Smyrna times., 1870-01-05
fFor the "Smyrna Times"
The smyrna Benevolent Society.


THE seer ErARY's REPORT FOR l869.-The
dawning of the year just closed found us almost
without cent in the treasury, and without re-
sources to fill it. No expedient that presented
itself to replenish our Golfers seemed as proba-
BILE of success as festival. And yet it was
thought by some that even it could no longer be
utilized to our. ociety, as its novelty had ceased
or as some expressed it in common parlance,
"payed out
On January 9th, 1869, an election for officers
was held in the basement of the NJ. + Church,
which resulted in tn. re election of Mrs. Ellen
Cummins, for President, Miss Sarah Cnmmins
for Vice President, Mrs. Catharine Clements
for Treasurer, and Mrs. S. p. Mason tor Sec
retary.
Mrs. N. T. Jerman was elected as sole dis
tributOr of our charities among the poor, with
the power to choose an assistant.
As our monthly subscriptions were wholly
inadequate to meet the demands upon the So
ciety, festival was again proposed at this
meeting, as the only resource to replenlsh our
depleted Treasury but still was not concluded
upon. 1t was resolved to meet again on the
| 10th to determine what could be done, which
they did. After much deliberatlOn they re-
solved TO make an effort to have TITLE festival
and said they would be thankful if they could
realize clear gain of only fifty dollars.
Committees we've appointed to perambulate
the town tn obtain help from the friends of
the cause, and | am happy to say, that every
tohere they met with kind treatment, and sue
cess, beyond their expectations.
A cnmmittee waited upon the Odd Fellows
to obtain leave to use their hall, which was
politely granted, free of charge. Other urbane
attentions bestowed by them at that time to
wards US we gratefully femember, though q
year has INTERVIEWED.
A festival was held in the Odd Fellows Hal
on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, Feb &c
aud Sd, which resulted i'll raising about two
hundred dollars clear OF all expenses.
February 18th the Society met and appoint
ed Mrs. George Davis and Mrs. Ellen Cummin
to consult with the distributing agent with re
gard to the subjects of relief.
An appropriation of twenty dollars was mad
and given to Mrs Jerman, to lie distributed
: among the poor from that date until the frs
Friday in April.
April ID At our regular meeting Mrs. JeT
5 man resigned her office as distributing agent
aud Mrs. Mary Roberts was elected, unani
[ mOusly, tn fill the vacancy.
A specified sum was allowed our agent I
distribute monthly, which SUN has been ampl
tO satisfy the demands made upon ker. Thi
u Can be accounted for, in measure, by the in
proved condition OF many of our poor, the RI
mOval of others, and the formation of Othe
charitable societies.
o The Secretary has the painful duty to recor
J, two deaths the past year among the most us'
+ ful aud prominent members OF our Societ!
After protracted illness Aliss G. Russell die
n on the 2d OF July, and was inferred in the ne
e cemetery of the NJ. f. Church. 1t was 81
= who went from house to house during the e.
; treme cold w"ather of January, 1867, and SUI
a moneJ the ladies of the town to meet at h
|. residence to devise ways and means to get up
;, festival for the relief of the poor. The succe
" of which, originated the formation of our 5
clety.
n After severe illness, which lasted but fe
e days, Mrs. g. Clements passed away une
). pectedly from among us. She died on the
II of November, and was buried in the san
cemetery. Thus within the short space of fo
m months she followed her friend to that bourn
D. from whence no traveller returns, aud the
IT good works will follow them. She was o
le Treasurer from the foundation of our SOciet
During the year, eight persons have wit
drawn from the Society," three have NOV
W away, and two have died. Twenty-fOur nam
have been added to our list, and still the prI
te pect for new additions is encouraging
s. p. MASON, Secretary.
lOI SMYRNA ian I'D 1870