Our Orphan Homes

Transcription of article published in the Primitive Methodist Magazine by Rev E.J.T. Bagnall

THAT spirit of altruism which is as old as the oldest known teaching, and which has been a distinguishing feature of the past fifty years, has awakened the Church generally to the necessity of social service, and in Primitive Methodism has given birth to beneficent institutions which, but a few years ago, were non-existent. Among these, none are more popular nor productive of greater good than our Homes for Fatherless Children. The fruit of the labours of the Rev. J. Peck and others who, by patience and persistence, succeeded in establishing this work, can never be estimated.

The Home at Alresford, Hants, was opened in 1889, and, situated in the midst of beautiful country about ten miles from Winchester, no healthier spot could have been secured. It occupies an elevated and commanding position, is approached by an avenue of stately trees, and is surrounded by about six acres of garden and recreation field used by the children. Here we have provision for sixty children and the necessary staff. There are two large halls (one used for meals), two dormitories, separate rooms for the staff, isolation room, laundry, etc.—all well-lighted and well-ventilated. Until 1907 this Home served for the fatherless children of the whole Connexion, and has nearly always been full. It now serves mostly for the children of the South, though several Northern children who could not be accommodated at Harrogate are resident there.

It has been extremely fortunate in the appointment of the staff, the longest record being that of Mr. and Mrs. C.F. Turner, who served faithfully as Master and Matron for over twenty years. Two years ago a radical change was made in relation to the education of the children, and, instead of attending school on the premises under our own teaching staff, they were sent to the local county school, thus taking their natural place among other children of the town. This has proved entirely satisfactory, and is a great saving to the Orphanage Fund. The former Head Mistress, Miss N. Pembro, was appointed matron, and, under her excellent management and gracious influence, a perfect homeliness as well as discipline prevails, and she has won the love and respect of the staff and the children. The other members of the staff are Miss Marwood, who has also rendered long service, Mrs. Andrews, Miss Ward and Miss Gardiner. All are thoroughly devoted in their work among the children. Mr. Adnams serves well as outside man and gardener, and the whole of the vegetables required are home-grown. Two rows of fruit trees have been recently planted along one side of the field, and in a few years will become very valuable. Alresford, Home is a credit to our Church, and the visitors’ book in the hall contains the testimonies of our prominent ministers and laymen who have there recorded their impressions. Such messages as “Abundantly satisfied,” “More than charmed with the order and cleanliness of the place and the dear children,” “Very delighted with the real home feeling so manifest,“ “Never saw a brighter set of kiddies,” “Sixteenth visit—more pleased than ever,” “A lovely position— the homes clean and comfortable,” are found on every page.

The Anniversary Day in May is always eagerly anticipated, for many of the mothers of the children make that an opportunity of visiting, and from all parts of the South and from London large numbers of our people assemble, and the quiet village of Old Alresford is raided by motors, chars-a-banc, carriages and cycles, creating great interest for miles around. Two large tents are used for luncheon, tea and public meeting—after which visitors and children join together in field sports. The train journey from London has been substituted recently by a motor chars-a-banc ride to Alresford of about sixty miles, through some of the most charming scenery of Southern England. This has proved to be very popular, and will, doubtless, be considerably developed in future years. Mr. Barnet-Kenyon, M.P., said on one of these anniversary days, that he had never, in all his public life, been so deeply touched as by what he there saw and heard.

The value of this Home was so evident and the accommodation so insufficient for our Connexional need, that in 1907 another valuable site was secured at Pannal Ash Road, Harrogate, and our great philanthropist, Sir W. P. Hartley, J.P., paid the entire cost of two pairs of Orphan Homes, each Home to accommodate a matron and twelve children. They are substantially built, beautifully apportioned, tastefully designed and furnished, and the admiration of all who visit them. It will be seen that, unlike Alresford, these are on the Cottage Home principle, and each matron is responsible for the children under her care. Here again, our Church. has fortunately secured a most healthy and elevated position, about a mile from the town, affording an extensive view of beautiful country as far as York Minster, and the air is most invigorating.

In 1914, further accommodation being urgently needed, another generous friend of the orphans—Mr. Thomas Robinson,J.P., of Hurlet, Scotland—generously provided a third pair of Homes, built on exactly the same lines as the others. This he did in memory of his son William, who died a few years ago. Each pair of Homes, exclusive of furniture, cost £1,700. At Harrogate, we can now accommodate seventy-two children.

