Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-10-03
SYNOD MEETS ITS
ORPHANS AT LOUISVILLE
[Continued from FIRST Page.l


to think of him as her fosterfather,
East Pennsylvania Synod was get
ting acquainted with its little ones,
for the babies of the Loysville home,
bereft of father, or mother, and In
some instances, having lost both par
ents, must look to the ministers and
loyal Lutheran laymen of this and
adjoining Synods for the food eaten.
the clothing worn and the home that
shelters them.
A wonderful sermon 1t was and u
beautiful one, for the greatest of
these is charity" No greater work
has ever been attempted by q great
church body, for the LoysVille home
is making 1t possible for homeless
orphan children to lead healthy,
normal lives, and to come into man
hood and womanhood clean in mind
and body, with faith and conf
dence in the future that the years of
conflict with the world will not
erase. For fifty years the home has
carried on its great work, and grad
yates of the Tressler Home have
gone out into the world to fill posi-
tions of responsibility and trust.
Went by Automobile
The day was perfect one. Friends
of Zion Lutheran Church contribut-
ed almost forty automobiles and an
the morning. The visitors did not re-
turn to Harrisburg until shortly be-
fore the hour set for the evening
service.
The run over forty miles of smooth
roads, through valleys of wonderful
fertility, and over mountain peaks
tinted by the beautiful, ever-chang-
Ing hues of autumn, with just sus-
picion of early October crispness in
the air, furnished picture of rare
charm. AL. K. Thomas, superinten-
dent of the Stevens Memorial Metho-
dist Episcopal Sunday school, con-
tributed his car for the occasion, and
was one of the last to leave Harris
burg. AS it happened, Mr.. Thomas
was the first to arrive at Loysville.
Gracefully he received the congratu-
lations showered upon him, modestly
remarking that the Methodists usual
ly come out ahead.
Superintendent Charles A. Wilde,
welcomed the delegates, and soon
after their arrival, the visitors were
uShered into the school diningroom,
where a delicious dinner was served.
The farm in connection with the
home consists of almost 400 acres. Of
this land 800 acres are tillable and
produce immense crops of grain.
feed and vegetables. Children of all
ages. when recommended by pastors
and Church Councils throughout
Pennsylvania, New York, New Jer-
sey, West Virginia and Maryland,
are received at Loysville, and the
older boys, in addition to receiving
a thorough common school educa-
ton with two years of high school,
are given special courses in agri-
culture, and do most of the farm
work. Pupils leave the home when
II years of age.
Dinner at the Home
Following the long ride, the Vis-
itors were not slow to avail them
selves of Superintendent Widle's in
vitation to eat and be merry. The
menu consisted of delicious bread,
baked from wheat grown on the
farm, golden butter that spoke elo-
quently of succulent meadow grass
es, coldslaw with thick, sweet cream,
peas, baked sweet tubers, roast beef
that had baked for four hours in an
oven heated by dry hickory wood,
and white potatoes baked in the same
oven, In brown gravy provided by
the roast. Five hundred pounds OF
meat and almost four bushels of po-
tatoes were required for the dinner
Thick apple pies with f1aky crusts
completed the feast.
Mr.. Wilde was glad to have the
him, and the delegates will remem-
ber the Loysville visit as one of the
most pleasing recollections of a life
time.
The Loysville home had it's incep-
tion when Colonel John Tressler, a
resident of Perry county, erected the
Loysville Academy, in 1854. For
some years the academy was con-
Quoted as a school for soldiers or
fNhonC made danandantC nf tho eta tn
through the ravages of the Civil
War. In 1866, the Rev. p. willard
conceived the idea of adding to the
soldiers orphans, church orphans
In company with Daniel Eppley, of
Harrisburg, he visited the academy,
and the project was launched, under
direction of several Synods operating
in this section of the state.
From time to time land was add
ed to the small initial tract, some
times by purchase, but oftener by
gift. To-day the plant is valued at
100000.
In 1892, when the Soldiers Or
phans' Home Commission merged
the several institutions supported by
the commission, all soldiers orphans
were withdrawn from Loysville.
The plant now consists of several
modern buildings, including a we'll
equipped printery, in charge of C. T.
Smith, formerly of Carlisle. Various
branches of the profession are
taught About twenty boys complete
the trade each year. The laundry,
hospital, gymnasium, etc, came in
for a large share of attention from
the visitors. A gravity system fur
nishes the home with an abundance
of pure water, and an electric light
plant, the property of the institution,
provides light for the town as we'll
as the home. The Pittsburgh Synod
is now erecting a dormitory to ac-
commodate forty children, and Har-
risburg people will assist in building
another wing in the near future.
Children desiring to enter the insti-
tuition are constantly upon the wait
ing list. At the home there are at
this time 140 boys and 110 girls
A brass band of 80 pieces, COM
prised by the older boys and con-
Quoted by Prof. Claude M. Stauffer,
formerly of the Carlisle Indian
School, has made a splendid repu-
tation for itself, all over the state.
This organization Is much in demand
and is often called to play at import
ant public functions.
$50 to Keep One Child
After the delegates had inspected
the several buildings and had learn
ed Something of the activities of the
home. the boys and girls marched to
the chapel, where services were held.
In brief report to the East Penn
sylvania Synod, superintendent
Wilde. pointing to the children, said:
This is your problem. What are
you going to do with it?" The cost
of caring for little tot has increased
4 n (