Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-11-29
UNION BENEVOLENT SOCIETY OF RICH.
MOND, VA.

olent Society," OF Richmond, was held at the Uni
ted Presbyterian Church, Tuesday Evening, Nov
9Th, ls4i.
Mt James + Heath was called to the chair, and
+ Van Deursen acted secretary.
Meeting opened with prayer. The object Of the
meeting having been briefly stated by the Chair.
man, the Annual Report was read.
The meeting was then addressed by Rev ID
Pollock, and Rev MIR Magoou, and the 10 low Ing
resolutions Offered and unanimously adopted:
Resolved, Tint the Annual Report which has
now been read and accepted, he printed and widely
circulated.
RssOlvsd, That this meeting recommend to the
Managers OF this Society, the appointment Of u
suitable committee for each ward IN the city, whose
duty IL shall be to explore the district assigned and
make application TO all persons, to whom they may
deem proper oXpedient, Tn apply, foe donations
or contributions in aid of the funds OF this Society.
REPORT.
According 10 their usual custom, your Board Of
Managers respectfully submit to you the annual
report Of their lapDrs, for the fifth year, IN behalf
of an interesting and helpless portion OF the popu
lation of our city. While your Managers have con-
tinued to labor under d.scDurasnS circumstances,
they still have the satisfaction Of believing that
your benefacons have been, IN most cases, bestow-
ed upon worthy objects OF charity, and done much
good, and that the Society has not entirely Jailed OF
the objects contemplated IN It's formation
Ii is now nearly six years since the Union BE-
nevolent Society OF Richmond frs. claimed public
attention. rs an org inizsd association for the pur-
pose Jf afprding relief TO the necessities OF the poor,
and improving their general condition. Remem-
ering the blessed words of our Lord Jesus Christ,
when ne said aye have the poor with YOU always,
and whatsoever ye will, ye may do them GOOD
The Society commenced its operations IN June,
1885, under the broad banner OF It's constitution, TO
carry out the objects OF its formation as expressed
in the secon article, viz: tain the habits and
circumstances Of the poor the causes OF their pc
vsry, devise means for the Improvement OF their
circumstances, TO suggest plans OF calling into cx
sk.ar anil
ton and afford the of giving them increased
etfect-to hold out Inducements TO industry ceono-
my and saving, from the traits OF their own labor
in the season of abundance; TO circumference and
as far as possible TO prevent paupersm, vice and ni-
morality; TO provide for the necessities OF the sui.
fering and afflicted; TO use every opportunity OF
promoting their spiritual interests, by leading them
in the way Of salvation; in fine, TO do every thing
which may tend TO ameoraie their condition.
To further the objects Of the Society, as set
forth above the Board OF Managers divided the city
INFO districts and assigned TO each district visiting
committee, whose duty It was 10 visit the several
families within their respective bounds, that we're
known to be IN INDECENT circumstances. Many Ia
miles were thus visited for the first time, and in
then were found many worthy females, and among
then, n5or widows and women with small chl'dren,
who were sutfsrn extreme want, from their lnabI
litv To nrocure employment, or from the nadequacy
Of their nav for /, when obtained. Ii was ascer
t.ined maj the G arc many females IN our city,
whose utmost InsuSiry, when fully employed, IL
scarcely adequate To procure them the necessailes
of life;-ihat iheir ordinary wages after paying the
rent of their houses left but mere p!ttance TO buy
food fue and clothing, for themselves and children,
if they had any. W,th these startling facts before
them, the Managers OF your Society determines 10
adopt plan, that they believed would give peEma-
nent relief, least 10 some who were thus suffer
ing from the hand of those who grind the faces OF
the poor by taking an unholy advantage Of their
distress and extorting their labor at prices Insult
cent for the support OF human nlture, from females
who are suffering ali the Ills OF cherries poverty.
