TO SAVE THE BOY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 107, 6 May 1912, Page 8

TO SAVE THE BOY.

ANGLICAN HOME AT HUTT. Bishop Sprott opened the new Anglican ( Boys' Home at Lower Hutt on Saturday in the presence of a large gathering of clergy and laity of the church. Archdeacon Harper explained that itwas nearly two years ago that Mr. Walton suggested the idea of trying to get ahome on almost the same lines as St. Mary's Home for Girls at Karori — not merely an orphanage, but a place where boys, who were in unfortunage surroundings could be well brought up. Last year a definite etop was taken by each of the city parishes sending its vicar and *tv.-o representatives of the vestry to confer together and bring the Boys' Home Society — if they liked to call it so — into existence. That tock place in St. Peter's Schoolroom, and there the first board, consisting of six men and four women, j was elected, consisting of Mr. Marchant (president), Mr. Walton (secretary and treasurer). Mr. Jenkins, Mr. J. Tripe, and the speaker. Mrs. Hudeon, Mrs. I Henderson, Miss Brown and Miss Pollen. j Mr. Jenkins and other members of the committee inspected a great many houses in the district and interviewed very i many agente, and finally selected the property, which they w-ere fortunate in getting upon the terms that had been arranged. It was not yet paid for, but they had the right to purchase, which, however, they need not exercise if they decided otherwise. They were particu- | larly fortunate in having Mr. and Mre. 1 Fawcett to take charge of tho home. Mr. Pawcett had had experience of a boys' homo in Marlborough. Archdeacon. Harper read a telegram from the All Sainte' Children's Home, Palmerston North, expressing every good wish for the home. Bishop Sprott heartily congratulated the promoters on having succeeded in their most Chrietlike endeavour, for it was within th© truth to cay that the care of children, and especially the neglected children, was peculiarly and essentially Christian work. This home was small in its beginnings, but itfi promoters must not allow themselves to be discouraged when they saw how small it was as compared with the greatness of the need. It was not an isolated thing, for every piece of social betterment work wae correlated with every other. If they could secure that even ten or a dozen boys who might otherwise have gone into the submerged part of the human family would grow up to be healthy, manly, Christian, useful men, no on© could tell where the effect would end. Each, would become a centre of further influence for good. On the other hand, if the same lads were neglected, who could tell what sauxcee of evil they might become in the future? He then j declared the home open. Dr. Pennefather expressed tho -hope that the home would always remain email, for in such homes and not in la-rge institutions, one found the. real home feeling and the children retained their individuality. He hoped the people in. tho neighbourhood would tako a real interest in the home and in th© boye. -The home at Palmereton North, which he had seen, was admirably conduotd. Rev. Joshua Jonea, vicar of "Lower Hutt, wae in accord with the previous speaker on the small home. Children in large institutions seemed to lack initiative. Ho welcomed the new home in his parish and looked forv/ard to pkasaait co-operation. After a ehort service and a blessing on the home, pronounced by tho Bishop, the party was entertained at tea. , I ■ J&r.