Valuable Social Service

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 76, 21 June 1927, Page 13

Valuable Social Service

Methodist Homes for Orphans and Deserted Children “INASMUCH ” I The text from Matthew is an appropriate one for the Auckland Methodist homes and orphanages. The Methodist Church recognises responsibilities to children who are left by deserting fathers and mothers. In some instances the whole burden of parenthood has been cast on the shoulders of one parent. It is impossible for the children adequately to be looked after while the father, or the mother, as the case might be, has to earn a living. It is here that the Church provides a valuable social service.

IJIHIS is the gap that the Methodist Church so successfully fills in Auckland. As the annual gift afternoon is being held this afternoon at the Pitt Street church-room, it is not an inappropriate occasion to refer to this work. The president of the conference, Rev. Dr. Ranston, and the matrons, Mrs. Armitage and Mrs. Everiss, Will both speak of the progress being maintained in Auckland. The function has been arranged by the women’s committee of the Methodist Children’s Homes. All the city and suburban churches are represented in this body, which undertakes the clothing of over 100 children in the homes. CLOTHING THE CHILDREN The Wesley and Epworth Homes at Mount Albert are under the management of Mrs. Armitage. Miss Coatman is the assistant matron. The Epsom Home in Buckland Road is under the direction of Mrs. Everiss. The children under the care number 108; 62 girls and 42 boys. Extension at Wesley Home will provide for an additional 12 girls, w r hile alterations at Epsom will make provision for a few extra boys. The work was inaugurated in Auckland in 1913, when Mr. A. C. Caughey and his sister, Mrs. W. H. Smith, jointly presented Wesley Home to the Church. The Rev. J. Blight and Mrs. Blight were appointed master and matron respectively. After seven years’ service they were succeeded by the present matron, Mrs. Armitage. To meet a demand for additional accommodation, and encouraged byseveral substantial bequests, the Epworth Home, a building of two stories, was acquired in 1922. Two years later a substantial bequest under the will of the late Mr, William Win-

stone led to the acquisition of a third home in Buckland Road, Epsom. Forty children are housed there. The residence was formerly the home of the late Mr. H. C. Gorrie, and was known as Dunkerrow. Mrs. Everiss, the widowed daughter of the late Rev. J. H. Gray, was appointed matron.\ MRS. CAUGHEY’S COMMITTEE. The work is carried out under the direction of a board of management, of which the Rev. E. Drake is chairman, and the Rev. S. Griffith is the secretary. Mr. Griffith is also joint treasurer with Mr. A. Len. Caughey. Valuable assistance is given by the women’s committee, which has Mrs. A. C. Caughey at its head, and Miss Agnes Mason as secretary. The homes assist in meeting an urgent social need. While some of the children being cared for there have lost both parents, others have one surviving parent, who is forced to earn a living and cannot look after the child. Here is a home with every comfort and attention at the disposal of these children. In ordinary circumstances they would not receive the care of both parents. The Church provides them with a sympathetic mother. The number of applications arising from the breaking up of a home through the default of a father or a mother is sad in the extreme. But the utmost, caution 4s exercised by the selection committee in case default should be made easy. The result of this work in Auckland is proved in the case of almost every entrant who has left the homes. Their subsequent success, combined with the love and gratitude for the mother and home that the Church found for them, is considered a rich reward.