ANGLICAN HOME FOR BOYS

Otago Witness, Issue 3373, 6 November 1918, Page 23

ANGLICAN HOME FOR BOYS

OPENING CEREMONY. The first of a series of homes for boys to bo established by the diocese of Dunedin was opened at Vauxball, Anderson's Bay, on Saturday afternoon by the Primate (Dr Nevill). Th 9 weather was beautifully fine, and attracted a largo attendance, which included many members of other Protestant denominations. The property which has been acquired for the purposa is beautifully situated. It adjoins the Grant's Braes property on which the Presbyterian Home for boys stands. The area secured measures 10 acres. The present building is a substantial brick house of seven rooms) built with every convenience and modernised in every respect. I* is intended to accommodate soma 15 boys, and it is the nucleus, of a comprehensive building scheme which includes four or five buildings, which will provide home 3 for from 50 to 100 boys. The work is to be developed on the cottage home system, which has been tried and proved a success in England and Australia. The idea is to make each cottage a complete home, each in the oharge of a motherly woman. Those eligible for admission are orphan boys, the 1 sons of absent soldiers, and any other boya it is considered expedient to control in the home, either temporarily or for a boy's career. Primarily, the home is intended for Church of England boys, but the management will not refuse admission to any boy, provided, of course, accommodation is available. The Rev. R. de Lambert, the organiser of this work, has visited a part of the diocese, and now that tho first home has been opened he will continue his organising work. Of the £IO,OOO required to finance the scheme £SOOO is already in hand. One of the 1 plans in connection with tho scheme is the endowment of memorial cots. So far three persons have taken advantage of this arrangement, which means a donation of £IOO for each cot. # Another part of the scheme is the endowing _of cots in memory of fallen soldiers, which fits in most appropriately with the original proposal: that'the -establishing of these homes should be the Anglican Church's-diocesan war memorial. It will thus not only per-' petuate the memory of the fallen, but will serve as an inspiration to the boys. Judging by the rate at which the work is developing, further provision will have to be made immediately for the establishment of a second home in order to meet as far as possible the applications for admission. The opening ceremony took place m the open- air in front of the home, ship the Primate being chaplain, tho Rev. V. G. Bryan. King. In addition to the Primate the speakers were the Rev. J. L. Mortimer (chairman of tho Boys' Home Committee), Rev. R. de Lambert (organiser), and the Rev. R. Evan -Davies (minister of Kribx Church). ■ The Primate, having blessed the building, said he first of all desired to express great gratification to Mr de Lambert and those who had assisted! in the scheme. Such a scheme had been long in his (tho speaker's) mind, but the time at his disposal,- owing to the growth of tho diocese, only permitted it being, confined to girls. It was. gratifying that the lay brethren of the diocese came to his assistance, and by their exertions, assisted by the clergy, the present home had been established. The scheme had proved a marked success, and he trusted that the near future would seo the completion of the scheme. The home was set apart for those who stood in need. They should always remember that philanthropy was not altruism, but that' true philanthropy rested upon the' relationship of God and our Lord Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of Mankind and Founder of our Faith. In supporting institutions for 'the good of God's children the people were performing a noble work, and he was pleased that God had put_ it into the hearts of His people to assist in. this work. Ho hoped that most of those present would live to see the accomplishment of the full scheme. The Rev. J. L. Mortimer said it was a" very great day for the members of the committee who had this scheme in hand. They had a great property,, which they were able to hand over free of debt. They had no need to blow their own trumpets, but they claimed the success of the scheme was primarily due to two causes. The. first was a splendid .gift of £IOOO with, which Mr P. 0. Neill headed the subscription list. The speaker proceeded to pay a warm tribute to the men who had been active in successfully carrying_ out the scheme. The homa was a memorial to our boys at the front, and he asked tho public to give to this home of charity and to give with both hands. The Rev. R. do Lambert dealt with the business side of the He read a letter from Mrs J. Cowie Nichols, in which she promised a cheque for £2OO froni Colonel Cowie _ Nichols and herself to endow two cots in memory of their two sons who had made tho supreme sacrifice. — (Cheers.) He had also received a £5 note from a Presbyterian whom he met casually in the street. The Rpy. R. Evan Davies congratulated the committee on the opening of the home and the Anglicans as a Church for being engaged in such glorious work. Afternoon tea was handed round, and those present took advantage oJ p the opportunity of looking through the building.