USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > Womelsdorf > A history of Bethany Orphans' Home of the Reformed Church in the United States : located at Womelsdorf, Pa. > Part 5
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"Our misfortune has touched the hearts of many good people throughout the country. It is important that the sympathy thus awakened should be invited to formulate itself into corresponding offerings, lest these warm impulses will subside without affording the cause any practical help in the future. All contri- butions can be sent to Mr. Wm. D. Gross, box 2147, Philadelphia, Pa., or to Rev. D. B. Albright, Womels- dorf, Pa. Persons sending gifts will please state
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whether their offerings are to be appropriated to the building fund or to meet current expenses.
'Fire has destroyed our building, it cannot destroy the love of Christ in the hearts of His people. To this love we appeal in behalf of our Home. It represents a cause which lies near to His heart. Above all other friends is this divine Friend of the fatherless. Surely it was His hand that shielded the lives of our dear or- phans against the ravages of the flames on that terrible night of the fire. After this deliverance, they seem doubly precious to us. We now feel that He is press- ing this cause home to our hearts with a solemn em- phasis never felt before. We ask all pastors and people, all parents and children, to help us in securing $10,000 to build a Home where the Reformed Church for generations to come can receive and train the fatherless in the name of Christ and for His glory. Surely to all who will thus help us in the right spirit shall the King say, in the last great day, 'Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.'
B. BAUSMAN, ISAAC MCHOSE,
D. B. ALBRIGHT, JOSEPH COBLENTZ,
C. H. LEINBACH, JOHN WIEST,
W. D. GROSS, GEORGE Z. KUNKEL,
GEORGE GELBACH, HENRY WIRT,
N. WETZEL, WILLIAM H. LEVAN,
JOSEPH LAUBACH,
Board of Managers.
Reading, Pa., November 21, 1881."
It is an interesting fact to note here that the first contribution for the re-building of the Home was re- ceived from the Zion congregation, Buffalo, N. Y., Rev. J. B. Kniest, pastor. The amount was $120.50. It will be remembered that when the first appeal was
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sent out by Rev. Bæhringer, in the Læmmerhirte, nearly nineteen years before, for the establishing of an orphans' home, the first response ($1.50) came from Buffalo, from Jacob Plantz, a member of this same congregation.
The Church responded liberally to the call which came to it through the burning of the Home, for in a little more than one year it collected and sent to the treasurer for a new building $14,139.67. All these contributions were entered into a special book, kept for this purpose, which is now in the archives of the Home.
The contract for putting up the new building was let to Messrs. Gassert & Cilley, of Lebanon, Pa., for $20,366.99. The total cost of the building, including steam heater, gas machine, plumbing, vault, etc. amounted to $26,626.69.
At the laying of the corner-stone of the new build- ing, an address was made by Rev. E. E. Higbee, D.D. On account of the inclemency of the weather, only a few persons were present.
Rev. B. Bausman laid the corner-stone. The whole liturgic service selected for the occasion was performed by the choir, The building was dedicated on the 14th of December, 1882, Rev. T. C. Porter, D.D., of Easton, making the address, and on the 21st of the same month the family took possession of its new Home.
The burning of the Home was considered a very great calamity at the time. However, an examination of the ruins after the fire proved that the building had been of such weak construction that, in all probability, it would at some time have succumbed to a violent
MAIN BUILDING.
€
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storm. It may be that its burning was the means of preventing its destruction in a way that might have involved the loss of many lives. Certain it is that out of the ruins there came better buildings, with more friends, a deeper interest and a more liberal support to carry on the work.
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CHAPTER X.
THE RESIGNATION OF SUPERINTENDENT ALBRIGHT. ELECTION AND INSTALLATION OF REV. T. M. YUNDT AS HIS SUCCESSOR-EARLY YEARS OF THE NEW ADMINISTRATION.
O N the 14th of January, 1886, Rev. D. B. Albright presented his resignation as Superintendent, the same to go into effect on April 1st. A committee, consisting of Rev. B. Bausman, Jacob Rader and W. R. Lawfer, was appointed, who reported as follows:
"This Board learns with feelings of sadness that Rev. D. B. Albright feels himself constrained to resign as Superintendent of Bethany Orphans' Home. For a period of seventeen years we have been associated with him in its management. During this time he and his estimable wife have supplied the place of father and mother to hundreds of orphans with untiring zeal and unwavering constancy. They have performed the dif- ficult duties belonging to the superintendency of such an institution. The many orphans they have nurtured and trained to manhood and womanhood, as well as the Church owning the Home, will cherish the blessing of their laborious services with unfading gratitude.
