Rock Island Argus., 1915-01-06
REVIEW OF WORK
ATBETHANY HOME
President in Report Of Years
Activities Notes Change in
Sentiment of Public.


association. in her report submitted
al the annual meeting OF the board
Monday night. tells OF the manner in
which affairs a. and In connection
with the home are conducted. in the
foIiowiug message:
To the Members o, the Bethany
Home Protective ,Association.-Ladie
and Gentlemen:
1 venture TO say there IL no form OF
charitable work that appeals more to
the average man or woman than that
concerned with the welfare OF poor
and dependent children. Nevertheless
until . short while ago people were in
the habit OF giving or their means for
this form OF charity without requiring
or expecting an accounting OF how
such funds were used. or how the
orphan Jared. But along with the
general awakening OF the public con-
science towards all forms Of charita-
ble work cones the demand on the
part OF the contributor as we'll as on
the part OF the social worker that be
cause OF the very helplessness and
NHtAsAAe f--lAts@- NA NAAE Nf-AANAANAtAH At-e
the rHairs Of an Institution such as
ours shall be the most carefully in-'
apectsd and efficiently and conscien-
tiously conducted. Il Is highly impor-
tant, therefore, that at least once a
year we take a general survey OF the
institution. the administration OF
whose affairs lies in our hands, and
by SO placing things in perspective,
see more easily where changes and
improvements Hhould be made and at
the same time show that we are keep
ing good faith with the public. II we
we've to judge only from the financial
statement arranged comparatively [
which you viii hear this evening, the
past year In the history OF Bethany
home has been most successful our
disbursements have been less and we
are able 20 start the new year with an
excellent balance.
But in other ways besides financial
IS ! think I may say We have been
succe ssful. and the most noticeable to
me OF these Is what I would call &.
change in the attitude OF the public
in respect TO Bethany home. an i'm
pulse toward the home. feeling that
% IS the business and responsibility OF
mt only the board and the officers.
but a the whole public. TO see that the
institution is supported. and this
change OF feeling has manifested itself
In many deeds OF material benefit TO
the Rome. When our funds Tor ordin-
AIRY expenses have run low they have
been repien shed from unexpected.
quarters without any solicitation. Be.
quests ard donations OF money for.
sreCial funds have coms from sources.
whore we least expected them When
we have needed anything out OF the.
ordinary at the home. we have merely
isE cur want be known and IL was sup
piled promptly and without oste1ta-.
tion on special holidays people have
ccme forward almost as a matter OF
course and have divided their good
things most literally with these loss
fortunate children.
Our annual tag day In spite Of nard
times. was more successful than for
eme years pat. SO many inquiries
from prominent people outside OF the
1-scclafiuu. asking what special thing
they may do Tor the home. have come
.-at ~ times have been embarrassed
- nui something .1r them 20 do that
roIid not Doe too trivial. 90 show that
.heIr Interest vas not appreciated
More liberal donations in the form Of.
-r-d ana clothing have come from the ;
IS hole county at large as we'll as from
.tork Island and Moline. The super q
.lsors helped materially by voting an
Increase IL board money paid for de-
pendent children. and their roormas- 6
.e- has ccoperated fuIly 80 that now Z
.lf children not 5oarders are paid Tor :
iy the county. and q is no longer nee !
,ssary TO have any inmates who are c
rot paid Tor. In snort. there has been o
no nesd for any anxiety less the pub :
fc was not doing its duty by the home. 4
md believe that this increased in q
crest il due largely 10 the daily news L
papers which have SO generously ana v
kept the home before the I
public. In this connection / am re- y
minded of the special fund that vas Z
-athered last February for the oeneht
Il the cripple boy who was bearded
Il the home by his father. A surgeon
rho examined the boy reported that
specially made pair OF shoes
lhould be supplied the lad 20 help cor
'ect HIS deformity. The cost MADE
uch shoes beyond the means or the
ather. who was I'll and out of work
sherman W. Searle OF the Rock Island
Daily Union wrote up the story and
.sked for contributions toward fund
or proper shoes for the lad. The Mo
Inc Dispatch copied the story, and as
result IN less than a weeks time
bout. SEQ was sent in for this fund.
nd the boy has been supplied with
hree pairs OF shoes. Parents board {
ne children at the home have paid all
Ills promptly. 50 that at the close OF .
he year there are only FIVE ouistand-
ng board bills, amounting TO Sill. as G
oted by the matron's report. all OF /,
fhich believe VIII be paid eventu- d
lIy. We have cared for larger num- c
er OF children than during any pre- s
-. .-...- ..s u. hlr.h 1 have any record c