As next Sabbath, October 5, is the time for the regular collection for the Haskell Orphans’ Home, and the James White Memorial Home for the aged, we trust every member of our denomination in the United States will donate liberally for the support of these two institutions. The writer feels sure, if every one who reads this article could visit these two institutions, that he would be favorably impressed with the work that is being carried on by them.
The Orphans’ Home, a picture of which is given below, has connected with it at the present time over one hundred orphans. These children come from different States, some of whom are the descendants of those who have been faithful in the work. These children are receiving a real practical education in several lines of industrial work.
THE HASKELL HOME.
The farm consists of sixty-seven acres, and has been set out quite largely to fruit, consisting of apples, peaches, pears, plums, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries. The peach and plum orchards are just now getting into a bearing condition, the orchard producing more fruit this year than during any previous year. The orchard consists of 1,200 peach, 1,000 plum, 300 pear, and several hundred apple trees. The children have canned 3,972 quarts of plums, pears, peaches, strawberries, and grapes. The farm has five acres of strawberries, which produced 10,000 quarts of berries this past summer; seven acres of raspberries, one acre of currants and gooseberries, and a vineyard of grapes. They sold $345 worth of fruit besides what they consumed. The children are taught to plant and hoe the garden and pick the berries, and by so doing aid to some extent in supporting themselves.
CHILDREN WORKING IN BEET FIELD.
Those hired in the institution work at a sacrifice. The Superintendent, and his wife, who has acted as matron for the last two or three years, have received no wages at all for their services, simply being boarded for their work. The sisters, who act as mothers, generally for the first year give their services. They receive twelve dollars a month for the second year, and fifteen dollars a month for the third year. The teachers who instruct the children receive from twelve to fifteen dollars a month.
It has been the writer’s good pleasure to speak several times to the children, and recently he attended a funeral service of one of them. Everything is carried on with so much order and decorum at all the meetings that it is indeed refreshing to be associated with them. They are very obedient and keep perfect order. No light, boisterous laughing or disagreeable romping is heard, yet all seem to be cheerful and well disposed.
Last summer the writer held a Sabbath service in a church a few miles distant from the city. The assistant superintendent brought a load of children to attend the meeting. The children took part in the Sabbath-school and answered so promptly the questions in the review that the brethren of the church were delighted, and after the service was over, several of the church-members came to me and said: “We are so glad the children came out. How bright and intelligent they are, and how wonderfully well they behave. Surely their training must be complete at the Home.” As we have said before, Could each reader of this article visit the Home, and see the children at work or in meeting, and mark their deportment and the courtesy with which they treat each other and strangers who come about the institution, he would be delighted.
As these children reach about the age of fifteen years, homes are found for them in families. Some go out to labor, and everywhere they are proving themselves to be well behaved, steady, industrious persons, and as the institution begins to turn out such individuals into society, it is being seen more and more that the education received at the Home is of a genuine substantial nature. The writer takes pleasure in assuring every reader of this article that in giving to the aid of the Haskell Home, and for the maintenance of the aged people in the James White Memorial Home, he is doing a commendable thing.
The Haskell Home, although presenting a fine appearance, as the above picture will indicate, is furnished and finished very plainly,—indeed so plainly that its inside appearance seems really elegant on account of its plainness.
The James White Memorial Home is a building which was once owned by Elder James White, and was his home for several years. It has been enlarged and does not appear as it did when Elder White lived in it, but it furnishes a very comfortable home for some fifty or more old people. As one visits the institution, as the writer has often done, and spoken to the old people, he finds them nicely, yet very plainly attired, and they seem happy and contented in their home. Some are very earnest in their praise for not only the Home itself, but for the treatment they receive at the hands of all who labor in the institution. The society in the Home is constantly changing, as many of them are of that age that it is only a question of time until they depart this life; but all seem to be earnest, devoted Christians, and all who drop away, rest in hope. The applications from our ranks to find a place in the home are many. As soon as one drops away through death, another stands ready to take his place, and it is hard to tell just what would be done if we as a denomination did not have such a home.
Each church should care for its own poor and needy as far as possible; yet even when this is done, there are always some that are isolated from the church, or belong to very small churches, and need homes, and can find none better than the James White Memorial Home. So there is a real necessity for the sustenance of such a home.
The old people are well fed and cared for, and when sick, are tenderly nursed by nurses from the Sanitarium, and also have the best medical treatment. Everything is done for them that can be done, and the health of the inmates is excellent considering their advanced age. The health of the children in the Haskell Orphans’ Home is wonderful. Very little sickness invades the institution, and when such is the case, as a rule it is quickly vanquished by efficient nurses and physicians.
These institutions are certainly doing a good work, and we trust that every one will donate liberally. All the donations taken up on Sabbath, October 5, are given to the support and maintenance of these two institutions. On this day especially remember the aged and orphans by your prayers and means. Let the donation be a large one. Send all donations to Elder L. McCoy, Sanitarium, Battle Creek, Mich., or to your State Tract Society secretary.
