at
very much less expense than to main
tain an institution for them. There
certainly ought to be homes enough
among North Dakota Odd Fellows for
the small number of orphans or half
orphans who need their friendly care;
and we are certain the grand lodge
of North Dakota will never allow any
of them to suffer for the necessities
of life. At the same time, it seems
very unwise to throw away money
for buildings and maintenance when
it would be far better for the chill
/ dren to be under normal family con-
ditions. No matter how well equip
ped an institution may be, nor how
good schools are maintained In 1t, in
'stistutional children are never the
self-possessed and self-reliant boys
and girls as those reared as members
of a normal family home.
The society will be glad to cooper
ate in any possible way in providing
family homes among Odd Fellows for
any wards of the grand lodge. We
do not care to board any children
permanently. but would gladly accept
them temporarily pending their place
II ment In selected families
We hope the grand lodge will give
this whole subject most careful con-
sideration from all standpolnts, AND
secure the opinions Of the most ex-
perienced workers for children in the
country before entering upon this sub
ject. Any information we can give
them will be theirs for the asking
II they wish to. test out the work
ings of the placing system, we shall
be glad to place inside information al
their disposal, and take them into the
homes selected for our own wards
from which they can form opinions as
to the value of this method Of care
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