Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-12-29

AT meeting of the citizens of Worcester, held
in May, 1861, committee was chosen to collect
and dishurse funds in aid of those who should
be in the military service of the country in the
present war, and of their families. 1t was deem
ed eXpedient thus to place fund in the hands
OF responsible committee for this purpose, in
stead of leaving those in need of such aid to the
necessity of making application by separate sub
scriptous or otherwise, for private charity, or
of suffering for the want of it. 1t would at the
same time relieve them from an unpleasant ne
ceSsity, and avoid the evil of great multiplica-
ton of subscriptions for special cases, where no
one is made responsible for discrimination in the
application of moneys subscribed.
1t was not, however, designed to discourage
individual benevolence acting through its own
proper channels, or personal effort, whether in
existing organizations or otherwise, for the re-
lief and comfort Of the brave defenders of our
country; but rather to assist and encourage all
who would in any manner give their aid to this
most holy cause.
The committee SO chosen entered at once upon
the duties assigned to them. subscription pa
per was circulated, but Only to limited extent
Fifty-four persons subscribed sums varying from
five hundred dollars to ten dollars Only fifty
per cent of the money subscribed was at first
paid in, as the whole was not needed for imme-
date use.
From an experience of more than year and
half, the committee are fully satisfied OF the
utility of this mode of administering this i'm
pOrtant charity. A large number OF persons
have received from this fund temporary relief
from pressing wants, who would otherwise have
suffered and yet IN no case has assistance been
given without careful inquiry as to the ness of
the claim for 1t. In most cases a little Temporal
ry assistance was all that was needed and this
has been given to those who would have shrunk
| from making any application to the city authori-
| ties or for individual charity.
| In several instances the committee have deemed
| it 10 be their duty to decline applications pre-
sented to them, feeling that i'll these times when
so large demands are made upon the charity of
| all for worthy objects, that good deal might be
| done by discouraging iujudicious disbursements,
| as well as by making and encouraging those
| which true charity and a sound discretion
| seem to demand.
On the 10Th inst, the committee met the sub
scribers pursuant to previous notice and after
hearing the report of the committee the sub
scrlbers by unanimous vote, requested the
committee to collect the remaining fifty per cent
If their subscriptions, continue the discharge of
their duties, circulate the subscription papers for
additional subscriptions for the same object, and
call the attention of the public to the design and
| purpose of the fund.
In compliance with that request this statement
| was made:-
| The committee design Immediately to ask
| further contributions to this fund from those who
| have not alresdy contributed to il, and they ear
nestly appeal to ALL according to their ability TO
| contribute to a fund the object of which is SO
worthy and SO important.
| No sum which can be raised can be too great
for the purpose and the good which may be done
| by the committee will be limited by the amount
OF funds placed in their hands
| Those who remain at home in the enioyment
OF It's comforts, can never fully pay the debt they
owe 10 those who leaving those behind have en-
dured the hardships of the camp, bravely met the
| dangers of the battle field and laid down their
lives for their country and their friends.
The aid given by the city authorities, limited
| as it is by legal restrictions, are inadequate to
| meet the necessities of many who have impera-
| tive claims upon our charity and generosity
FOR obvious reasons also, privae individual
benevolence would fail to accomplish the object
| in view.
Let all, therefore, ny contributing to this fund,
| do something to relieve the suferngs of our sick
| and wounded soldiers, and administer to the com
fort of their afflicted families
For the benefit of those who may desire to OBJ
tam aid from the fund, the names of the COM
mittee are given below. Any application to ell
| ther member OF the committee will receive
prompt attention Albert Tolman, Esq., is the
secretary and treasurer of the committee, and,
| when convenient, it is esirable that such appl-
| cations should be presented to him.
! JOSEPH MASON ALBERTTOLMAN
| A. II. BULLOCK, PATRICK O'KEEFE.
| ID. S. MESSENGER, EDWIN DRAPER
| T. II: klNNlCUTr, STEPHEN SALISBURY.
| g. w. BENTLEY, /. WASHBURN.
Worcester, Dec. &c, 1862.