Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 60, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 March 1902 — Dr. Wharton’s Work Among the Helpless and Destitute. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Dr. Wharton’s Work Among the Helpless and Destitute.

Preacher, whe is at= trading Immense An* diences to the Methodist Church Day and Night, Concerning his Labors in the Interest of Desti* tote Children-Two Orphanages Established^—

DR. H. M. WHARTON, who is now conducting the union services in this city, is doing a great work for the helpless and des- " titute. He has two orphanages and Industrial Homes, one for white children, located at Luray, Virginia, and the other for colored children at Charlotte, N. C. They receive boys and girls and both institutions are non denominational. The one at Luray, Virginia, is known as the “Whosoever Farm,” and that at Charlotte, North Carolina, is the “Wharton Industrial School.” An account of these institutions given bv Dr. Wharton will be of interest to the readers of the Republican. Dr. Wharton says: -ZAbont fourteen years ago while I was pastor in the cit.y of Baltic more I was walking along the street one day and met a lady who informed me that there were three little children of her acquaintance in desperate circumstances and entirely without assistance. She begged me to look after them, stating that their father had bee,n killed and that their mother was in the penitentiary. For several days these little unfortunate ones were on my heart, Not knowing what to do, I called to see a widow of my acquaintance who had a very comfortable home and no one living with her except her niece. I proposed to them to take these little children upon condition that I would be responsible for their board and clothing. They asked for time to consider the proposition and a week later agreed to take them. In less than a year there were twenty, and in three years sixty children to be cared for. We had to change our quarters twice in order to get more comfortable places. Having a small farm near LurayVirginia, in my possession, I determined to move these children to that point on account of the healthfulness of the place and the possibility of separating them from all influences that were not of the best character. The years have passed on, the work has had its ups and downs, its dark days and bright days, its sick days and well days, but the children have never been without meals, good clothing and a shelter. From the very first it has been non-sectarian, the only requirement being destitution. This its name imports, it is for “whosoever” needs its care and aid. Our purpose has been to look after outcast children more especially, though we have not been able to confine ourselves to these alone. One of the three children with whom the work started, the little girl, was taken away to heaven long ago. One of the boys is being brought up and cared for by a farmer and the other by the president of the National Exchange Bank, Lynchburg, Virginia. The object is to take these children, both boys and girls, and give them good English and Industrial education. The boys work on the farm and the girls in the cottages, forming quite a little village. There is a matron in each family of boys or girls, a little yard around each house and everything .as domestic as possible. The children all meet at one place for their meals and study. Perhaps it will give a better idea if I mention the products of our work. I was conducting a meeting in Macon, Georgia, where a poor outcast died leaving a beautiful girl. She was put in my possession and has now grown to be a very fine young woman. A widow of Germantown, PennsylvaniaTsenTtwo boys to us. One oFfTiem has been” returned to help her in her support and the other is employed at John V anamaker’s in Philadelphia. He has been promoted once or twice andisdoing Well. A girl who came from the looms in Maryland graduated with us and is now a trained nurse in a New York hospital And so I might go on mentioning others for we have had over three hundred who have come to us, have been helped and gone forth in the World to make their living. When the Spanish-American war was declared, I went to the Secretary of War and offered our home to the soldiers’ children. It was accepted as will be seen by letters from President McKinley and others. W e take the children of the soldiers and include those of the Civil War, '6l to '65, no matter on which side they fought.

Among the girls we have, Lottie, a most interesting child. She is the only child of a widowed mother. Her father was formerly a Confederate soldier, and when the war with Spain was declared, he enlisted as a private soldier in the United States army. Last summer he died in Havana, and the following newspaper notice from pne of the Atlanta, Georgia, dailies will give account of the sad occurrence: “A cablegram from General Wood received last night announced the death of Robert Bird Wednesday, at Gaunajay, Cuba, August 2nd. The funeral will take place "today with military honors. Every boy in Atlanta knew Bob Bird,-a big hearted, generous souled fellow, and the announcement of his death will cause much sorrow. He has been in the government service since the beginning of the Spanish American war, and has made an enviable record. His life has been full of interesting incidents. He was a scout and a water guide for .the Texas Pacific railroad from Fort Worth to El Paso, when Ihosjr' towns were noted frontier places. He scouted with Buffalo Bnt Mia Texas Jack, afterwards tilling responsible positions with the Western <fc Atlantic and the Nashville & St. Louis railroads. Later he worked for tho Atlanta waterworks and Atlanta Gas Company. Fifteen years ago he married Miss Mamie Potts, the only child of Capt. W. A. Potts, the well-known railroad conductor. At the time of his death. Mr. Bird was stationed in Gaunajay, Cuba, tilling an important position which he received through the influence of General Wheeler, with whom he served in both the Civil and the Spanish-American war. The cause of his death was not mentioned in the dispatch.”-" — “Mrs. Bird.’’ continued Dr. Wharton, “was left a widow with this child and absolutely helpless. She wrote to me and referred me to Mr. Hemphill, editor of the Atlanta Constitution, who confirmed her statement Lottie was at once received and is one of our promising girls. As a matter of economy, and in order that one may not be dressed better than another, we have the girls wear cap and gown. These cost ten dollars for the suit. When the girls or their friends are able to pay for these suits, we ask them to do so. But neither Lottie nor her mother could do this, and while I was holding meetings in the Congregational church in Philadelphia, of which Dr. Richardson is pastor, I received a letter from the Assistant Principal Luray College saying that Lottie was much distressed and so was she, that neither the mother nor the college treasury could pay for wild gown. I rend the letter to the congregation, and after the service a good friend stepped to the front, and dropped a contribution, and in a few minutes there was a plenty to buy the cap and gown, and to spare. We wired the assistant Principal that night as follows: ‘Order Lottie’s suit; it is paid for by friends here.’ There was joy in the college the next morning. She will remain there, please God, until she has her education. There are many affecting incidents like this in our work, and the list would be long if I could name them.’’

