A brief record of the Female Orphan House, North Circular Road, Dublin, for over one hundred years, from 1790 to 1892 / compiled by Nemo.

Date:
[1893]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A brief record of the Female Orphan House, North Circular Road, Dublin, for over one hundred years, from 1790 to 1892 / compiled by Nemo. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    extract from the pen of the celebrated Alexander Knox, M.P., in justification of the expenditure, will interest many; “It might have sufficed to build a chapel in which size alone would have been the object. But it was asked, will a plain room, not much more respectable than the present school-room, answer the wished-for purpose. Will it give the children the idea of going to church. Can children be engaged if their senses be not consulted, or are their minds likely to be impressed with either prayers or sermon, if there be no impressiveness in the place where they hear them. . . . On these principles a Gothic plan of the least ex- ])ensive kind was adopted, but the event has shewn expense to be inseparable from that style of building. What was done is done, and cannot be recalled ; but they who acted confess that they cannot wish to recall it.” These are rather brave words for those to use who were approaching the Chancellor of the Exchequer for a grant of public money. But there is an undoubted evidence that the erection of this beautiful chapel, connected with the Institution, has greatly benefitted the Charity—not so much perhaps, in the amount contributed through it in the ordinaiy Sunday collections as in enlisting a permanent sympathy in the hearts of those who have been stated worshippers. Many instances have occurred where persons, once mem- bers of the congregation, but who, for many years, had gone to reside at a distance (when arranging their charitable bequests) remembered with affection the Orphans who appeared before them as fellow-worshippers, Sunday after Sunday, in years gone by. We here present to the reader, likenesses of three cele- brated men who at this time took a warm interest in the welfare of the Female Orphan House. They are taken from medallions, in possession of the Rev. Hewitt R. Boole, s.F.'i'.C.l)., and kindly lent by him for re-production here. ARCHBISHOP BRODERICK, BISHOP JEBB AND ALEXANDER KNOX. Archbishop Broderick (whose family for many years was associated with the Institution) opened the church ; Bishop Jebb preached the opening sermon, besides advocating its