T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
22
January, 1,939
Eichbauer, “and it’s good, healthy work for all who participate.” The Financial Side The cost of maintaining a boy for a month, according to Mr. Eich bauer, is $47.13 including mainte nance of the Home, pay roll and all expenses. This amount is collected in about the following proportions
central location. The dining room will seat eighty-five boys, and the spotless kitchens, snowy white re frigerators, and convenient serving arrangements are evidences of the thoughtfulness with which these ap pointments were planned. "The routine of the boys is very simple,” says Superintendent Eich- bauer. “Rising bell is at 6:30, then a shower, breakfast, house and farm chores, and at 9:00 A.M. school: luncheon is at 12 noon and then more classes until 3:30 p . m ., after which activities are transferred to the playing fields. “Football is the center of present interest, and our boys are doing good work under the care of a good coach, Wesley Reed, a graduate of the Nazarene College in Pasadena. In the evening we gather around the fireside in the different cottages, and books, study, games, or shop work fill the hours till bedtime. “On Sunday there is always a Christian service for the boys. Teams from Pepperdine College or from neighboring churches furnish the talent, and they are very inter esting.” Graduates Who "Make Good" “How about your graduates; do they return to see you?” *Oh, yes,” laughs Mr. Eich- bauer. 4 Almost every week we have one or another dropping in.” “Are they prospering?” Just then the phone rings and Mr. Eichbauer answers. “I believe he is all right," we hear him say. “He came to see us only the other day and paid off his debt due to Pacific Lodge. I feel sure he will pay yours, too. In any event, remember, I’m guaranteeing it.” Replacing the receiver, Mr. Eich bauer turns to us. “There’s an actual case,” he says. “Here’s a boy who had a real handicap. Mother dies. Father marries again and then dies, leaving the boy and his sister among practical strangers, and they send him to us for care. After two years with us he made good. I backed him for two years at college—you heard me answer the inquiry about his college loan note. Now, at twenty, he has a very fine job and is a good citizen. “Now, let’s visit the barn,” the superintendent continues. The barn with its six head of thoroughbred Holstein cows, its pair of friendly horses, and its eleven Duroc hogs, is in the charge of an efficient farm crew of boys. “Some make their living after they leave us from their training in the dairy,” says Mr.
who need exactly the kindly correc tive influences of Pacific Lodge. Lack of operating funds at this Home prevents its enlargement and means for great numbers of these boys the far severer discipline and the less selective associations of the state reform schools with their twen- ty-four-hour-a-day supervision and prisonlike discipline. The sole re source for such a situation as this is the public purse. Most Commu nity Chests are short of their quotas. The overburdened public treasury cannot be appealed to further. There remain but the hearts and consciences of the Christian public. The President of this Home, in the letter accompanying this story, asks for public donations, not only to meet the problems of Pacific Lodge itself, but also for the equally impor tant reason that he wishes new friends for the graduating students. Boys Who Need FRIENDS It is exactly at the moment a boy leaves the wholesome, sheltering in fluences of Pacific Lodge that he stands in great need of help and en couragement. Mr. Pepperdine proposes the for mation of a statewide—'and, if pos sible, nationwide'—group of spon sors for Pacific Lodge boys. He sug gests not only their membership in the Pacific Lodge Boys Home, but more, their power in prayer and then visitation and active cooperation in the placement of boys who leave Pa cific Lodge. He desires that in the placement of graduating boys, not only may homes and employment be found for them in Christian sur roundings, but also that a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ may be implanted in each young heart. Four types of membership are proposed. The membership may be held by either individual, group, business, or club. No personal finan cial liability is assumed by member ship, or gift, nor is it considered a pledge. Memberships proposed are ANNUAL $1.00, SUSTAINING $5.00, ASSOCIATE $10.00, LIFE $ 100 . 00 . Visiting days are usually Sunday afternoons. The telephone number is CANOGA PARK 346. Mail ad dress, Girard, Calif. The most direct automobile route from Los Angeles is via Ventura Boulevard to Girard. The entrance to the road leading to Pacific Lodge is marked by a roadside sign, about one-half mile east of Topanga Can yon Road on Ventura Boulevard.
# No visit to Pacific Lodge would be com plete without an introduction to "Dutch" and "Dutchess," the two faithful partners of the plow. Their comradeship is in itself a symbol of the Lodge. "Work together, watch to gether, and live happily and usefully," say "Dutch" and "Dutchess," to their many friends among the boys. from several agencies, leaving a variable deficit of some 24%: Community Chests ........ 30% County Aid .............27% Parents and Guardians ....19% Total collected..... 76% Deficit to be supplied by contributions...........24% 100 % As the total annual cost for the fiscal year of 1937-38 amounted to $39,006.95, this contribution fund needed to reach $9,361.67. As a matter of fact, last year the gifts received totaled only $3,568.00. The deficit is serious enough to cause careful study by all concerned, but the real tragedy lies in the Home’s being forced to turn away so many poor boys who have no relative, friend, nor institution to pay their way at Pacific Lodge. There are literally hundreds of boys brought to the attention of school teachers, Christian workers, and public authorities every year
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