Resolved, That the thanks of this Board be and are hereby tendered to Rev. D. B. Albright and wife for their valuable services rendered to Bethany Orphans Home.
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REV. THOMAS M. YUNDT FORMER SUPERINTENDENT
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Resolved, That our kindest wishes attend them to whatever sphere in life they may be called and our prayer that the blessing of the Father of the fatherless may rest upon them now and forever."
By a call of the Superintendent, at the suggestion of the President, a special meeting of the Board was held in the study of Dr. Bausman, on Thursday, February 11, 1886, for the purpose of choosing a Superintendent and matron. A number of names were suggested and considered. It was felt that the office called for unique qualities, such as very few of the ablest minis- ters possess: natural endowment, tact, conscientious fidelity, a tender, sympathetic love for the homeless and fatherless and full consecration to such a noble charity. It can only be filled by a married couple, where husband and wife can, in the fullest sense, take the place of father and mother to those committed to their care, making it their chief aim to build up the character of the children by bringing them into saving union with God in Christ Jesus."
The Board felt very keenly its responsibility in seek- ing the right persons to fill the positions, and the members were sorely perplexed in their desire to make a proper choice. Finally, Mr. Wm. R. Lawfer suggest- ed a young minister and his wife, formerly of Allentown, and then serving as missionaries at Wyandotte, Kan- sas, in his estimation, suitable persons to put in charge of the Home. On the strength of this recommenda- tion, Rev. Thomas M. Yundt was elected Superintend- ent and his wife Matron. They accepted the call, and on March 25, 1886, they entered upon the work. The
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following account of the installation is taken from the Reformed Church "Messenger":
"On the 25th of March, 1886, Rev. Thomas M. Yundt, the newly-elected Superintendent, and his wife, arrived at this institution. Besides five mem- bers of the Board of Managers, a number of lady friends of the Home from Reading were present to give them a warm greeting of welcome to their new field of labor. The ladies brought their well-filled baskets along, and furnished a relishable dinner to the visiting guests. A religious service was held in the chapel, when the Superintendent and his wife were formally introduced to the orphans and all others present. Mr. Yundt briefly addressed the congregation, and among other things stated that on his way from Kansas eastward, they had visited the Orphans' Home of the Reformed Church at Fort Wayne, Indiana, which requested him to convey its affectionate greetings to Bethany Or- phans' Home. Short addresses were also delivered by the President of the Board and the brethren E. A. Gernant and J. H. Derr.
"On April 8th, the Board held its regular quarterly meeting in the Home. Two orphans were admitted. Rev. D. B. Albright submitted his final financial statement, which was audited by a committee appoint- ed for this purpose.
"At 2 p. m. the Board proceeded to the chapel, where the inmates of the institution and other friends were assembled to attend the installation of the new Superintendent. After the singing of several hymns and a prayer, and the reading of a suitable Scripture lesson, the President of the Board officially installed Rev. T. M. Yundt as Superintendent of Bethany Or- phans' Home. The retiring Superintendent then read a succinct statement of the history of the Home under his administration, and a summary estimate of the
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present personal property of the institution. There- upon he officially handed over the keys of the Home to Mr. Yundt, who followed with a brief salutatory address to the orphans."
On July 1, 1886, the new Superintendent submitted his first report, from which we quote:
"We have no case of serious sickness to report. The house, with the exception of one or two rooms, is com- fortably furnished, and, with the exception of a few necessary repairs, is in good order. The farm is well stocked, and from present indications, we have every reason to expect a bountiful harvest of grain and fruits. This institution, in its present condition, is a beautiful and beneficent monument to the love, sympathy and liberality of the members of the Reformed Church in the United States."
There were sixty-one children in the Home at this time.
The twenty-third anniversary of the Home was celebrated on Thursday, August 26th. It was a mem- orable occasion. About three thousand persons were present. One excursion, from the Lehigh Valley, numbered one thousand and sixty-four persons.
