The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-01-12
THE HOW ARDS.
vnrxRR STING AND COMPREHENSIVE
ABATEMENT OF THEIR Work DUR
ING THE LATE EPIDEMIC.
Preface.

S-ATEMENT OF THEIR WORK DUR
ING THE LATE EPIDEMIC.
Preface.
In connection with their report the Howard
Association determined to give Herewith ,
short account of the origin of the Howard
:. Association, and the scope Of Its duties, as
matter Of interest to their friends and patrons
In the year 1888 several young gentlemen
<ognizant OF the insdious nature u. yellow
fever, and the necessity OF the closest sit4en
ton and care being given to those sick there
with, agreed among themselves that they
would mutually care for each other and their
friends and acquaintance, In case Of an cpl
demic and any OF them should be taken sick
An epidemic OF yellow fever visited New
Orleans that year, and these young men were
called upon to fulfill their agreement. True
to themselves and to their promise, they
waited upon many unfort,nates In that cpl
demic; and such good was accomplished by
them that It became the subject OF wide COM
ment and commentator, and suggested the
idea OF the formation OF q society Of gentle
men, larger in numbers and capable thereby
Of covering larger field OF usefulness In case
OF another similar affliction. This crystalized
into the Society OF Good Samaritans, which
organized in 1887, to care for the poor sick.
or this society, Mr.. Jas M. Vandegrfff, pres
ent President OF the Howard Association. was
member. The benefit resulting from such
an organization was more and more appreci-
ated and felt, and led to the Incorporation by
the Legislature of the State, In the winter OF
1S41-42, Of the Howard Association OF New
Orleans, 1t taking the name OF Howard In
honor OF the great English philanthropist,,
John Howard, who spent his fortune and his
life in visiting and relieving the wants and
sufferings Of the unfortunate prisoners and
poor sick In the prisons, pesthouses and poor
houses OF Europe
Since 1842 the Towards have continued an
Incorporated society under the laws Of the
State, having been Immediately re-incorporat-
cd July 10, 1867. under the act Of the Legisla-
ture OF 1856 after Its first charter flor twenty
five years. had expired In 1867.
The objects Of the Howard Association are
best expressed by the second article Of the
constitution, which reads as follows:
ARTICLE IL.
"The object Of this association shall be to |
relieve destitute and sick In periods OF cpl
denies"
The duties OF members are to visit and sec
that the needs Of every applicant TO the asso-
ton for relief are attended to. At the out
break Of every epidemic the city Of New Or
leans is divided into fever districts, to each Of
which one member or more Is or are assigned,
who Is or are held responsible for the proper
care OF the applicants In each district The
members are each required to visit each of
their sick patients at least once every day, to
see that nurses are doing their duty, and that
the needs of the sufferers are supplied; and |
a. the members frequently have seventy five
and more patients to visit daily, and as these
patients are located at different places, In
areas from one-half to one mile square, It {
can be easily understood how the time OF the
member, from early morning to near mid i
night, and sometimes even later, is quite fully
Membership In the Howard Association is I
acquired by each only upon his voluntary ap- {
plicatton therefor, which must be indorsed by !
two or more members. The duties therefore, Z
are entirely self-imposed, but become obliga- 1
Tory when once assumed, any willful failure 4
20 discharge them being made puniehable by !
from membership. Any improper :
conduct, either at meeting, on duty, or In any
relation In life, carrying with it tie same pen
Alty.
No officer or member is allowed any COM
pensation whatever for his service; and to
guard as far as possible against any compen- 2
'ation, even by indirection, the bylaws forbid v
my member ito supply or fill any order
irawn by himself for account OF the associa-
Ion, from his own business establishment, =,
or groceries, provisions or medicines or any b
'ther articles required to be given in the relief CT
4 the sick and poor =
Finally, In the Howard Association, sect 4,
lativity or politics. are not talked OF, thought
\, or In any manner considered. At Its board q
ave sat as brothers in common humanity, y.
nd IN sympathy for human suffering, Jew I'll
nd Gentle, Catholic and Protestant, foreign VI
Z and native, all one in common desire to y;
q good according to their ability, and to
Althfuliy discharge the trust imposed upon ca
mem when they are called to labor in the field &c
nat they have chosen. -
Iep0rC OF Howard Association for 1878, tn
NEW ORLEANS, December II, 1878. FL
Association: = - 81
Brethre''-In accordance with your resolu- oe
on 20 present Tor publication the report OF az
oM lay before you the following: "0N Ell Ell
When, upon the fifteenth day of Auoust ~ -
vt, we were informed, unoffieially. Nv the q q.
orthy president OF our Board OF Health fDr. WI
~ Cnopplnl that the hope to which he NJ NJ
Jared an epidemic Of yellow fever was ~
one, and that an epidemic was then and CIR
% for some days, been upon us; you were cal Go
q together on the sixteenth day OF August, Gr
good and true men to make our associa- Ho
On efficient to deal with the labor va were Cal