The Portland daily press., 1868-12-07

THE PORTLAND PRovIDENT ASSOCIATION.
This Institution has just commenced It's la
bors for the winter aud will soon appeal to the
pubic for aid to enable it TO carry out It's be-
nevolent projects. As the history of this, per-
haps, most important benevolent Institution of
our city, may not be known to all, brief state.
ment OF few particulars, may not be uninter-
esting Att meeting of Literary Club dur.
ing the winter of 1854, at the house of one Of
our clergymen, the subject of ameliorating
the condition of the poor fell under discussion,
and excited great deal of interest among the
members. The interest manifested was so
great that meeting was proposed. This prop
ostion met with the appreciation ofall present
and on the sixth of February a meeting OF the
citizens was called at City Hall. The meeting
was largely attended. and the late J. B. Ca
h'on, at that time Mayor, was chosen chair
man. The Rev james Pratt invoked bless.
ing and the object of the meeting were fully
pointed out by the chairman. The clergyman
at whose house the idea had been started, stat.
ed what prel' menary steps had been taken and
presented a constitution, which with some
| amendments, was adopted. Among the man
ayers of the society elected at that meeting.
held but fourteen short years age, were MANY
prominent citizens who have since deceased
| namely: the chairman, J. B. Cahoon, Elipba.
| let Greedy, Samuel Fessenden, Joseph G.
Moves, Thomas Hammond, Rev. W. II. Had
| ley, T. R. Jones, j. B. Scott, Hiram Coyell
John NJ. Wood and Jedediah Jewett, all men.
| foremost in good works. The society thus es-
| tablshed, has been ever since performing
|, tn Ill.
,oorthy poor during the Indictment season, over
hard places, and preventing imposters from
| deceiving the public. The good that it does
in this respect alone, cannot well be estimat-
ed. Every one who gives dollar to the So
ciety becomes member for one year, and is
supplied with cards bearing the address of the
General Agent of the Association, and when
applied TO for help, has only to give one of
those cards to the applicant, who, if worthy,
will upon presentation OF the card at the of
fee, receive aid. The worthy applicants for
charity will of course carry their cards to the
office and have their cases examined, but inn
Pooters ~ill keep away, as a record OF such is
kept, and they cannot bear scrutiny. Indeed,
the manner in which applicants receiva cards
Is pretty good test in itself. But it is need
| less to dwell on the usefulness OF the Provident
Association, which is well enough known
The point with all benevolen.ly inclined people
is to make it as efficient as possible. This can
be done by now placing in the hands of the
Treasure Oliver Gerrish Esq, such suns as
can be spared 10 help the poor through the
cold weather now upon US. EUery one in COM
Portable circumstances can give sonsethang, and
by so doing may be cheered by the assurance
that what is given will Ielp feed. warm or
clothe some hungry, cold or naked brother,
who is worthy ofthe bounty bestowed. This
is the season for presents. Let us not forget
the poor, but one and all make them present
however small, through the Provident Asso-
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