Through the columns of the Cumberland Presbyterian, St. Louis Observer, Our Church Helper, and the city papers of Evansville, and perhaps by general report, you have seen and heard of the splendid gift by Mrs. E. Thornton, of Petersburg, Ind., to the Board of Ministerial Relief, to be held as a Home for disabled ministers, missionaries, and the widows and orphans of deceased ministers.

The Home consists of ten acres of ground near the city of Evansville, Ind., on which there stands a commodious and beautiful three-story frame house--plenty large for immediate purposes--comfortably and neatly furnished throughout, ready for occupants. One has only to see it to be proud of it and delighted. It is the earnest desire of the Board that the General Assembly, in a body, visit the Home and spend at least a part of a day in viewing it, for to see is to be convinced more thoroughly than if we should tell you about it ten years.

The property was bought in July, 1890, for the sum of six thousand and five hundred dollars, and the Board of Ministerial Relief, in behalf of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, assumed control.

On November 27, 1890, this Home was formally opened for the purpose for which it was established, when the deed and the keys were given to the President, Dr. W. G. Ralston, by Hon. J. E. Williamson, for Mrs. Thornton, in a very excellent address. The services were appropriate and enjoyable.

On the day of the dedication the Home stood furnished from cellar to garret with an outlay of about $200 to the Board. Every one was pleased with its neatness and comfort, and congratulated the committee who had it in charge on their success.

Mrs. S. F. Nisbet, furnished one room and many articles for other rooms.
Mrs. Alvah Johnson, helped furnish one room.
Mr. Watt F. Nisbet, furnished the parlor.
Mr. L. M. Rice, gave book-case and carpets.
The Ladies' Missionary Society, of the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, furnished one room and part of another--worth about $120.
Mrs. D. A. Nisbet, one rocker, a base-burner stove, and a hat-rack.
Messrs. Brannon, Ford, Cheaney and Ingle, were liberal in their donation of coal.
Mrs. George Lant, one pig.
Mrs. Cheaney, another pig.
Mr. J. W. Gleichman, a stove, vines, and other useful articles.
Mr. Bitterman, a clock.
Mr. Joe Terry presented the Home with a beautiful young cow.

was given by persons present on day of opening, and by--
     Dr. H. J. Schlaepfer               $20.00
     Mrs. Carpenter                        20.00
     Dr. Ralston                              10.00
     Mr. Hinkle                               10.00
     Mr. Morgan                             10.00
     Mrs. Ingle                                  5.00
     Mr. J. T. Rice                            3.00
     Public collection                       12.10

Many articles of food and usefulness were brought in by friends whose names we never learned.

Mrs. C. F. Hopkins, furnished one room.
Mrs. Parsons, also gave some material aid.

The Board of Publication, through their genial representative, Rev. Ira Landrith, on the day of the opening, presented to the home, as a nucleus for a library, a copy of each of their publications, which we assure you was a valuable gift.

Mrs. Taliaferro, Nortonville, Ky., feather-bed, etc.
Mrs. Marks, Louisville, Ky., two comforts.
Ladies of Boonville and Baldwyn, Miss., quilts, etc.
Ladies of Lincoln, Ill, fruit canned, quilt, books, pillow-cases, towels, etc.
Mrs. R. D. Smith, pillows, book, quilt, and blanket.
Ladies of Albion, Ill., bedding.

have given us valuable aid in favorable mention of our work and free advertisement. We wish to mention prominently the St. Louis Observer, Our Church Helper, and the Cumberland Presbyterian.

have both received valuable additions. The Pike County Nurseries, of Louisiana, Mo., shipped us over 900 fruit trees, and 300 grape vines, besides quite a number of ornamental trees, thus enabling us to fill every available spot on the place with a tree or a vine.

Mr. W. W. Hendrix, Jr., of Bowling Green, Ky., did the generous thing in making an offer of certain profits to be realized from the sale of trees and flowers, besides making a donation to the Home of a choice lot.

Mrs. Hepperly           $10.00
H. B. Witherspoon        3.00
Mrs. MeMordei            5.00
Mrs. R. A. Silliman      10.00
Mrs. T. T. Alves            2.00
J. H. Beall                     5.00
W. W. Hendrix            16.50

     Total                     $51.50

Indeed, it was marvelous. Friends were found on every side willing to help in many ways. The furnishing of the Home to-day stands as a sign of the whole-heartedness, liberality and energy of Mrs. S. F. Nisbet, of the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of Evansville. Many had a hand in the good work, and whether known or not they shall have their reward in that great day.

A committee, appointed by the Board, has charge of the Home, of course, subject to the will of the Board. They have employed, as matron of the Home, Mrs. J. B. Madden, formerly of Gibson City, Ill., the widow of one of our ministers. She, with her two children and a little grandchild, reside at the Home. Mrs. Madden is an intelligent and a thoroughly Christian woman, who makes it pleasant for all who enter there.

With the holidays came Rev. A. H. Berry and wife, of Wichita Presbytery, to make their home there. Up to this date there are no other occupants, but there is room at present for about ten more.

1. The person applying must be a beneficiary of the Board, duly recommended by some Presbytery, or committee of a Presbytery, who will promise to be subject to the regulations of the Home.

2. The person applying must not be helpless, nor possessed of a disagreeable malady, as it is not deemed wise to try to run a hospital. Should any one become helpless after going to the Home, he will be cared for in every way that is possible to the conveniences of the Home.

3. The Board reserves the right to remove any person whose conduct or condition may be disagreeable to a majority of the occupants of the Home.

4. Applications for a place in the Home shall be made directly to the Board of Ministerial Relief.

The form of application shall be as follows:

                                                                                                                                    189_
The Committee of the Presbytery of  __________________________________________
on Ministerial Relief hereby recommends to the Board of Relief ______________________
________________________________________ for admission into the Thornton Home,

The committee believes this person to be a proper subject for admission, the three prime requirements being met in this case, namely: First, being a worthy person; second, not being helpless, and free from a malady; and third, a person of such a disposition as to get along agreeably with the other occupants of the Home. We agree, that, after this person becomes an occupant of the Home, should the management find that we have been mistaken in the disposition and condition of the person applying, and the Board should deem it wise to remove this applicant from the Home, to conform to the wishes of the Board and take back to our midst the person herein named.

By order of the Presbytery,
                                              ________________________________________ Chairman.

___________________________
___________________________ Committee.

[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1891, pages 100-101]