Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-14
Public Invited to Visit WASH
ington City Asylum Sat-
urday Afternoon.
DOLLY" MADISON HEADED
ORIGINAL OFFICIAL BOARD
Founding of the Institution Result
of Destitution Following the
War of 1912.

An atmosphere of pleasant informal
ity and homelike hospitality will mark
the exercises scheduled for Saturday
afternoon in commemoration of the
one hundredth anniversary Of the
founding of the Washington City Or
phan Asylum, 18th and streets north
west So many are the friends of this,
the oldest Institution of its kind within
the District of Columbia, that it has
been found impossible to issue formal
Invitations, but its wellwishers have
been urged by the board of lady man.
ayers to pay 1t visit on this occasion.
Senator Blair Lee of Maryland. men,
Der Of the board of trustees. is to speak
q few words of welcome at o'clock. 1t
Is considered peculiarly fitting that Sem
ator Lee should deliver this welcome, as
his mother for fifty years was a member
OF the board of managers, and, at differ
ent times, held executive Office therein.
Following this there will be pretty
outdoor musical drill and march by the
13s children whose home is within the
walls of the building. Open house will
be observed. the children acting as
guides for their friends and benefci-
aries, and tea will be served.
History Of Institution.
An interesting account of the found
ing and history of the asylum is found
In an address delivered by John c.
Hardness. for many years member of
the board of trustees. at the exercises
in connection with the dedication of
the memorial hall in the present struc-
ture, May Is, 1855. This room is known
as the Hall memorial" in honor of
DIR. James c. Hall. an ardent friend
and benefactor of the institution, and
on this occasion the venerable w. w.
Corcoran presided and speeches were
made by R. Ross Perry. DR.. ]. c. Well
ing, president of Columbian College,
now George Washington University,
and Judge William NJ. Merrick, and
S. Wynkoop and Rev. ]. H. Cuthbert.
THE sad results of the war of 1872"
said Mr. Hardness, in part, were not
confined to the destruction of the public
buildings, but left to the care and SYM
pathy of the citizens full share of the
orphanage resulting largely there
from. Mrs. Gen. John p. Van Ness,
moved by the frequency of appeals to
her charity. consulted with Mrs. Oba-
diah Brown, wife of the pastor of the
First Baptist Church, as to the feast.
bility of effecting an organization by
which permanent relief could be assur-
ed for the helpless orphans of the city
and neighborhood.
lie meeting was called through the
press for the ladies of Washington and
its neighborhood. to be held in the
Hall of Representatives October 10,
1915. to consider the propriety of in
stituting an asylum for the relief and
maintenance of these orphans. A draft
of a constitution was presented to the
meeting for consideration. which was
adopted and the institution given its
name.
Headed by Mrs. Madison.
The following officers were elected:
First directress. Mrs. James Madison;
second directress, Mrs. Van Ness;
treasurer. Mrs. Josiah Caldwell; man
ayers. Mrs. MCGOWAN, Mrs. Roger
weightman, Mrs. Andrew Ramsey,
Mrs. Chalmers, Mrs. Obadiah Brown.
Mrs. Joseph Mechlin, Mrs DR.. Blake.
Mrs. DIR. Breckenridge and Mrs. Dud-
ley Diggs of Green HILL
THE institution being duly Differed,
a small frame house fronting on 10th
street northwest near the Avenue was
rented. and in this unpretentious
structure the first organized effort on
behalf of destitute orphans. it is be-
ieved. was made in the Capital city.
The managers were for many years
dependent on voluntary contributions
and church collections. The discrep-
ancy between the income and expenses
was at times an occasion of deep con-
Germ. At a public meeting held in the
basement of Wesley Chapel a collec-
ton was proposed, and when no. bas-
kets for the purpose could be found
a voice was heard:
take the orphan boys hats and
they were SO utilized.
On the retirement Of President Madi-
son and the resignation of Mrs. Madi-
son as first directress. Mrs. James Mon
roe was elected to the position. but de-
ciined. Mrs. Van Ness was then elected,
and for fifteen years met the onerous
duties pertaining to the office. Janu-
airy 3. 1893. the board of managers re-
solved that a portrait of Mrs. Marcia
Van Ness be painted at the expense of
the board and placed in the asylum,
which portrait is there today.
Incorporated by Congress.
ITO give legal status to the institu-
ton Congress incorporated it May "a,
x.-ts