At the meeting of the Board of Managers, held on the 16th of September, 1886, the following action was taken:
"Resolved, That a standing, visiting and advisory committee of fifteen ladies (five of whom shall consti- tute a quorum) be appointed by the Board, who shall meet at the Home at least four times a year, and as much oftener as they shall deem necessary, and who
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shall confer with the Superintendent and matron, and through the Superintendent, report from time to time as to the condition of the Home. The committee shall be empowered to fill any vacancies which may occur during the year."
The first meeting of this committee was held on the 6th of October following, at the Home; the following ladies being present: Mrs. Aaron S. Leinbach and Mrs. James T. Reber, Reading; Mrs. Wm. D. Rauch, Leba- non; Mrs. George Z. Kunkel and Mrs. George Small, Harrisburg; Mrs. Henry Shirk and Miss Annie E. Dor- wart, Lancaster; Mrs. Thomas Steckel and Mrs. Sam- uel Butz, Allentown; Mrs. Anna M. Eyerman and Mrs. Matilda Chidsey, Easton. Regrets at not being able to attend the meeting were received from several ladies, who had been invited to be present.
Since that time this committee has met regularly every quarter. At every meeting they take up a col- lection amongst themselves for the benefit of the Home. This committee has rendered much valuable aid to the institution, the members cheerfully giving their time and contributing of their means to support this work.
On the 20th of February, 1888, Annie B. Stung, one of the orphan girls, died of congestion of the brain. This was the fourth child that died in the Home in nearly twenty-five years. The first one, a little boy, died while the institution was still located at Brides- burg. The second death occurred in 1871; this was a boy, Franklin Beaver, from Chambersburg, Pa., and his body was taken there for burial; he died of bron-
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CEMETERY LOT.
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chitis or diphtheria. In 1879, Lyman Gerhard, a boy thirteen years of age, died of acute rheumatism. He was buried at the Host church, in Berks county, near where his uncle resided.
This is a remarkable record for an institution which cares for so many hundreds of little children. As there were no relations to care for Annie while she lived and none to bury her when she died, the Super- intendent selected a spot for a single grave in the cemetery in Zion's Union church, at Womelsdorf, thinking that perhaps the Home would some time purchase a lot or make a private cemetery, and the body could then be removed there. Before the day of the funeral, however, Mr. Samuel Gabel, learning that the Home had no lot of its own, presented his private lot, newly purchased, and one of the most de- sirable in the whole cemetery, as a permanent burying place for children dying at the Home. There now rest the remains of five orphan children: Anna B. Stung, S. Calvin Wolfe, Charles Harp, Albert Hinkel and Ida R. Shank. Each little grave is marked with a simple tombstone, bearing the name, date of birth and death and the age of the silent sleeper. Mr. and Mrs. P. F. Eisenbrown have erected a nice monument, of dark granite, upon the lot. And now, when the busy Bethany boys and girls pause for a moment in their work or in their play, that monument helps them to locate the spot where their brothers and sisters sleep in the beautiful cemetery on the hill top, a mile away.
CHAPTER XI.
THE FIRST PERIOD OF EXPANSION-SANTEE HALL. VISIT OF POSTMASTER-GENERAL WANAMAKER.
I
N 1887 the present laundry building was erected, at a cost of about $1,300.
In the quarterly report of the Superintendent, dated October 10, 1890, we find the following:
"The Superintendent would earnestly call the at- tention of the Board to the fact that our building is as full as it ought to be, especially on the boys' side. Earnest appeals are before us to admit more children. As far as it is in our power, it is our plain and solemn duty to assist the poor. I believe that we can still make room for a few more, but this should only be done with the idea that it is only a temporary arrange- ment. Overcrowding and occupying of every nook and corner of an orphans' home has undoubtedly been the cause of much evil. In these institutions, if any- where, there should be plenty of room. If we do take up more children, let us tell the Church that we must have more room to take care of them and let us enter upon an aggressive campaign to secure the means for this object. Let us go forward in faith and enlarge our work to meet the necessities."
In response to this statement, a committee was ap- pointed to meet at the Home and formulate a plan to enlarge the capacity of the institution; this committee to report at a special meeting or at the next regular meeting.
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LAUNDRY.
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History of Bethany Orphans' Home.
