The Portland daily press., 1878-03-11
SAMARITAN ASSOCIATION.
Observance of fits Fifsieth Anniversary
Last Evening.

Last evening the Samaritan Association OBJ.
served its semi-centenniai anniversary at Con.
gress Square church. There was a very large
congregation present aud the exercises were of
very interesting nature. After the opening
exercises conducted by Rev. Mr.. Gibb., came
the
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
From the historical sketch prepared and
read by james L. Farmer, ESQ.,, we CLEAN the
following very interesting facts and figures.
All of the treasurers' books from the formation
of the society up to the great fire of 1866 were
destroyed in the latter year. From 1866 TO the
close of the fiscal year, November, 1877. the
reports are pres rived. Tue secretary's records
from 1928 to 1843, period of fifteen years, i'll
many respects JDe most Interesting 10 the his
tory OF the society, cannot be found In the
absence OF these records the work of preparing
such historical sketch was greatly enlarged.
A carefully prepared chronology of the So
ctety shows the following lst of Presidents;
Mercy Bisbee and Olive Coleswortby, four
Years each; Sarah j. Chase twelve years; Mrs.
o. r Moor, seven years; Mrs. g Ludwig, six
Years; Mrs. Wilson, Margaret Sparrow. Harr 1t
Wallace and |: q Baker. two years each;
Mrs Nutter, Winslow, Bradbury, Millett,.
one year each. As Vice Presidents, Mrs.
Chase served fifteen years: Mrs Currier, Brad
oury aud Lock, tour years EACH The Office of
secretary Was filled seven years by Mrs. Jane
A Kendall, and five years bg Mrs. s. II. Vir-
gIo. E liza ALn Farmer, E. E Davis and E.
Oven filled the office four years each The
treasurers' Office has beet filed for the last
seventeen Years by Mrs. q. NJ. Plummer, Miss
Farmer occupied the same position eight years,
as did ldrs George w. Woodman.
A fitting tribute is paid to the memory of
Mrs. Bisbse, the first Pr sideat. The society
originated IN the first Uuiyersalist society ia
he CITY, Its officers for the pas. fifty years
have been taken from societies of the same
faith: It has kept pure pedigree. When
the First Unversalist society was formed 10
1920, it had but a handful of members aud
they were looked upon With dspleasure by
members of other societies There was con-
-tant struggle for twenty years to stamp ont
Universaiism in Portlat d. Que year during
this struggle the pastors Of tue Orthodox
churches refused to read from their desks the
notice OF the annual meeting Of the assoca-
ton, which caused much comment After
few days the treasurer received through the
posioffice two letters from members of the Sec
ond and Third Parish societies, each enclosing
five dollars as their expression of dissent from
their pastors act. Times have since changed
for the better. Ia 1928 Rev John Bi-b-e, snc-
cessor to Rev. Russell Streeter, was manfully
stemmng the tide Of opposition to his faith
when his wife saw the need of work for the
poor of Portland. She called meeting of the
ladies and told them her views and the Female
Samaritan society Came into existence March
4tb, 1928. The motto was "Bessed is he who
consI1ers the poor; blessed are the merciful for
they shall obtain mercy" Sixty-seven prompt
ly joined and but twelve of them are now liv
ing In 1884 the society was re organized and
its title changed to the Female Samaritan As
sociatlon. A superintendent and two collect
ors were added to its officers AID the board of
trustees was Increased TO eight.
This was the pioneer society orgapized for
general distribution of charity in the city,
Subsequently o'her charities have been formed
for The same object. In the early days the in
come was derived from the annual tax of mem
brrs $1.00, the proceeds of a collection at the
aDUuai ADDRESS al donations from individuals.
ln 1884 the members tax being reduced, the
annual collection and outside donations grow
,Dg less, largely diminishing the means of as
sisting the poor, the wants Of whom were
greatly Increased. the managers we're COM
PEELED to iuaugurate the system OF fairs which
have since become successful way of raisiug
funds. The first fair in the psrior of MIR.
Farmers mothers house on Pearl street rea-
lized $780, 10 1874 public fair 10 Exchange
Hall nstted $240. Since 1860 the fupds from
suppers, Levels and entertainment have con-
staDtly increased About one-twentietn only
Of the disbursements go to those of the Unvtr-
-alist faith, niDeteen-twentieths gong 10 those
belonging to other denominations and the great
oody of poor not attached to any society. Fhe
society has an invested fund of $780, bedueathed
TO it by Mrs 81. q. Boooy, 1t has the income
of this fund in addition to the before men-
toned sources of income to supply its many
demands. 1t is es mated that the gross re-
cripts from 1928 10 1866 could not have aver
aged more than 500 Der year. After 1866 we
have the records of the present treasurer, show
log exactly what was done each year, as fol-
lnws.