The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-27
PLAN OF RELIEF.

Inc Following, Wnlch was Kindly publlshed in
the Pennsylvania Inquirer, as
PLAN OF RELIEF.
propose first all Nv hch is the main feature),
that each ward with the exception OF those forming
the more distant or rural wards) be formed INTO
Ward Missionary Societies, and called by tine names
OF the wards IN which they are organized. his plan
would make say twenty Ward Auxiliary Societies,
each society 10 be composed of as many members as
will furnish two TO each square block, Take Ior
instance the Sixth Ward call 1t the sixth Ward
Missionary Society Auxiliary, etc.; this Ward mas
twenty seven blocks; two persons to each block,
with a President, will give fty five members. The
duties OF the members may be defined, partially as
tollows:At the approach OF every winter the Block
Committee will cal upon every family N their block
the support OF the poor. The same Committee can,
in very short time, become acquainted with every
needy FAMILY in their respective ocks; they shall
take cOgnizance OF, and provide for ali cases of
want wnetner OF food clothing, work, medicine ETC.
ETC., as hereinafter mentioned
"Ihe twenty Presidents OF the Auxiliary Societies
shall form The Consolidation Missionary Society of
Philadelphia, to minister to the temporal and
spiritual wants OF the poor. his society shall pro-
cure house ana have IL arranged as shall best
SUIT ther purposes There snail be kept ON hand at
all times, food and clothing of such kinds, and IN
such quantities. as may be needed. Under the same
rool there shall be ONCE, containing books for
registering the names of men and women of ali
traces, desiring Ork; OF persons wishing to adopt
children, ana children whose parents wish them
adopted also OF persons needing hep every kind
and sort There shatl be q correspondence opened
with all sections of widespread country aud as
far as possible, places obtained in various parts for
will give work TO the industrious be adopteu
so that shall eat who wll not work.
"Ihe Block COMMITTEE men shall be fully posted
up on all points, and recommend the poor in their
blocks TO make deposits in the Six Penny and Dime
Sayings Institution during tae spring, summer, and
ia months.
They shall draw orders upon the Parent Society
for ood tue etc etc. as cases OF need present them
selves. They snail register all cases of persons out
of employ yment-sh0ll report TO the Ward Aldermen
AL cases OF dTul kenness wie-beaters ldiers etc,
etc. fit su jects Tor the jail, the Amshouse, the
House OF correction the Houses of Refuge, th9
House temporary and permanent for Orphans, white
and cOlOred, &C. etc.
'Thele shall be a Soup House in each Ward and
COai and Wood Yard, for the Parent society.
IAN the moneys collected shall go INTO the trea:
sury of the Parent SOcieIy, and ali temporary and
shall be rendered from their headquarters.
lit may be argued that II will be inconvenlent to
he pOol TO travel so lar after assistance This may
be The in some instances, but we look forward
10 the day when ali pauperlsm shall cease from
past VIII there be any need relieve distress. except
II be such as Is mace by casualty or decidedly pTOvI
dental circumstances, which come strictly under
me head OF 'Iho poor ye have always with you o.
"lhe most important matter to arrange Is, perhaps,
the missionary department. The tract Vlsito and a
given number of preachers, as well as laymen of
various denominations, should be employed to dis
tribute Bibles and Iestamentsto visit the sick and
bury the dead Their work shall be purely spiritual
except in that, if the block committees may
occasionally overlook case, they may point 1t out
10 them.
answer; you have entirely neglected the ladies, and
left them out OF your splenoid scheme. Not So for
tnem, u WOul0 (llke tne creatOn) DO lnCOm
Dlete. Their sphere will be to ana IN visiting the sick
and dying; IN gathering the children into Sabbath
Schoolsj IN making garments las Dorcas); in pro-
vidng nurses; intoxicating religious principles,
"Tbe plan proposed above. yol may notice, does
not ann to take the place OF any other organization
tor doing PoOd. IL adopled, it will destroy the
Home Mission society, the Union Benevolent So
cietY all the Bedford, Baker, and Spaford str ct
missions and all other kindred associatiOns neces-
sarly, or iDcOrp crate them In one rnere will be
WORK Tor ali that work now, and as many more. II
VII VII NOT NEEDLE with the Temperance societies. the
Shsuah ASSOCIATIONS the Soup societies, the Foster
IOmes' ana many other instiI utlOns calculated TO
eeVae ana refine the poor, or 10 educate and make
elected.
"Rosine and Magdaen Asylums, we trust, will
soon De unnecessary; tire rioters, street loungers
ana DIaNlIs uhkhOWn; and for every policeman
| a missionary raised up IN ms place, These plans
and tuggesti ns iuly carried out in connection with
the House OF Correction. based upon proper pTl nc-
pies will, have no doubt lin CONNECTION with a
law by Congress, requiring Certificate with every
emgTant arrlylng IN this clun ry, showing that ne
or she IS neither pauper nor jai bIrd'l 1e the
| means few years OF putting a bII mon onr
Almshouse of For safe or 10 Let or OF Changing the
character and name OF the house to "a honse fo the
vlrtuous poor WI are too old or ok to WoTtl and
too good TO beg or sIeal.' "
| then stated that had an experience of
sixteen years as a Manager and Treasurer Of the
Home Missionary Society;" and now, with the
additional experience Of eleven years, would
urge the adoption of this plan as the most feasi-
BILE to supply the wants of the worthy poor, to
save money, to detect fraud, and TO make men
support their families that are now compelled
to depend upon charity.
Trusting that you will favor me and the cause
of beneyoence through your valuable paper
by publication Of the above, am yours
truly, THOMAS I, MASON