The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-11-24
THE ASSOCIATED CHARITIES.
What this Society Is and What 1t Is Not

What this Society Is and What 1t Is Not
Many people ask, "What is the Associated
Charities?" elias it fund, and is it an
almsgiving society,"" sis it consolidation of
all the charitable societies of the city-a
wholesale charitable organization?"
The reply is, "No. it has not fund, and is
not an almsgivng society,"" SIT is not con-
solidation of the charitable organizations of
the CITY," ''What is it, then?" is the in
variable question. To answer this, it will be
best to state the necessity of such societies,
and show the manner in which they have
grown into the present admirable system. In
those cities, where great many charitable
organizations were in operation, each doing it's
special work. it was found when the officers of
the different societies came together, that the
same persons We're receiving aid from the
several societies at the same time.
This led to investigation, and the starting
discovery was made, that hundreds of shift
less and thriftless persons, through various
modes OF lmposture, were receiving their en-
tire support from charitable institutions. The
question was, how to meet such cases; in the
discussion which followed, so grave were the
difficulties encountered and the dangers which
ism, which these charitable societies and the
thoughtlessly benevolent had unwittingly
stimulated, that many of the sounde minds
agreed, that it would be better for society if
every charitable organization in the land were
abolished. This was an extreme view, and is
here mentioned simply to show the necessity
which existed for a change in the methods in
vogue. Of course, the tirst step was to have
those societies meet and compare notes. and
this could only be made practicable by having
each society detail one of its members to act
for it, and these, meeting together could, on a
common record, have placed the names of
those whom each society aided, with the
amount of aid furnished This record would
OF course be of great service to all the inStitu-
tions interested. But the persons who were
preying upon charitable societies were also
preying upon churches and benevolent in
dividuals. and the necessity of extending to
them the advantages which this general re-
cord afforded was apparent, hence all the
benevolent were requested to avail
themselves of the benefits which the
record offered, and to aid in maxi
ing it more perfect by sending the names of
persons applying to them to the clerk for entry
therein excepting OF course the names Of per-
sons they desired to keep private) or at least to
make inquiry of the clerk by pos al cards or
blanks fur lished by him for the purpose, con-
corning persons applying to them for aid,whose
names would thus get recorded, if they had not
been already. But another question here pre-
sented itself. How was reliable information
respecting applications for charity to be obtain
ed i'll the simplest manner? This could be best
done by dividing the city into districts and hav-
ing suitable persons in each to apply to when
necessary. By this means accurate and relia-
BILE information could be obtained at once by
the clerk and communicated to enquirers. This
plan being put into operation was found to
work we'll alter 1T became understood, and this
is the whole plan, so far as registration goes.
But intelligent visitors found upon investiga-
ting cases referred to them many causes for
the condition in which they found those they
visited, which appealed directly to them, and
they felt that while their office was not to give
aims, they had much more important work
before them; harvest waiting only for labor
ers to gather it. In one place only work was
wanted by father or mother to keep the family
from begging. In another, the little that was
earned was wasted by not knowing how to ex-
pend it judiciously. The children of another
family were half naked because the mother
did not know how to sew or make garments for
them, or sickly and half starved because she
did not know how to cook the fittie anu poor
food she mad. Charitable societies might per-
haps be relieved from the burden of many such
people, and these people themselves be greatly
benefited by the visitors; hence they met TO-
gether and discussed the subject, and the first
result was the opening of a record which should
contain the names OF persons wanting work,
and the public was advised of the fact, SO that
to wash, could by applying at the Office be
supplied at once. A workroom was also
started where women were taught sewing
and habits of cleanliness and saving, re-
sulting in incalculable benefits 10 them and
their families. Practical housekeepers, also,
taught many what to buy with their money,
and how 10 use what they have bought t. the
best advantage. This good work of the visit
ors prevented hundreds from going to charit-
able societies or benevolent people for OCCASION
al help, and of course did more practical good
to the poor themselves, than the expenditure
of any amount of money could have done,
Pauperism is curse which must not be allowed
to thrive in this country. If the details OF its
blighting effects in the old world and in this
country where it has begun to take root. were
better understood by our people, they would
feel that the safety of the state, if nothing
else, demanded vigorous action in preventing
it, From this brief expanation will be- seen
the raison d'etre of the Associated Charities,
and how broad and benefcint is its work. 1t
first by registration wisely avails itself of all
the knowledge attanable concerning the con-
dition and needs of those who seek charity. It
creates through its board of visitors an active
band OF wise -Orkers among the poor, whose
chief aim is to make them self-dependent, by
enquiring into the causes of their poverty,
and, if they are such as can be mastered by
advising them as to the proper
course to take, getting them work if possible,
awakening their self-respect, and where I'M
avoidable referring them to the proper socie-
ties for temporary relief, keeping always before
them that such relief must be temporary and
should not be sought unless absolutely neces-
sary Such, briefly, is what the Associated
Charities is accomplishing in the larger cities
and can accomplish here in Portland if our
people will cooperate to its success.
WHAT EVERY CITIZEN IS ASKED TO DO.
Direct to the agent Associated Charities"
a postal with name and residence of every per-
son who applies to you for help. Or whom you
know applies to others.
Make it point to ask your friends to do the
same, and don't fail to take an hour when in
Boston to call at the rooms North Bennett
street, and see with your own eyes what is be-
ing done AT the Industrial Home. B.
Priza Rif3a Shoot IN tho State ponra