The Portland daily press., 1876-01-29
The Poor of the City.

Yesterday afternoon a meeting was held at
Hight street church vestry to devise means for
the better and more thorough care of the poor
of the city. The attendance showed that q
deep interest was taken in the subject. Near
ly every church was represented. The follow
ing clergymen were present: Bishow Neeley
of St Luke's Cathedral, Dr. Hill of First Par.
ish, Rev. Messrs. Gibbs of Congress Square,
Dole of Plymouth, Haydn !of New Jerusalem,
Dalton of st. Stephens, Wright of st. Law
renee street, Hincks of State street and Fem
of High street.
W. S. Dana presided and called upon Rev.
Mr.. Dole to state the object of the meeting.
Mr.. Dole stated that for some time he had felt
that the churches ought to do more for the re-
lief of the poor, and it had been question how
they could work most effectually. After CIV
ing the matter some attention he had come to
the conclusion that this could best be done by
districting the city, and then giving each
church a certain portion to take care of. Thus
was the object of the meeting.
A few remarks of an enquiring nature in re-
gard to the restitution in the city were then
made, and Col Thompson was called upon to
SAPiN'h eAAS PiOoOhV oJoICl VI hO
spoke Of the work of the Provident Assoca
tion and complained because the Overseers of
the Poor do not cooperate with them in re-
lieving the suffering. He thought the various
charitable societies should unite to prevent
fraud. At present person could 60 to them
all and obtain aid. He said that it was USE
less to enforce compulsory education unless tn q
children could be properly clothed.
Mr.. Rolfe, the treasurer of the Widows
Wood Society for the past sixteen years, made
few interesting remarks in regard to the
work of that society. He remarked that this
was an unusually hard winter for poor people,
and since the rooms had been opened there had
been p new applications for aid besides those
who apply annually. Last year they aided 617
families. He spoke highly of Messrs. Cobb
and Barnes who had aided him in his work.
Mr.. 81. G. Barnes spoke of the great amount
of suffering in the city. He stated that there
was great deal of trouble in finding the Over
seers of the Poor when there was real worthy
case. He thought the Overseers should at
tend to the matter or resign. There should be
some one in the Office every day for an hour if
not longer. He also stated that the city should
do more to aid the poor.
MI. Dole spoke Of the matter of districting
the city, but it was the general opinion that it
would be better to strengthen the present sys-
tenn than to adopt new ones. Messrs. Barnes
and Rolfe each cited cases of poor families who
are unwilling to ask aims, but still are suffer-
ing for the necessities of life.
Rev. Mr.. Hincks favored the project of help
ing the Provident Association and the Widows
Wood Society, rather than to adopt new sys-
tenn. His remarks were brief but to the point.
Mr.. Dole stated that he had called upon
Father Bradley and he had stated that when
any Irish families were found destitute he
would thank any one to notify him and they
should receive attention.
Rev. Mr.. Dalton thought that the Overseers
should be in their Office every day to attend to
the many cases coming up. He said it was the
duty of the city to take care of certain paupers,
and they should do it promptly and not allow
them to suffer. He was in favor of the churches
aiding the already organized societies.
Other remarks of a similar natured followed
but no action was taken. Another meeting
will be called soon to consider the same ones
tion