ITS INDORSEMENT. Letters of commendation will show any who may be acquainted with this work what is thought of it by some whose names are household words throughout the laud. Letters of Commendation frtfni President McKinley. 4 Executive Mansion, Washington, D. C. Dr. B. M. Wharton: Dear Sir:-r~I showed your letter to the President this evening, and he noted its contents with interest. Allow me to express the hope that your philanthropic and timely enterprise will meet with every success. .With kind regards I am very truly yours, «T. A. Porter, Secy to President.

Senator Daniel. Lynchburg, Va., Sept. 17, 1898. Mr. Wharton: I take pleasure in commending the noble work you are doing in prepr ring a refuge for orphan children, especially the outcast and destitute who neea public charity. The statement of the case is its own strongest appeal to those who are able to help, and I hope the good work may be blessed with much fruitage. ' jYours veiy truly, John W. Daniel. FromJDr. Talmage: October 4,1898. The Ophanages of Rev. D. Wharton are worthy of the man who controls them. Dr. Wharton’s work in the pulpit and in benefieent institutions is something marvelous and divinely inspired. Let all goodtpeople forward him with their prayers and generosities. T. DeWitt Talmage. From D. L.Moody. ... —- My dear Wharton: You have my best wishes for the increasing success of ycur schools and orphanage. This country needs that Christian influence should be trained more and more around the young while the> are receiving their education. Trusting that you will be blessed and prospered in all your efforts along these lines, I am, very truly yours, i— I——Z- j. —-—Z- .D. L. Moody. ...... Gen. Gordon of Georgia. My Dear Dr. Wharton: lam delighted to learn that some Georgia children are to be gathered into the fold and fostering care of the * “Whosoever Home,” In all my travels Ido not recall any institution which more enlisted my sympathies or commanded my confidence. God’s hand is surely in this great work. I was deeply impressed by the character and intelligence of the Christian people in charge, by the bright cheerful look and manner of the little inmates, and by all the appointments and surroundings of the institution. If the Christian people of the country knew as much of its non-sectarian and noble work as I do, it would surely never want for the means of support and extension. With earnest good wishes, I am very sincrely yours, J. B. Gordon. “I have” said Dr. Wharton, “many other letters of approval from Gen.fMiles, Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, the secretary of war and others.

ITS SUPPORT. It has been a work of faith tnd prayer depending fpr its support upon the labor of its founder and contributions of kind hearted friends. Beyond the support of my own family I have given the proceeds of my life work to this and similar enterprises. I have felt it my privilege to do this and do not mention it through any spirii of boasting. God forbid! I will say further for the information of any to whom it may be of interest that I have not in all these years laid aside any money, though I have received large pay for my work as an evangelist, and never more than at this time. Apart from the support of my family and sufficient life insurance to take care of them in the event of my departure, I seek to devote the proceeds of my labors to this and kindred work. There are friends who have contributed very liberally to the care of these children. Some have given me as high as SI,OOO at a time, and from that down to the smallest contributions, even pennies. A plan has been adopted to endow beds in the name of any who will contribute as much as SI,OOO. The bed bears the name of the donor and the interest of the money takes care of the child who occupies the bed, Sixty dollars will clothe, feed and teach an orphan child at our farm for one year. The expense has been reduced to the least possible amount, and only those who are dirpctly engaged in the work on the farm receive one cent of compensation. I earnestly ask the sympathy and prayers of all under whose eyes this interview may fall. m. |Dr. Wharton’s Normal and Industrial School. This institution is located in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is entirely for colored children and young people. Last year there were one hundred and fifty in this school. It would pain you to know how few comforts they have, and how many sacrifices are made by those who are struggling to carry on this work. lam the only white person in any way connected with this work. It bears my name only because they prefer that it should, not because I have been of any great assistance to it. I only wish that God might use me in building it up and making it a strong school. The negro problem is a great and all-absorbing question, not only with the South but with the whole nation. I was born and brought up in the south, in the state of Virginia; my father was a slave holder and I a Confederate soldier. I claim to know something of the needs of the colored people, and I am ready to do anything in my power to advance their interest. In my evangelistic work, friends everywhere come to our aid and contribute sums sufficient to help carry on the work. As soon as the Hands can be Secured we propose to erect a building to cost $25,000 for the care of orphan children and widows of old soldiers, especially in the South where help is much needed. Many old soldiers are dying and leaving their wives destitute and some with little children. We have several of these on the Farm now. I shall be pleased to talk with any one who desires any further information concerning our efforts to care for the ‘least of the little ones.’ ” j

Remember Dr. Wharton's two very instructive and entertaining lectures, at 4 and 8 P. M. Saturday, at the Opera House, (or the benefit of these most deserving charities. Admission at 4 P.M.: Children 10 cts; Adults 25 cts. At 8 P. M.: Adults 25 cts; children half price.

DR. H. M. WHARTON.

PROPOSED NEW COLLEGE BUILDING.

LOTTIE BIRD.

A CROUP OF LURAY COLLEGE PUPILS.