Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-06
RNERSTONEL LAID
FOR WATTS HOME
Bishop Harding 0fficiates at
Ceremony for New St.
Johns 0rphanage.
BUILDING A MEMORIAL
TO SISTER SARAH'S WORK
High Tribute Paid to Woman Who
Has Devoted Half a Century to
Humanitarian Effort.

AS memorial to more than a half CEN
a home for waits Of humanity. the cor
ner stone of the new St Johns Orphan
age Goth and F streets northwest. was
laid at il o'clock this morning by Rt
Rev. Alfred Harding, Bishop of Washing
ton.
The new orphanage is being erected to
further the labors and as a monument to
the zeal of Sister Sarah, who has devoted
her life and private fortune to care of
the needy little ones. Tears of joy welled
into her eyes this morning as the stone
was laid in place while workmen were
busy rearing the home that early in No
sember is to shelter those children whom
she has gathered into her charge.
These little ones were grouped about her
during the services today, and We're pre-
scented to the guests of the occasion by
her in the same spirit with which the
noble French woman introduced her off,
spring. saying. These are my jewels"
Pays Tribute to Sister Sarah.
Tribute was paid to the devotion of Sis
ter Sarah in fervent words by Bishop
Harding. who said in part:
Pour down Thy choicest blessings, dear
Lord. on this by devoted servant, Sis
ter Sarah whose lifetime OF love and
labor for your chosen little ones We crown
today in the erection of this most worthy
monument to her efforts. We pray Thee
that she may be spared yet many years
to continue her good work before you
call her to her greater glory
Assisting Bishop Harding In the bless
ing of the corner stone were Rev E. S.
Dunlap. assistant rector Of st. Johns.
and Rev. Robert Talbot of st. Pauls. In
the copper box sealed within the corner
stone were placed the history Of the or
phanage the year book of the institution.
and copies of The Washington Star con-
tanning accounts of the plans for the new
building.
In setting the corner stone, the bishop
struck it three times with the trowel
say ing:
II, Alfred Harding. by divine permission
Bishop of Washington. do declare duly
and truly laid the corner stone Of St.
Johns Orphanage, to be builded here for
the glory of God and the help of man
THE Lord bless and prosper our handi-
work upon u.s.
Prominent Persons at Service.
Among the prominent friends of the
institution who were present at the serv-
ice were Miss Ella Butler. Mr.. and Mrs
W. J. Boardman. Rear Admiral Stock
ton Mrs Julian James, Mrs. Roland Cot
ton Smith, wife of the rector of st. Johns.
who was unable to be present as he was
officiating at an ordination service in Bal
timore; Mrs Mackay Smith. widow of the
former rector of the parish, who was at
the time of his death Bishop Of Phila-
delphia Mr.. and Mrs. Hennen Jennings,
Walter r. Tuckerman. Mr.. and Mrs.
Thomas K. Hyde and Mrs. NJ w. God
dard.
Sister Sarah has for forty -four years
been i'll charge of the orphanage-since
| ii was founded ON All Souls day, 1870
She is a sister of the Episcopal Church,
but has never allowed any sectarian
spirit to interfere with her giving every
possible opportunity to any needy
child who came to her attention Hers
is purely work of love. There is no
salary attached to her position. Rather
she has turned all of her private for
tune into the maintenance of the home
during it's days of need. She is known
to charity workers throughout tina
entire country
The building is to be memorial to
her long years of devotion to the chill
| dren, a place where she may now in
| the evening of her life increase the
| good work she has for SO long carried
| on in inadequate and insanitary quar-
| ters.
Tribute by Rev. R. c. Smith.
| An illustration of the esteem in
which Sister Sarah is held by those
who have been most closely asso-
ciated with her in her work is en-
bodied in the following tribute by Rev
Roland Cotton Smith: "A woman with
| a wide and true human interest, and
with the love of God in her heart
whom to know is a benediction."
1t is Sister SarahS proud record that
she has never lost child and never
has had any epidemic in the home. de-
spite conditions that the attendant ply
sician has frequently reported as in
sanitary, save a cultural diphtheria quar-
antine in 1872.
The orphanage is not conducted as an
institution. but as a home. with Sister
Sarah as the mother. She is assisted
in the work by some of the older girls
and in the teaching by volunteer services
from the ladies of the parish.
Although the home is not conducted on
sectarian lines. nor its shelter confined
TO parish cases. it is supported by volun-
tary contributions and cooperation of the
Ladies' Aid Society. of which Mrs. Ar
I thur T. Brice is president. These ladies'
,I,.,yt let.