The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-24
ANOTHER CHARITY SVINDLE.
How a Peculiar Association Cares for
Widows and Orphans.
UNPARALLELED PHILANTHROPY.
What a State Commissioner of Charity
Has t. Say About It,

letter was sent TO the HERALD Office asking for a
notice of institution, non-sectarian and for the
benefit OF all The epistle signed by Mrs. G.
Pullman. of the managers of the concern. which
is located at No. Winthrop place. opposite Dr.
Deems chapel The style and title of this institution
is "The Widows and Orphans Benevolent Association
of New York. Brooklyn and Jersey City," and
becometh charity for such cause its apartments
are exceedingly modest and furniture ditto. SAFE
q sofa. table, two three desks and few chairs
constitute the outfit of this association, which pro-
poses to take care of the widows and orphans of
three cities containing two millions of people. The
institution seems to be mainly in the interest Of
three women and one man. who were found at
the place named yesterday by the HERALD
representative who was sent to investigate.
Mrs. Pullman, who took interest enough
in the association to ask for the HERALDs aid in
making it known had not word to say in its behalf
but referred the writer to Mr. t. r. Taylor. who calls
himself secretary and manager" Mr.. Taylor. ac-
cording to his showing. is very disinterested
individual. Indeed, he ought to he much more ap-
preciated than he is. In tho first place, he is q
of great experience in the conduct of charitable nsti
tutions having for many been associated with
the Brooklyn Relief Fund and Columbia Mission.
He is resident of the "City of Churches and the
son-in-law of clergyman. but he comes to New
the interests of the widows and orphans of three
cities. He is journalist Also his cards and cir
culars indicates is special correspondent Of Chicago
Philadelphia and Boston papers. contributor to
local papers in the three cities named advertising
agent &C., &c. and yet the benevolence of his heart
prompts him to make all these things secondary to
the care OF widows and orphans in New York Brook
Ign and Jersey City.
WHY SUCH Observation-Disclosures?
But he does this in part because the late DR..
Muhenberg, founder of st. Lukes Hospital. and the
late DR.. Ogilby, Of Trinity parish. OF "the
opinion that practical system of providing for the
respectable needy by personal visitation want
that had never been supplied in the metropolitan
districts of large cities. Dr. Muhlenberg strongly
recommended that effort be made in this direc-
ton. and many eminent clergymen and members Of
the different churches have felt confident that more
good can be done in this way to reach this class than
in Brooklyn among the poor satisfied
him that large number of respectable fam
lilies in the three cities who would never send
seek aid from charitable institutions often pawn
their clothing and household goods to procure small
amounts OF money with which to purchase food
Mr.. Taylor and his lady assistants will seek out all
such persons and aid them The association was
organized in 1876 and last year. from its headquar
ters in Park row, its secretary and manager took
about four hundred widows and children on a free
excursion to Rockaway and back. The circulars OF
the full of extracts from nearly all the
local papers of the three cities, and contain only full
praise of the institution One of the circulars
says it was Originated by the late Dr. Muhlenberg.
founder of St. Luke's Hospital" and all of them
convey the impression that that godly man had had
something to do with the concern On the very face
use of DR.. Muhlenberg's name was objected
to as manifestly deceptive Mr.. Taylor turned
agraph which he did not deem 1t necessary to cor
rect But he failed to add that he the author of
currency to the lie Aud the only advantage person.
ally that Mr. Taylor derives from the institution to
which he devotes much time and labor and is
desk room free in the association Office. His
respondence must be large. He showed the writer
what purported to be letters from Colorado Nevada
and other distant places asking for information about
bogus business Arms here, and for boys and girls for
adoption and widows to perform various works of
benevolent Association, E. r. Taylor secretary
and manager pays the expenses of such persons out
to those distant regions feeds and clothes such need
it here for the sick and pays medicine and doc
tors bills, gives free meals at its headquarters to the
hungry sends homeless girls across the street to the
Midnight Mission, and thus helps ON the good work.
But such amount Of effort must cost large
of money? Not at ALL The association is
ceedingly economical toward its beneficaries. The
secretary and manager showed the writer his book.
evidently the only one to be seen representing
the concern. and it showed that Mrs. A., with five
children, receives 81 week; Mrs. b., with three
children, 81 so week, and so And according TO
the last annual report which for lack of funds the
association has yet printed $50 benehciares
thus helped in their homes in New York Brooklyn
and Jersey City, in the associations headquarters
with food, clothing and medical attendance, pay
ment OF rent and transportation to the West for
some, and all for the trife OF 1918 sc. Why, the
amount ought to have been $4,000 instead of 5000.
and would have been were less economical managers
at the head of it. Reports come to this Office. how
that the association has great anany solicitors
out, and that much more money comes into>the con-
Germ than goes out to the poor widows and orphans.
Mrs Jeannettc Lewis is the visitor of the associa-
ton. but IN reply TO remark about the labor ana
added that all the lady managers visited as well.
THE ASSOCIATION BEFORE THE STATE BOARD OF CIiARI-
TIES.
In confirmation Of the foregoing the following re-
port presented to the State Board OF Charities
at its meeting In Albany. OH the 18th inst, by
Of the Commissioners for the city OF New York. Mrs.
Josephine :. Lowell II was made after two three
visits by the commissioner and Intellectual efforts to
get any account of receipts any report of the
puted treasurer. Mr.. Kendall The present treasurer
IL W. L. Lewis. but there is only one official book in
the associations headquarters and MIR. Taylor has
sole charge OF that. The report VIII speak for
itsclf:-
To rnE STATE BOARD OF Cn.nrrrns:-
Soiao time since attcntion called TO society
which, oy my informant was supposed to DO raudulen,y
The society was called "The widows and Orphans Aid
had a" Sss ss NS and
that 1t was instituted IN 1876 BY The late Dr. Muh-
On November IS went.o the otcc Of the society aud
hS sSsSS s One Which and s asked 20 See nj
firms from whom provisions aud other contributions had
Of helped during the winter 1874 This
M ai'sa APR Ii hs oa 'ses S
other books no list OF names Of the persons who had been
The OF fhcnrpOtutOh. dttch 10. lStr.-
shown mc-there four incorporators, and OF the
whereabouts of three OF them tho secretary could give
information. The treasurer. whose name
the circulars had hc said been Ia Europe for past six
months and Dr. John H. Kendall acting treasurer.
Neither the PRESIDENT g. A. Greene nor treasurer. w l..
Lewis secretary. e. r. Taylor among the incor-
porators but the OF the ineorporatos slightly
appear those Of the directors of the society
in of the circulars
ADDRESSES
Tho said there five paid employees two col
lcctors whose addresses he did not know ecpys
visitor snd the janit,ess The latter lived at No Win
thrup place. received the provisions contributed aud
them her discretion 20 the benehcaries Of the
society who for relief twice The secretary
asserted that he had said Dr. Muhcnburg founded
the society ~ WIS all mistake OF the few days
after my visit to the office o the society the
the visitor and ianitrcss my house. Each brought
q little book with her written the
which purpcrted to be respectively record of
visits made and of persons helped Neither Of them,
happened to know the contents ct the book she
carried and the inference that they written
for the occasion.
November 70 received the following copy Of min.
utcs AT special meeting of the trustees Of the Wild
and Orphans Aid Association held ut No winthrop
place, New York on Wednesday, Novsmbcr - 1873, at 10
A. ", II moved aud seconded that said association,
above from that date DO dsban aud
c~ist corporation. and the secretary to employ