Vol. XXVIII. Salem, Va., September, 1924 NO·9

THE MESSENGERPublished by the Lutheran Orphan Home of the South.

"SUFFER LITTLE CHILDREN TO COME UNTO ME."

Building Campaign Announcement of theLutheran Orphan Home of the South

The Home, for the first time in its thirty-six years, is making ageneral appeal throughout the Lutheran Church in the South forfunds for building purposes.

The friends of the Home have realized for many years the needfor new buildings and improved equipment. At each meeting ofthe Trustees the necessity for new buildings becomes more apparent.Each year the general conditions of the place grow worse. Noonewho visits the present edifice fails to realize how urgent is the neces-sity for new and sanitary buildings and equipment.

Each Parish in the South which will co-operate in providingfunds for suitable buildings for our foster children is requested toobserve one Week during the period between November 21 andtDecember 14, for subscribing an amount which they will consider astheir share of the total required.

The Pastor of each Parish is asked to appoint a committee totake charge of the campaign. Literature and supplies will be sentto these Parish Committees by the Campaign Chairman, J. LutherSieber, D. D., and all possible help will be rendered them in gettingthis touching appeal before the hearts of the people.

Almost every week needy children have been turned away fromthe Home because of lack of facilities. The Board of Trustees nowhas decided to relieve this distressing situation without delay.

During recent month's the matter has been brought to the atten-tion of church bodies in all the Synods of the South and action favor-able to the cause has resulted.

(Continued on Page 3)

The Board has therefore authorized the Executive Committee

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THE MESSENGER

THE MESSENGER

Published monthly byTHE LUTHERAN ORPHAN HOME

Salem, Virginia.

RA'l'E OF sun SCRIPTIONSingle subscril)tion, one year 25c

To one address, ten copies or more,10c each.

All. subscriptions must be paid inadvance.

Entered at the post office in Salem,Virginia, as second class matter.

Acceptance for mailing at specialrate of. postag-e provided for 111 SectIOn1103. Act of October 3, 1917, a.ut hor izedOctober 20, 1920.

HOME DIRECTORY

President cf the Board-]. Luther Sieber, D. D.

Secretary and Treasurer-R. W. Kime, Esq.

Superintendent-Rev. E. VV. Leslie

Superintendent-e1ect-G. R. Santmiers

Physician-G. A. L. Kolmer, M. D.

Matron-Mrs. L. B. Spracher

Housekeeper-Miss Elizabeth Stegar

Teachers and Supervisors-Mrs. G. V. RuhlMiss M. McSherryMiss Myrtle CutshawlMrs. Janie BaileyMrs. Cora '\VheelerMrs. E. W. Leslie

Farm Manager-]. S. Cri tselous

Office Secretary-Miss Mabel Leslie

Executive Committee of the Boardof Trustees

]. Luther Sieber, D. D.G. W. TompkinsC. MarkleyG. B. MoreheadR. W. Kirne

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Synod of GeorgiaGeorge W. Hunt

Synod of MississippiGeorge 1. Derrick

Synod of North CarolinaW. H. BeckerditeW. r. Fink, D. D.W. F. LoppE. :M. MinnichRev. G. H. C. ParkD. A. YoderRev. ]. L. Yost

Synod of South Carolina]. Henry Dreyer

Synod of Virginia]. A. AlexanderRev. S. C. BallentineA. M. BowmanW. A. Buckhar t]. A. Huffard, D. D.E. L. KeiserR. W. KimeRev. ]. W. LinkC. MarkleyG. B. MoreheadRev. Paul Royer]. ]. Scherer, D. D.]. Luther Sieber, D. D.Rev. ]. W. ShueyG. W. Tompkins

SUPERINTENDENT -ELECT

Since the resignation last Juneof Rev. E. W. Leslie as Superin-tendent of the Home, the Execu-tive Committee, charged with en-gaging a new superintendent, hasbe'en giving this matter mostcareful consideration.

The Committee is very happyindeed to be able to announce atthis time, with the approval of theBoard of Trustees, that Mr. G. R.San tmiers has accepted this call.

Mr. Santmiers brings to theLutheran Orphan Home of theSouth a wealth of experience inadministrative and Christian ser-vice. His success in his businessmarks him as an executive of abil-ity. His deep spiritual experiencehas found expression in a widerange of Christian activity. He'loves children.