In 1915, necessity having arisen for a common hall in which the children could assemble for united meetings and recreation, Mr. Thomas Robinson, J.P., of Cleethorpes, the devoted treasurer of the

Orphanages, generously made provision for this, and a handsome building, to be known as “Robinson Hall,” was erected by him, costing £826. The matrons now in charge at Harrogate are Mrs. Mackley, Mrs. Davies, Miss Lockwood, Miss Kewley and Miss Barker. Mr. J.E. Mackley has charge of the garden and playfield, and renders valuable service in giving oversight to all the Homes and to the outdoor life of the children. At Harrogate, as at Alresford, matrons who very truly “mother” the children, and the atmosphere of the Homes is of the best. The Anniversary Day in September is gaining in popularity with our Northern circuits, and is always a delightful and representative gathering. Boys and girls are admitted from five to ten years of age, providing they pass the medical examination, and are free from contagious disease and physical or mental defects. The boys remain until fourteen, and the girls until sixteen, when they return to their mothers or guardians. They are requested to keep in correspondence with the Homes, so that we may follow their history, and the minister of the circuit to which they remove is informed of their address. They acquit themselves well in the Annual Scripture examination, and the “Sharp” Challenge Shield of the Salisbury and Southampton District has been won by our Alresford children for the past three years, and the shield of the Harrogate and District S.S. Union has been won several times by the children of those Homes. Several boys have won scholarships in the public schools. At the Conference of 1916, two scholarships were offered for two years at Elmfield and Bourne respectively, by Mr. T. Robinson, J.P., of Cleethorpes, and Sir W.P. Hartley, J.P. The successful boys chosen for these were Norman Bettany and Willie Harrison. Both boys are without father or mother, but have the promise of useful careers through the generosity of their benefactors.

Our orphan children do not wear any institutional dress or badge, and they cannot be distinguished from other children, except that they often look more healthy and robust. It is a remarkable fact that a doctor has not been required at Alresford for the past four years, and only at Harrogate for trivial complaints. They have good plain food, plenty of fresh air and recreation.

Many children have been admitted whose fathers have sacrificed their lives in the War, and some of these are most pathetic cases. Whatever may be their future struggle in life, they will be able to remember a few bright years of sunny life in our Homes, and can never escape the influence of these formative years. Nearly every week letters are received from former boys and girls expressive of their appreciation. A few extracts represent many others. One writes, “I trust 1 shall always be a credit to the Homes in my future life. Wherever I go I shall endeavour to show how obedience and promptness have been instilled into my mind. I am also very grateful for the splendid ideals which have been formed on the athletic ground. I have learned how to play the game and play the man.” Another writes, “I offer my sincerest thanks and deepest gratitude for all that the Orphan Homes have meant to me. My father died when I was five years of age, leaving my mother with one girl and five boys — my mother being in but very poor circumstances. Through the influence of the minister I came to the Home. For over seven years I have been surrounded by Christian influences, and the best of physical advantages in the way of food, clothing and recreation, and I say without any doubt, that the Primitive Methodist Church has made a foundation on which, I trust, I may build a career worthy of the name of Primitive Methodism.” A mother writes: “My son came home on Saturday after a term of six years at Hartley Homes, Harrogate. Words fail me to show what I felt when I saw him and the beautiful outfit of clothing! What a help to me to have no anxious thoughts how to get clothes for him now! May God bless and prosper your labours, and may many little fatherless children receive the same love and kindness!” Some are taking prominent places in our Church as local preachers and workers, and one is a candidate for our ministry, Many of them are helping to save England in this great War, and when the War is over will help to save this land socially and religiously, These “little bits of Empire” have wonderful potentiality. One shudders to think what would become of them but for these Homes. There are moral and spiritual values in the work that none can estimate. Ends are folded up in beginnings. “It doth not yet appear what they shall be,” and

“It is not the will of your Father which is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.” They are greater than we see, and we need “to dip the brush of imagination into the colours of reality,” to discover the real moral values of youthful lives.

To the eternal credit of our Church, it is responding to the call to this social service, and is clothing altruistic and humanitarian principle with new beauty; is making it radiant with the love-glow of the Cross, and, constrained by that love, is preparing to make greater sacrifice for these poor fatherless bairns. Several generous friends have undertaken the support of a child for one or more years at fifteen guineas per year — this being about the cost in pre-War times. Already six cots at Harrogate and Alresford are thus endowed, and a photo of the child endowed is presented to each donor. Other friends are arranging for such endowment by will. In view of the probable increase in the number of orphans, it is up to all who hear the cry of the children to save them from the coarser life of the workhouse to the refinement and joyous sunshine of our Orphan Homes, ever remembering the gracious words of Christ: “Who so shall receive one such little child in My name receiveth Me.”

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1917/543