1/19/1878 Philadelphia Inquirer p. 2
TWELFTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE LINCOLN INSTITUTION – REPORTS AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS – ADDRESSES

The twelfth annual meeting of the contributors to the Lincoln Institution was held yesterday morning in Eleventh street, opposite Clinton street. Rev. Dr. H.J. Morton, rector of St. James’ Protestant Episcopal Church, occupied the chair and conducted the devotional exercises. Colonel Samuel Bell acted as secretary.

The report of the Board of Managers, which was read, states that they have closed another year with a marked improvement in the scholarship, habits, morals and behavior of the pupils. The chairman of the Committee on Admission and Dismission reports having received 30 boys during the year, 27 of them being transferred from the “Educational Home,” 26 left to return to their mothers and friends, being over sixteen years of age; 4 were transferred to the “Educational Home” (as boarders). The present number in the institution is 88, of these 19 are State soldiers' orphans between the ages of thirteen and sixteen years, 17 graduated State soldiers' orphans between sixteen and 21 years of age, 12 from the Soldiers' Home; the remainder are supported by scholarships and wages. There have not been any deaths during the year.

They are glad to state that the employment department is in excellent working order; with now and then a few exceptions all the boys have been constantly at work. Oftentimes the demand for boys has been greater than the department could supply. In some instances they have felt the depression of the time in the lowering of wages, which so affected their funds that they were compelled to make extra exertions to collect donations in order to meet the current expenses.

They acknowledge with much gratitude the gift of $1000 from the estate of Mr. Charles M. Eckert, a portion of a sum of money designated by him to be distributed by his mother to charitable institutions thus showing that he was laying up treasure in that home to which he was called so early; truly, it may be said of him, “his works do follow him.” This sum was appropriated, with the consent of his mother, to the building of the new laundry at the Educational Home, where, since September, all the washing has been done. The clothes are expeditiously and satisfactorily washed and ironed, and promptly returned to the institution, for which they pay $50 per month, or about 15 cents per dozen. The old laundry is being fitted up for the main school room. This will be a very decided advantage both in comfort and convenience.

The librarian reports most favorably of the conduct and good order manifested by the boys in the reading room, of the great p3easure they take in devoting their evenings there. The assistant librarians, chosen for their trustworthiness, were Albert Wood and Joseph Hart, of Boys' Room; Frederick Aschendorff, of Young Men's Room.

Three of the boys were confirmed last spring at the Church of the Epiphany.

The report of the Board of Council states that in a short time the few soldiers' orphans now left in the Lincoln (of whom there are now but 19) will be discharged on reaching the legal age for the State's contribution to their support to cease - it is to be hoped that the Legislature will renew the annual appropriation so long as there are any children fairly entitled to share in the munificent aid hitherto given to those whose fathers sacrificed life or health in defense of the nation.

An analysis of the list of employments of the boys shows that 20 of them are learning trades - tinsmiths, printers, jewelers, carpenters, curriers, moulders, hatters, machinists and telegraph operators, and are now being trained to be, it is believed, good mechanics; 24 are in stores, 7 are in banks, and 39 are in offices, and the frequent application for “Lincoln Boys” shows that they have established a good character for industry and intelligence, and this it is hoped will continue, so that the public may look to the Lincoln as a good training school and home for its boys.

The report of the treasurer of the Board of Managers states that the receipts, including a balance of $421.18, were $30,644.85. The present balance is $217.40 [from actual AR].

The treasurer of the Board of Council reported that the receipts, including a balance of $93.95, were $2,596.93, all of which has been expended.

An election then took place for officers, with the following result:
Board of Council for 1878. - President - Right Rev. William B. Stevens. Vice President - J.B. Moorhead. Secretary - Samuel Bell. Treasurer - G. Theodore Roberts. Members - Ex-officio, Right Rev. William B. Stevens, D.D.; ex-officio, Rev. Richard Newton, D.D.; ex-officio Rev. William Rudder, D.D.; ex-officio, Rev. T.S. Davies, D.D.; ex-officio, Rev. E.A. Hoffman, D.D.; ex-officio, Rev. Henry J. Morton, D.D.,; ex-officio, Rev. William N. McVickar; Lemuel Coffin, George C. Carson, A.H. Franciscus, Alexander Brown, John P. Brock, Henry C. Gibson, B.G. Godfrey, Henry C. Townsend, Anthony J. Drexel, Joseph G. Rosengarten, Hon. John Welsh, R.F. Wood, Franklin A. Dick, Morton McMichael, Jr.; William H. Merrick, Charles W. Trotter, Joseph H. Trotter, Edward Browning, A. Haller Gross, O.C. Bosbyshell, Gordon Monges, Charles Henry Hart, John M. Smiley, William M. Runk, Nalbro Frazer, Jr.; Charles Carver Hon. D. Newlin Fell.