Mr. Santmiersnew work asDecember first,

enters upon hissuperintendent

THE MESSENGER 3

At a special meeting of theBoard in Salem, October 7th, thefollowing general plans wereapproved:

To undertake to raise a sum of$200,000.00 to meet the most The Home is a g01l1g concernpressing needs. and as such is rendering a valua-To conduct the intensive cam-. ble service to the Church in the

paign during the last week of South. M~ny c?i~dren have beenNovember and the first two blessed by Its ministry.weeks of December. I

. . Every Parish in the Sou!h wi.llTo provide accommodation for be requested to take part 111this

an increased number of children. effort. Pastors will be asked toappoint committees and reporttheir names to Campaign Head-quarters, 321 Terry Building,Roanoke, Virginia. The com-mittee should include the pastor,and at least one man and onewoman in each congregation.

To provide vocational trainingfor the children.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE

BUILDING CAMPAIGN

(Continued from Page I)

of the Board to conduct the cam-paign.

There is nothing before theChurch at present that has greaterclaim upon our sympathy and ourtime than the cause of these help-less little children. The responsi-bility for the care of these littleones is not on the Board alone.Every Lutheran of the South hasa definite responsibility to doevery thing he can. Weare count-ing on every reader of this paperto be a helper.

Can we depend on you?

The Plan

To erect buildings on the cot-tage plan, not to exceed fortychildren to each cottage.

To provide for the care andplacement of babies.

The campaign is now being or-ganized. Everybody will want tohelp. All will be called upon. Donot hesitate when you are calledupon.

The Home children are appre-ciative. If each member of ourchurch could visit the Home andhave a little hand put into his intrusting search of the love forwhich a small heart is hungeringthere would be no campaign.Their goodness and their affec-tion make the heart and thepocket book overflow.

The Board of Trustees aftercareful deliberation has decidedto build on the site formerly occu-pied by Elizabeth College. Thepresent property will be sold asadvantageously as possible. Thelands, buildings, and endowmentof the Home are conservativelyestimately to be worth $180,000.

The funds being sought in thiscampaign will be added to thereal assets of the Home as thereis no indebtedness. That so muchvalue should be developed in thethirty-six years of the Home'shistory without a general appealis a surprise to all who know thefacts.

No soliciting should be done un-til instructions from Headquar-ters are received. These will besent as soon as names of ParishCommittees are received at theCampaign Headquarters.

4 THE MESSENGER

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What is the Orphan Home?A Home in the Master's name for some of His children; the only Home

of our church in the South.,Where is it located?

It is located at Salem, Virginia.

How many children live there?There are ninety-six there now.

When was it founded?The Home was founded in 1888.

Is there a farm at the Home?Yes. One hundred and fifty acres altogether right at the edge of Salem,

seven miles from Roanoke. The location is ideal. The church and schoolfacilities are excellent. The children have all the advantages of both city andcountry life.

Do they have their own cows?Yes, ten of them, which the older boys milk. Last year the children

drank over 3,600 gallons of milk.

Does the Home have its own school?Yes, the Home conducts its own schools.

Are the children at the Home given religious training?Yes, daily. Twenty-two from the Home family were confirmed at the

College Lutheran Church last. Palm Sunday. The pastor of the CollegeChurch is the pastor of the Home.

Why does the Church maintain an Orphan Home?In obedience to Jesus' command, "Feed My lambs."

Did Jesus love little children?Yes. He said, "Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid them

not, for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven." When He was asked whoshould be greatest in His Kingdom, He picked up a little child and pointedto him.

Is the building at the Home suitable?No. It was not designed for. its present use and is over-crowded. New

buildings designed to meet the requirements of such a home are MOSTURGENTLY needed.

For how long has the building been unsuitable?I t was never quite suitable and as long as ten years ago was called "A

reproach to our great church."

Is there plenty of room at the Home?No. There are many applications for admission which cannot be granted.

Some of the conditions under which the children have to live are deplorable.

What is being done to improve these conditions?Under the leadership of the Board of Trustees of the Home, the five

Synods of the South are uniting in a financial campaign to secure $200,000.00with which to build at once an administration and school building and fourcottages.

"INASMUCH AS YE HAVE DONE IT UNrO {)NE OF THE LEAST OF THESE-. "