CITIZENS IN THE MAKING: THE ORPHANAGE APPEAL

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18832, 21 March 1931, Page 16 (Supplement)

CITIZENS IN THE MAKING: THE ORPHANAGE APPEAL

§ T. SAVIOUR’S ORPHANAGE CARING FOR CHILDREN. NOBLE WORK PERFORMED. The caring for and bringing up of children bereft of their parents presents a problem in every part of New Zealand, but it is questionable if this problem has been approached with a greater measure of success in any other centre than it has been in Timaru, through the agency of St. Saviours Orphanage, a Church of England Institution and an excellent organisation. By means of the Orphanage the Church is functioning admirably in the direction of succouring boys who are parentless and homeless irrespective of denomination. Some eighty boys are at the present moment inmates of the Home, and their appearance affords complete evidence of the fact that they are well cared for. Their conduct too, shows that not only are they being well nourished, but they are also receiving that training in moral and social virtues which will fit them in the future for their responsibilities as citizens of this Dominion. It is a fact that since its inception there have passed through the Home a large number of boys, who without the good guidance of those in charge of the institution, might have gone to swell the flotsam and jetsam of human life. More important still is the fine record of successes of the lads who have gone forth into the world to earn their livelihood at various callings for which they had been prepred. Gentlemanliness and honesty is the recognised hall-mark so far as any boys going from St. Saviour’s is concerned, and this combined with their industry—the result of their training—makes them sought after by people desiring assistants, when the time comes for the boys to go to work. An institution of the size of St. Saviours Orphanage requires careful and efficient management, and when it is remembered that it is run solely by the aid of public subscriptions, and is not endowed in any way for the purposes of revenue, it will be seen that the public of South Canterbury apprecite the excellent work being carried out there, since through the assistance of well-wishers, the Home has been able to carry on its very fine work for a number of years. The actual work of attending to the inmates is no sinecure, as people with families will readily acknowledge. The “family” at St. Saviour’s as has. been indicated, is considerable, and comprises boys from below school age, to others ranging right up to the sixth standard, and there are even some attending the Timaru High School and the Timaru Technical College. It will be noticed that every effort is made

to give the boys a proper training according to their aptitude for studies, or for any other occupation for which they show a natural bent. The object is to gives these boys, for whom the Home has accepted responsibility, an equal opportunity with other boys who have the good fortune to be under the guidance of their parents. The whole scheme involves a vast amount of thought and care, and the responsibility here rests with the Director, Mr F. S. Shell, and the Matron, Miss V. A. May, and the Nursing staff. It is this band of willing workers who have to shoulder the brunt of the work of laying the foundation for the future of those in their charge. That they carry out their mission in life is made manifest to those who are privileged to visit the Home, and there, see for themselves, the entire organisation in full working order. The Orphanage is so arranged that the inmates are grouped into sections according to ages, with a nurse in charge of each section Everything pertaining to their bodily comfort and their entertainment is wonderfully planned, and in addition there is that measure of discipline imposed, which, while being necessary for the future well-being of the boys when they become responsible citizens, is not of the irksome variety. The duties imposed upon the boys of all ages teach them things which will have a greater and wider meaning for them in the years that lie before them. These naturally are domestic in their character, but as the boys approach mans estate the purpose and the meaning of the formula will become im-

APPEAL BY REV. ft. W. MONAGHAN In times of prosperity and ease, such is the generosity of the people of New Zealand that many causes and appeals receive support without too careful a scrunity. In these days any appeal for public charity will have to Stand a searching test. The friends of St. Saviour’s Home are making such an appeal next week throughout the whole of South Canterbury. The work of St. Saviour’s is now so well known to the public that it needs no recommendation. People will realise that however hard may be the times there are some things which must be kept going, and St. Saviour’s is assuredly one of them, for these children cannot be turned out onto the streets, but must still be cared for, clothed and fed. .We are therefore confident that the public which has always shown so ready a sympathy with this work will again respond. The churches in recent years have come under much criticism; but in all their social work they still hold the hearts of the people who never fail to appreciate the familiar words spoken long ago. “I was an hungered and ye gave Me * meat: I was thirsty and ye gave Me drink: I was a stranger and ye took Me in: I was naked and ye clothed Me: I was sick and ye visited Me: I was in prison and ye came unto Me. “Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my bretheren ye have done it unto Me.”

pressively clear to them. These potential citizens are having the foundation laid for their future in a manner that possibly few boys have. The serving of good wholesome food is building up good healthy constitutions and developing a sound physical condition. All that can be done to develop their* mental state is being done, and the moral and religious side of life also forms an important part of their training. This work can only be carried out with the aid of the public, as has been intimated earlier in this review. Even in these difficult times the calls have to be made for the benefit of this selfsacrificing and noble work. Each year there is what is known as a “self-denial,” week in aid of St. Saviour’s Orphanage. This will commence on Monday, when people will be asked to assist with their contributions towards the Institution, and no one could subscribe to a more worthy cause. It is one which should commend itself to all those who truly appreciate the Christian spirit underlying the whole scheme surrounding the work at St. Saviour’s. In these days when there is an outcry for co-operation in the matter of effort to influence the ideals of sound citizenship, the people of South Canterbury have a fine object lesson in what is being done at St. Saviour’s by those who are able to rise above the atmosphere so closely allied with personal selfishness. Co-operation is becoming the key-note of national ideals and aspirations, and if these are to be achieved, it is abundantly clear that people must co-operate in order to

beget a better social state. What better opportunity could present itself for the spreading of this gospel, than in connection with the institutions which are moulding the lives of the children of to-day, who will be the citizens of to-morrow. Here we have a field waiting to be tilled; a virgin Boil prolific with productive possibilities. A place like St. Saviour’s lends itself probably more readily to cooperative effort than any in this district. Having this in mind, and looking far into the future, it is possible to imagine the influence upon the lives of the people of South Canterblury that the lesson now being learnt at St. Saviour’s will have. This institution is, as it were, the experimental plot where the ideals of citizenship are being carried out. Here we have illustrated in a practical manner the fact that the people of a State have a duty other than to themselves. There is an obligation upon them to do all in their power to see that their less fortunate brothers are given an opportunity. This is an ideal of service translated I from a moral generality into a sacred duty. It is a school of loyalty, competence and good will. No one can measure the far-reaching results to be achieved from a united effort to do for r.he boys housed at St. Saviour’s, that which their parents might have done for them. These little fellows are descendants of British stock, and the Church is accepting the responsibility of the parents in the absence of the latter. Without the co-operation and the willing assistance of the people it cannot get far in material matters but its faith that this is ever forthcoming has been justified in the past. Further, there seems little doubt that it will be forthcoming in the future. This will not be realised, however, without the co-operate effort of the public in general. The time has now come for this to be demonstrated, and during the ensuing week this will be tested, and it is firmly believed that the response will be such that those in charge of the institution will have every reason to be gratified with the result. The funds are to go to help the work of the Orphanage along the lines of making good honourable citizens out of the little chaps who have no parents to prepare them for their responsibilities as citizens.

Easily the outstanding performer at the New Zealand swimming championships was G. Bridson. He gave a fine exhibition of his all-round prowess, winning the five available free style titles over distances from 100 yds. to one mile. He was not extended in any of his races, and yet in all of them his times were rather poor. There was no swimmer at the meeting who gave the impression of ever being able to reach the calibre of Bridson, who should occupy his leading position for some time.