At the Board meeting, on January 9, 1891, the fol- lowing action was taken in reference to enlarging the Home:
"Feeling the great need of more room to carry on our work and properly meet the pressing applications to take up more children, the Board
" Resolved, That, without delay, we proceed to make provision for the erection of an additional building.
" Resolved, That the new building be located on the east of the present building."
At a special meeting of the Board of Managers and the Ladies' Committee the drawings, as ordered by the special committee and made by Architect Mull, were examined and discussed and, on motion of Mr. Gross, it was decided to locate the new building where Santee Hall now stands.
Ground was broken in February. On account of heavy rains, progress was slow. However, by the time of the April Board meeting, the cellar was nearly dug out and there were sufficient stone on the ground for the foundations and cellar walls.
It was about this time that a letter was received from Mr. Charles Santee, in answer to a letter from the President of the Board of Managers. Mr. Santee, among other things, wrote as follows:
"I have been thinking a good deal about Bethany Orphans' Home, in regard to enlarging its capacity, and expected to contribute towards erecting the con- templated building. Before doing so, I wish to in- quire about the amount of money needed. Please give me an approximate estimate of its cost. I am
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History of Bethany Orphans' Home.
greatly obliged to you for frankly presenting the matter to my attention in your own peculiar way."
In response to this request, Mr. Santee was given a detailed description of the building required, its ap- proximate cost and the amount of money needed to justify the Board of Managers in proceeding with the erection. To the great joy of all, he at once made the following reply:
"It is evident that the affairs of the Home have been managed upon business principles. I have concluded to give $5,000 towards the erection of the contemplated building. I herewith transmit my obligation; bind- ing my executors to carry my subscription to effect in the event of my being called home."
In recognition of this liberal gift, in addition to $2,000 previously given, all in memory of his son, Joseph H. Santee, who had died on November 21, 1888, the Board of Managers desired to name the new build- ing "Santee Hall." The generous donor reluctantly consented and "Santee Hall" now stands as one of the many monuments to this good man.
Its dimensions are 53 by 84 feet, and it furnishes room for fifty girls. Its entire cost, with furnishing and equipment, was about $18,000. In addition to the Santee contributions, $9,550 were available from other sources. The remainder came in response to a special appeal.
About the same time seven acres and seventy-eight perches of woodland was bought for $512.24. It was paid for by a few individuals. This increased the Home farm to 96 acres.
SANTEE HALL.
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History of Bethany Orphans' Home.
The twenty-ninth anniversary of the Home, in 1892, was a memorable occasion, not only because the new Santee Hall for girls was ready for inspection, but also on account of the presence of the Honorable John Wanamaker, Postmaster-General of the United States, as one of the speakers. He was introduced by the Rev. Dr. Bausman, who spoke, in part, as follows:
"Ten years ago I stood by the grave of Lazarus, in Bethany, Palestine, but I have found since that there are more important things than the graves of dead saints, and they are the hearts of the living. The largest Sunday-school in the United States bears the name of Bethany, which is also the precious name of this Home. It is a beautiful tribute that a man in public life should step aside from his responsible duties for an hour and come here among us. I have the pleasure of introducing the father of the largest Sunday-school in the United States, and a member of President Harrison's cabinet, Postmaster-General Wanamaker."
Mr. Wanamaker was greeted with applause as he rose to address the assemblage. He said:
"Dr. Bausman pays me an honor in saying that I am here to-day because I wanted to come. It is strange that I find myself here, but it is the Providence of God to give me this pleasure and opportunity to meet so many of my friends in the Lehigh and Schuyl- kill valleys, fellow Pennsylvanians, fellow Christians, mothers and fathers in Israel, who are making Penn- sylvania the great State it is. I always wanted the opportunity to come to Womelsdorf and see this child
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in the mountain, and when the persistent Lawfer asked me to come, I could not refuse. It is a great thing to build a steamship, it is a wonderful thing to build a railroad, but it is a greater thing to touch the life of a little child, in whose hands are, perhaps, the powers of great things. I belong to the Presbyterian Church, but we have no homes like the one you have here. The German Reformed Church that my mother loved so dearly has been permitted to advance a step further and do a great work. The greatest thing for the world is to educate the little children to do better things than their fathers."
Thus ended the first period of expansion. It was followed by a few years of quiet internal development with a lessening deficit at the end of each year.
