THE ORPHANAGE NEWS LETTER.
THE KODIAK
BAPTIST ORPHANAGE
The Workers, on salary, are
(ieo. A Learn, Superintendent,
J. W. Farmer, Ass’t. Supt.
Mrs. Learn, Mrs. Farmer and
> ns- 1.1*. Frgeuzinger, Matron
I'hk 1*1'rPOSE of the Orphanage is
to provide a Christian home and
training for destitute children.
The Records show that 70 males
and 69 females (total 139) have been
received, 47 males ai.., 45 fema.es
discharged { by »ompietion of time
ai. i by d*-..l!i j \ m.d»\- ..in. 26 fe
males mm- en.o.ted
MKiv-six Converts nave been
i- ne.seu ..ini re eived in the churc h.
1 hk Si pi-out provided i v The
Woman s A.aerie.in t aptist Home
vlissiou Society which expends here
$75uo.<xj a year. It is hoped that the
CoNTKIB’ I IONS marked “Alaska*
will eventually suffice. Therefore.
hvHRv St'xdav’-school aud every
VofNG I’eopi.k’s Society in the
land is urged to make an annual con
tribution Help from all sources
is gratefully accepted. This is the
Oni.y Bvptist mission home for
Alaskan children. And the
On1 v Baptist Orphanage on the
Facj c Coast.
»c *1(1 all Contributions from New
® »cand t«> Miss Gbrtrudk L.
Mavis, Ford Building, Boston. Mass
Contributions from other
parts of «he country are to he sent to
Mrs. Kmnia C. Marshall 2969 Vernon
Ave. Chicago, 111.
shiftlessness, and induce them to live
industiious and provident lives. We
believe the use of the institutional
monev will aid in this training.
This also necessitates the keeping
of a cash account, which is in itself
an important feature in the education
of a boy or girl.
Ri ssi \n CiikiSTM vs which is ob
served by the native people in
Vlaska, comes thirteen days later
Ji.m our Christmas. It lasts three
days, and on each day service is held
in the Greek Catholic Church. Kach
evening companies of people go from
house to house singing carols, l.ach
company carries a large star beauti
fully decorated and fixed on an axis
so that it will revolve easily. On en
teiing a house they face the “Holy
corner,” if it is the home of a mem
ber of the Russiin (Greek) Church.
Daring the singing the star is kept
revolving by the .eader of the chorus,
file songs are more like chants than
carols, as we understand the word.
When the songs aie ended the sing
ers wish the people in the house a
“Merry Cliiistinas’ audgo quietly to
the next house.
Very likeiy tu<t many minutes will
elapse beloie another company comes
tn autl sings. This year three com
panies visited us. l.efoie the singeis
leave they are given some little treat
such as candy or nuts or cakes or
money, lhiscato! singing is called
"tdaauehing" by the native pecp.e.
It is all done in a solemn and tevet
ent manner.
In contrast to this on the third
night we are visited by companies of
masqueraders who come trooping tu
to the house without knocking, and
alter going through some antics and
giving us a chaine to "guess them,”
they go trooping out. Our children
thoroughly enjoy this p,.rt of the
Russian Christmas and have their
own fun masquerading at home,
masks of their own make, and coats
turned wrong side out, and gunuy
sacks lor costumes. I he native mas
queiadeis alter visiting vaiious
houses go to some place previously
made ready, where they dance till
mid-night. The masquerading and
dancing continues for a week.