REV, AUGUSTUS SHEPARD 37 



the Colored Orphan Asylum into existence; we 

 dare not dispute this claim. Like David in his 

 relation to the building of the Temple at Jeru- 

 salem, '^it was in his heart to build the Temple," 

 but the actual building was left to the wise and 

 skillful Solomon. As the Sunday School mis- 

 sionary for N^orth Carolina, coming in contact 

 with all classes and conditions of people through- 

 out the State, no man was in a better position to 

 study and know the needs of the people of this 

 State; the neglected orphan boys and girls ap- 

 pealed to the sympathy of Dr. Shepard as no 

 other subject. His heart became so burdened 

 with the thought of some place for the care and 

 attention of the orphan, he would often spend 

 sleepless nights and anxious hours, trying to fix 

 upon some definite plan for an institution for the 

 maintenance and support. It was said by some 

 who were in position to know, that while pastor 

 at Henderson, K. C, Dr. Shepard had a regular 

 ^^praying ground," where he would resort night 

 after night, and plead with God for the orphan 

 children. Such prayers never go unanswered. 

 There were not the organizations in the State 

 then as there are now, to which he might make 

 appeals, in the hope of an answer. But there 



