The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-21
ORPHANS HOMES OF ALABAMA TRAIN
 AND EDUCATE MANY CHILDREN

use to him. congenial work is found
 for all the larger children outside os
 school hours aud thrift and industry
 are encouraged
 \ specially qualified teacher has su- perNision over the sewing room and under her instruction the girls are | taught to sew and to make all the | clothes or the girls and some for the I boys. Besides this the girls are taught 1 housekeeping, cook ing washing and i lfoning Tins means much to the girls.
 all of whom vii, in all probability be i dependent upon themselves and who must count their own ability as their ! greatest asset. To be taught domestic l science. to be taught how to do aousa work in all it's many branches and to
 do IL well and intelligently is an ad-
 dition to any girls education and ono
 that will do much to help her in many ways.
 l The same thing is true of the agricul-
 tura work given the boys It would be 1 hard to find boy who is not improved | in every way by years systematic and | intelligent work out of doors in con- nection with farm work and the work of 1 this kind is an important part of tue 1 training that strives to give a we'll round- 1, ed. serviceable education.
 Orphans Home of Episcopal Church 1 The Church Home for Orphans. under the direction of the Episcopal church. Vas, like the Presbyterian home, opened when the civil war had made scores of children in the state dependent for food clothing. shelter and for education. It was in the spring of 1865 when the honored Right Reverend Wilmer bishop of the diocese Of Alabama, announced to the diocesan convention, assembled in Greensboro. the beginning of this home It was opened in Tuscaloosa where suit able property had been bought. and funds
 for investment for. the home were in the hands of the bishop These funds con-
 sisted mainly of bonds and certificates
 Which, in short time after the opening of the home, were rendered worthless by the fall of the Confederate govern ment. The only certain support left was a few bales of cotton which had been bought for s4000 of Confederate currency The proceeds from this cotton, sold later for very much smaller sum in United States money. and the offerings from smoilehouse and pantries in Tuscaloosa county were the only means of support for nearly three years. That was immed- laely after the war, and people learned to meet emergencies that would have seemed overwhelming at any other time
 Those who have kept in touch with the
 home and know its history give credit
 for it's being maintained through those
 times to Bishop Wilmer. and to one of
 the sisters, Harriet Erwiii, who was one
 of those wonderful women fitted In every
 way to assume the responsibilities of
 managing the home and able to adapt
 herself to the trying circumstances
 In 1876 the church home was moved
 from Tuscaloosa to Mobile, where the
 bishop might give it his personal su-
 pervision. The property in Tuscaloosa
 which had been bought for s3O,O00 in Con-
 federate currency, was sold for 5000 in
 gold; and the home was established in
 modest way on South Warren street,
 Mobile, the house and lot being given
 by the Mobile St Johns parish
 The children were from all parishes
 or the diocese. being taken on the sim pie condition of being in need of a home.
 Some had neither parent, some had one parent who was unable to support them, and, as in the case in every orphanage.
 some had indifferent parents. The ob-
 ject of the home was and is to give them, first of all, the teaching and dis oiplfne of the Episcopal church and to educate them in mind and hand
 The children spent half the working day in well-conducted grammar school in the home, and the remainder in learn ing housekeeping, sewing and mending,
 while the older girls helped, also. with
 the care of the younger children.
 The whole story of the work of these
 sisters would be a very, very long one.
 The details of their work with the chil-
 dren sent them, all kinds. with every
 sort and variety of temperament, char
 acter. taste and habit and of their daily teaching and training to guide each one aright and to develop each one in the best way for him: and of their con- stant spiritual aid to the poor, the ig- norant. the vicious. often to the thought less, idle. or unhappy rich, who were helped by helping the sisters in their work with the children-all these details of their dongs would be a story of self sacrifice that one can only faintly realize
 It is not hard to do work of this kind so long as it is novelty, and it is easy to work where ones associates are con genial: but to work unceasingly and un- tirinsly where there is much that repels calls for far greater sympathy and sac riiice and accomplishing work.
 For many years the women or the three parishes of Mobile gave a large annual bazar from which generous sums were cleared for the church home This was increased by private subscription from people of different classes and creeds. for Mobile has taken thought for these children who are sent there from all over the state.
 In 1900 the death of Bishop Winner. | founder of the home occurred. and | in 1901 Miss Erwin,, chief deaconess 1 from the time of its founding died | Those who knew her and her work | in Mobile remember some ofs her | countless deeds of love and service in l that city, while there are many who l know the whole of one story--what she | did for them individually. One of the | beautiful things that she never neglect | ed in her busy, busy life was keeping | in touch with the children after they | left the home. especially those who | went out. to support themselves. She | kept up communication with them, wei comed their visits back to the nome, kept their confidence and was always wise and kind in giving advice and | guidance to those who asked it. Such was the woman who worked for more l than 30 years with children who looked to her for all they might have had or and with others, not children, but any who needed her.
 She was succeeded by the present chief deaconess. Sister Sarah Chapman. She is a frail looking woman. with d pleasant face, an Alabama woman who has travelled much is highly educated. is able as an executive and who has | oth the brain and heart that fits her for the work. She makes a study of | each child. mindful that each has his that must be regarded 1 and too true to her own sense Of jus tice to treat them en masse; and rhe and the three deaconesses who are as- sociated with her promote the welfare of each one individually. She makes opportunity for the development or each child's particular talent, be it music. stenography, voice, dressnlnking,