Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-03-24

delegation OF coiored cIergymen with the
Board Of Health yesterday upon the subject
population OF this District was given in yes
terday's STAR After our report closed, the
conference continued for some time, during
which the subject was thoroughly discussed,
ard many interesting facts developed.
WANT OF ORGANIZED CHARITIES.
Rev Mr.. Hall, of the Union Bethel church,
stated In answer to questions of Prof Lang
ston. that the membership OF his church was
about seven hundred. and nearly twice that
number of persons attended church services;
that they had no organized charities tn look
after the condition of the poor although they
collect by contribution and distribute much
charity 10 the suffering poor connected with
the church: that abOut a dozen destitute fam
lilies have been so relieved, besides individ-
ual cases. There are benevolent societies
among the colored population of the neigh
bOrhOCd-the Good Samaritan and others
but they fine their expenditures among
their own membership.
MONEY WASTED ON PARADEs.
Question. "Do not these societies expend
considerable money in unnecessary outlay
for funerals, parades, and pompous displays,
which do no real good?''
Answer. "These organizations are gener-
ally composed of persons OF every religious
faith; they act Independently of churches,
az d We have no control over them. There
can De no doubt there is much means wasted
on these displays which would go a great
way TO relieve the distress, If so applied
In answer tOother questions. Rev. Mr.. Hall
said. in l. visits To the poor h found them
generally without proper food and clothing
and In many instances with no fuel or means
to obtain il.
be made. is ii at the expense of the church?''
A. Generally by contributions made at
our meetings, where the friends are unable
TO do il themselves"
WANT OF MEDICAL ATTENDANCE
q during sickness do these poor families
nave physicians attend them?"
"A. I'm many instances they do not; for the
reason that they are not able to pay for med
1cal attendance"
q. why do they not avail themselves of
me physicians to the poor, who are paid for
A. Every many of these people do not know
OF such available provision being within
t .helr reach; many among us do not know of
lhe location OF the physicians, nor of the
apothecaries appointed by the authorities;
we would be glad TO be furnished with a list
of them"
q. This shall be done; but, in your visits.
what do you find to be the occupation of the
heads OF these families?''
A. The men work at most of the laboring
occupations, on the street and iobbing and
the women at washing or out at service"
DRUNKENNESS.
% How about drunkenness among
A. =" There is much of it among the poor
OUTSIDE OF our churches, but we seldom see it
among our own people,
freQuert ?''
A. 1.-THE infants and children mostly"
HFRB AND ROOT DOCTORS AND CoNJURERs.
ana stated that he had called his people to-
gether last night to have talk about this
supJect. he found that there was much Suf-
fering for the common necessaries of life and
many deaths; the attendance of physicians
on the sick was not frequent; he found many
employed women physicians who use herbs
ana roots, and among these practitioners are
the conjuring doctors who profess to make
cures, out who prey upon the credulity of
the ignorant and take their money without
rendering them any good; wherever he found
npOnlp no xUar Oh no
against these quacks. but some. of them are
not easily convinced that conjure doctors are
lmp0stors. Many of his people belong to be-
nevolent societies, into which they paw ini-
tlation fees and receive benefits when unable
10 work; these benefits 90 to members ONLY
anu me church has to look out for the out
side destitute the best they can. The fune-
rails among this class which he attends ave-
rage three or four per week; deaths occur
more frequently among the young, the prin-
clpal cause being colds, and consumption re-
sultlng from colds. The houses and shanties
are for the most part located in alleys, and
are dilapidated affairs; the food they eat is of
poor quality, and scarce at that. One Door
woman told him while visiting her yesterday
that the doctor had called to see her and told
her mat IL was no use TO prescribe, as she was
her.
ILLEGITIMATE BIRTHS.
Mr.; Langston inquired of Mr.. Johnson ifhe
found many births among the people he Wis
tied, If many illegitimate children were born
what he knew of their parentage, and how
such children are provided for. He explained
mat the impression has become general that
there rs among the cOlOred people great deal
OF adulterous intercourse, and that many
young girls are led astray by unprincipled
men, who thrust them Off when they become
dependent. The reason of this inquiry is TO
obtain data by which the Board of Health
can use their influence in bringing about leg
lslat1on To correct this evil Mr.. johnson re-
piled that there were some cases of this kind
Dut he was glad to 81 not among his church
members. such cases, according TO his
W Orc nEa0 fl.aA nkA
norant, and as TO the support of such waits,
when any is rendered at all, IL is by the
mother; the father never appears.
Rev. Mr.. Walker, pastor of Shiloh BAPTIST
church, was questioned on this matter OF I'M
lawful intercourse among the sexes; he said
ms membership was some seven hundred; he
visits MS charge daily, and administers both
spiritual and physical comforts as far as he
can; there is a benevolent society attached
10 his church which does a great deal for the
poor, yet there is much suffering from INSULT
clent food, fuel and clothing, causing sick
ness and frequent deaths. As to aduiterous
intercourse, Judging from his personal obser-
Walton and published accounts. he thought it
lation. f0p"
ANOTHER CONFERENCE TO BE HELD.
MI Langston said the committee desire to
cooperate with the clergymen ard others in
any plans agreed upon TO improve the condi-
and OF the eolored people OF this District,
tally among them, and IL was necessary to
proper understanding that all these causes
Oc lnNcsIlRdIPu.
After further discussion it was decided To
have another conference next Friday al the
adjournment OF the regular meeting OF the
Board OF Health.
Welcome.
Edtt0T Hdr:-Among the many questions
which necessarily arise in the mind of n
Methodist minister, on hearing his "new APP
pointment" announced by the bishop at the
close OF the conference, one which gives him
no little Solicitude, is: Chow will / be re-
r6iVChpff .Nr,fu tl,ct,