Board of Managers for 1878. - Directresses - Miss McHenry, Mrs. George R. Justice, Mrs. J. Dundas Lippincott. Secretary - Mrs. Harry G. Clay. Treasurer - Mrs. Manning Kennard. Members - Miss E.W. Key, Miss Anne Frazer, Mrs. E.L. Reskirt, Miss Mary C. Cox, Miss Israel, Mrs. Robert Pettit, Miss Emily Stocker, Miss H.F. Randolph, Mrs. Edward Lowber, Mrs. Alfred English, Mrs. Henry C. Gibson, Miss S. Fisher, Mrs. Chandler, Mrs. Charles Henry Hart, Mrs. Nalbro Frazer, Mrs. William Thomson, Mrs. Charles F. Lennig, Mrs. Elwood Davis, Mrs. Henry Drayton, Miss Mary Paul, Miss E.E. McVickar, Miss F.M. Paul, Mrs. J. Campbell Harris Mrs. Walter McMichael, Mrs. S. Craig Heberton. Honorary Members - Mrs. John Frazer, Mrs. William Lippincott, Mrs. R. T. Jones.

Visiting Physicians for 1878 - January, February, March - C. McClellan, M.D. April, May, June - William G. Porter, M.D. July, August, September - Dr. Neff. October, November, December - W. Scott Wolford, M.D. Surgeon - Harrison Allen, M.D. Consulting Physician - S. Weir Mitchell, M.D. Solicitor - Lewis Waln Smith. Superintendent - Mr. William M. Hugg. Assistant Superintendent - Mr. Ambrose Beck. Matron - Mrs. William M. Hugg, Assistant Matron - Miss Alice Coghill. Teacher - Mr. Lemuel McMichael. Assistant Teacher - Mrs. Pine.

General R. B. Beath, of the Grand Army of the Republic, was introduced and addressed the meeting. He began by stating the object of the order, and said, that, like the managers of the Lincoln Institution, they were largely engaged in a charitable work. Under the present laws the system under which the managers of the Lincoln Institution will draw to a close in 1879. An effort was being made to have the present law repealed, so that those at present in the institution can remain until they have reached the age of sixteen years. He had become familiar with the work of the soldiers' orphans' schools and believed they had better advantages than those obtained in the Lincoln Institution.

The question was what was to be done with the children discharged at sixteen years of age. He found that those sent into the interior of the State when discharged could not obtain any of the advantages such as received in the Lincoln Institution. Committees were formed by the Grand Army of the Republic, and work was obtained for several of these children. An appeal was then made to Congress to place them in a home where they could remain one, two, three or four years; but all attempts, however, failed. The members of the State Legislature felt that the institution was taking money to which it was not entitled [emphasis added], and the men in the country could not understand the difference between this system and that pursued in other places. After a full expression of opinion, the Grand Army passed resolutions of thanks to Miss McHenry for her noble efforts in behalf of the soldiers' orphans.

The speaker was surprised that the great State of Pennsylvania had adopted any other plan than that pursued by the Lincoln Institution. We have the contract system, under which the State promises to pay $150 for the care of children. Now if the State has made too small an appropriation the child suffers. Such a system as this could be made a direct evil to the children. In this work the Grand Army of the Republic is heart ad soul in accord with the Lincoln Institution. We must have this system extended.

Rev. Dr. H.J. Morton said it seemed to him this was a part of the great work we all have to do. Without a religious foundation and a sound moral culture it is all useless. He had often looked at the bank notes and wondered how any one who produced such a superb picture could forge. It was simply because he had no religious culture. He hailed with great satisfaction the fact that the institution was building up and instructing the boys to pursue the right path. At the conclusion of Dr. Morton's address the meeting adjourned.

Document History

• Transcribed by HS 2024-08-28