The Depository OF work for INDECENT females was
opened in February, 1887; in a short time, one
hundred women we're receiving work, and al prices
that once more brought domestic comfort and COM
paratiye hRpplneSs, TO their but recently cherries
abodes. The benefits resulting from this mode Of
relief TO such as able and willing to work, rs
shown in a decided improvement, IN the personal
appearance and habits OF those who have received
work from the Depository; and the demand upon
public charity has been greatly diminished, under It's
operation. The Board OF Managers have continued
their lRbors from year 10 year with many dlscour.
sgements, yet they have perseyered, under the rea
sonable expectation (as they thlnk) that discern
ing public would appreciate their iaUOrs and self
denial, and put into their hands such means as would
etfecluay aid them ia the good work. But IN this
they have been painfully disappointed Their abil-
Ivy TO do good, instead OF increasing with the pro
gress of the OF the Society, as the field widen
ed before them, has yearly diminished The De
pository has, the past year, only given support TO
about thirty women while they were compelled to
turn from their door, with the chilling answer Of "no
work." NJ merOus applicants for II. Being dis
appointed IN the encouragement they had hoped,
from some at least, OF he numerous factories IN our
city, they were unable to give coarse work to such
as could do no other; and this is the class whose
situation is particularly deplOrdble, and which the
Society especially desired 10 relieve. From the
want Of funds the Managers have for the present
partially suspended the operations Of the Deposto
Ty except make sale OF the articles OF ready made
clothing still on hand.
Another branch Of the Socieiy'S intended opera
lions, early carried into effect; sewing school
Tor girls established end attached TO the DepO.
STORY, composed of the children Of parents who
were unable to teach them al homs,-this school
was continued until July last, when II was suspend
ed, for the want OF funds 20 pay capable teacher,
and TO procure a more suitable room for their
comnoiation. Your Managers have hoped much
from this branch OF the Society, and believe that
good mas been done. Several Of the girls have been
laugh, to sew neatly, and some have become quite
good semptresses, and upon all, habits OF industry
have been nculcated, by which they may make
themselves useful, and become valuable members oil
society. II is by training the young, that this So
cIety hopes TO accomplish the purpose, IN part, OF
its formation viz TO elevate the standard Of nteli
gcnce and morals Had the Society funds 10 clrry
out their wishes and plans, with regard TO the school,
your Manages believe the blessed effects would
he seen in the Improvement OF the rising genera
ton, as they advance to womanhood.
The visitors appointed 10 the various districts Of
the city, have continued their HrduOus duties, n
visiting the poor, and distributing tracts, SC. Re
ports from them have been received al the monthly
meetings Of your Managers. These reports abound
in touching incidents Of real misery, Of actual hu
man suffering, and serve to awaken gratitude 10
The Author u every gooi and perfect gfi for that
blessed privilege conferred on man, the power Of
blessing others. The Board feels assured thot the
experiment thus far hes Sufficiently proved the uuI.
~ Of the plan, TO enlist the hearty operation oil
the christian community. With the friends Of the
poor generally, rests a solemn responsibility. Shall
a cause consecrated by our SsvIOur's example, a
cause so iraught with benefit, be permitted 10 AN
gushl ortather, sha not the visible good resulting
from II, arouse 10 renewed eK rtons and call into
exercise our latent GHerges; for the poor you have
always with YOU.
II will be seen by the Treasufsr's Report, that
1898 80 have been paid Tor work, and that Tho SO.
ciety have received Sl3l5 90 for sales vi clothing
and work done ut the Depository within the year
There remains on hand, clothing 10 the amount o.
nearly S4OO and there are debts due to the Society,"
amounting 20 Sl24 Sc. There has been dlsribu
ted S2i9, besides blankets and flannel for the re
lief Of the suffering and afflicted.
The interests Of the poor classes Of society ar
go inJerwoven with those Of every part OF the com
nunity, that there is no subject more deserving q
general attention. To be victims Of pain and mi ,e
Ty add 70 drag out life Of cherries poverty is w
happily the lot Of a large portion Of evory com
rnunity, even IN the good land, "AJwng with mil
and honey" 10 ELEVATE whose suderngs is the un
questionable duty OF the more fortunate classes nd
only as members Of tho same society, but % belong
ing 70 the same great family Of mankind.
But there are those who, from principle, 90 the
say refuse assistance TO the man whJ can obtain IN
means Of supplying oil his wants Ivy his daily Ia