Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1921-06-11
Orphans Home
Fl. Lee Meeting

A good attendance greeted the speak
erS at the Christian Home for Orphans
on Sunday afternoon, but much larg-
er one should have thus encouraged
the good people of the home and many
seats were unoccupied under the big
tent under the trees overlooking the
| Hudson.
The earlier visitors inspected the
place and talked with the children who
were in evidence all around or in the
house, for the children are allowed the
utmost freedom of the usual private
home and yet never abuse it.
All the 70 little ones were seated on
the platform when the exercises began
and presented most attractive ap-
pearance. From littlest to biggest,
they later took part in the program, in
singing or recitations, or with Bible
verses, etc, and were a very enjoyable
feature of the afternoon.
| Rev. w. W. Nelson of Brooklyn pre-
sided as chairman and introduced the
other speakers. Mr. Otell, many years
a resident of Fort Lee, made the open
ing prayer, and the Battle Hymn of
the Republic" was sung by the chill
dren. Then Mr.. Mackenzie, pastor of
the Palisade Union Church, made the
opening address, speaking of the OPP
pOrtunity which the home afforded to
all, to interpret into life what they
have learned of the real things, and to
weave into these lives something to
make them better. He spoke appre-
ciatively of the children who here
would have chance, such as the many
whom he had so often seen in his mis-
sion work on the East Side could not
have in the making of future citizens.
Appropriately the five boys of the home
then sang pass 1t On" and Mr.. Moore
head of Fort Lee spoke on some of
his own experiences as a poor little
boy and his first ventures in business
as IA newspaper boy, etc.
EX-Mayor White of Fort Lee well
coined the opportunity of speaking a
word of encouragement to the home
and said that while many were will
ing to contribute money they forgot
that the great work only began with
the money given. He spoke of the
agony which mother must feel at the
parting with her children, such as
these, and expressed his satisfaction
that so many We're being thus brought
up to be patriotic citizens in this home
which he hoped would become a mOnu-
ment to the borough of Fort Lee.
Mr.. d. A. Carson of Palisade in his
address likened the children to little
plants or young trees, reminded of such
by the Bible verses recited about the
vine and fruits, and said that trees
left to grow as they will do not bring
forth good fruit. That was what they
were there for, to make the young trees
grow the right way and to consider
these young things which have the
were in a private garden.
| Professor Donaldson of Cliffside
Park continued the smile of the
young trees and considered us as CO.
workers with God, there being no high
err privilege than to give these young
trees a chance to grow.
In closing the chairman spoke very
TeSGellulIy Ol the StulllllilS DlOW uchil
them SO unexpectedly in the levying
of the school tax or tuition which he
did not see it was possible to meet, for
the home has always had struggle
for existence and has meant constant
and hard work to maintain it's depend
ent children He felt that there must
be some mistake somewhere and some
misunderstanding which he earnestly
hoped could be cleared up, for the sew
eral thousand dollars extra which
would be involved would mean ruin,
and yet they believed in having their
children attend the public schools, in
mingling with other children in a nat
ural life and growing up as individuals,
for, as some of the speakers had en-
phasiZed, these children are being
brought up as individuals and in their
own individual dress, not in uni
form. y