CARPENTER SHOP.
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CHAPTER XII.
THE SECOND PERIOD OF EXPANSION-FRICK COTTAGE.
T HE annual report of the Superintendent, pre- sented to the Board of Managers at its meeting in July, 1895, contains several items of special his- torical interest. We quote from the report: "The road from the station to and around the buildings, at which we have been working for several years, is now finished." This is a very creditable specimen of road building, and has caused much favorable comment. It is a great convenience and improvement to the property.
Further this report informs us that "through the liberality of friends, the Home was enabled to secure two hundred fruit trees and three dozen grape vines and six chemical fire extinguishers." The former were donated by Mr. H. M. Housekeeper, of Philadelphia, and the latter by Mr. James T. Reber, of Reading.
At this meeting of the Board, the Committee on Property was directed to build a boys' shop. This action resulted in the erection of the present building, 24x36 feet, at a cost of $1,200. The upper story is used for a carpenter shop, and the lower story as a trade school. A tablet in the front wall awaits the name of some liberal benefactor who will equip and endow it for industrial training.
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But the most far-reaching and significant action of that memorable Board meeting was that with reference to "the erection of a cottage for little children." This matter was referred to the Committee on Property, with the request that they report at a future meeting.
Meanwhile Mrs. H. M. Housekeeper, of Philadelphia, a member of the Trinity Reformed church in that city, received an inheritance from her parents and was con- sidering how she might invest this money safely, so that it might add no sorrow but bring satisfactory returns. This inheritance represented the results of a lifetime of hard labor and frugal habits and it was the daugh- ter's desire above all things that it should be put to unquestionably good use. It was at this time that she heard of the need of a cottage at Bethany Orphans' Home for the housing of little children. She invited the Superintendent of the Home to visit her and ex- plain the object of such a cottage. He did so, and the result of the interview was that she decided to erect the building as a memorial to her parents and said that she was ready, through her husband, a member of the Board, to devote between four and five thousand dollars to this purpose. This generous offer was grate- fully accepted by the Board of Managers, and Rev. B. Bausman, D.D., J. T. Reber, L. Kramer, T. M. Yundt, Dr. J. Z. Gerhard and H. M. Housekeeper were ap- pointed as the building committee.
The entire cost of the cottage was about $6,000, all of which was paid by Mr. and Mrs. Housekeeper. It was dedicated in connection with the celebration of the thirty-third anniversary, on August 27, 1896.
FRICK COTTAGE.
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History of Bethany Orphans' Home.
Rev. Dr. Bausman delivered the dedicatory address, speaking, in part, as follows:
"Hitherto our care for orphans began at six years of age. But who cares for those under six years? For the new-born infant, with no inheritance but the prayer of a dying mother? The want of this left a gap in our organization, a period in the child life unprovided for.
A pebble on the streamlet scant Has turned the course of many a river. A dew-drop on the baby plant May warp the giant oak forever.
"The eternal destiny of millions is determined be- fore they are six years of age. God be praised to-day that we can open the doors of Bethany Orphans' Home to the babes of the Church. Who can be deaf to the unspoken appeals of these little ones? Who can for them take a mother's place? Only God can comfort as a mother comforteth. Only He can understand the mysterious tenderness of a mother's first glance into the face of her new-born child. He alone can fathom the heart's deepest emotion of the dying mother, prayerfully committing her child to the Father of the fatherless and to the tender care of the Church.
"Out of our little faith this beautiful Home for the little ones has sprouted and grown. Unsolicited, a Christian lady has erected this building for motherless babes. Herself a mother, the act has a pathetic sig- nificance. With grateful hearts we accept this gen- erous gift from the hands of its kind donor, in memory of her sainted parents. We promise to use it for the tender care of motherless little ones. May the Lord so guide and bless the ministry and mission of this cottage that all who shall be nurtured and trained here may become living and lasting monuments of the spirit that prompted and the liberal heart that executed the erection of this building.
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"Henceforth it shall stand as the memorial of a loving daughter to her sainted parents. It shall stand as the monument of a mother's love for motherless babes. It shall stand as a guarantee of the Church that the homeless little ones of Christ under God shall here find hearts to love and hands to provide them with a mother's tender care. To this threefold mission, we hereby dedicate this children's cottage and invoke upon it the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
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