p. 14 | OUR ORPHANS by R. C. PORTER

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 30, 1901

OUR ORPHANS

By R. C. PORTER

The readers of the Review are all acquainted with the Haskell Home, erected, in the providence of God, for the care of our orphans. It has been my privilege, with a few other delegates in attendance at the General Conference, to share the hospitality of the home during our stay in Battle Creek for a period of three weeks. I take pleasure in saying that the home is conducted in an orderly and economical manner, making it a model home for children deprived of parental care.

There are one hundred and ten children in the home, ranging in age from two to fourteen years. These children came from varied home experiences. Some were untrained, and knew nothing of order in the home life, or of Christ or Christian influence. It is surprising to see how soon these children are brought under good discipline.

A school is taught daily, in which they are not only instructed in the sciences, but, from the least to the greatest of them, they are taught the word of God in simple Bible story. It was encouraging to see how much even the smallest know of the word of God. I am sure that if parents at home took as much pains with their children, fewer would depart from Christ when grown.

Every morning before breakfast all the children take a spray bath, and then gather in the parlor for morning praise service and worship; they then pass quietly and in an orderly way to the dining-room, where all join in thanksgiving for daily food and attendant blessings. The food is simple, wholesome, and nutritious, and is selected with reference to healthful combinations. There is not the slightest extravagance apparent in the conduct of the home. In fact, they deny themselves many real necessities because our contributions are not sufficient to provide for them as we should. All those connected with the home, as managers, teachers, and care-takers, work at a sacrifice. The children are as plainly dressed as the children in the homes upon our farms, and they take hold with willing hands to do the work about the home and the farm, as children in the country are accustomed to do.

I am more than ever impressed with the care of our Heavenly Father in providing this home for our orphans, and if all our people could know the needs of this home and of the home for the aged, their semi-annual contributions would be so increased that other necessities could be provided for the more successful operation of the home work.

R. C. PORTER.