The Evening critic., 1882-03-16
ASSOCIATED CHARITIES.
when. where and why Organized
The Organization in Washington
The GOOD WORK IL Accompiishes
How IL Obviates vice and Pre-.
vents Crime.

vents Crime.
As supplement to our brief reference to
sample Of tho abodes OF Vice and pauperlsm
existent In our midst, and whose existence
seems to have been generally overlooked by
those about them, we are inclined to call at
tentlon 10 one OF the remedies OF the same-tho
Associated Charities, n branch of which has
been recently established at the National
Capital and though still In its incipiency, has
already effected n vast amount of good.
The organization Is ono OF the most bene.
ncial as also philanthropic In the world II is
founded and 1t acts upon the principles OF
common-sense charity. In the cities where
the methods and manner of work OF the Asso
ciated Charities have been practically tried
the aims OF the association have boon fully
achieved, not alone In relieving the needy, but
also in the no lcss worthy end of stlll further
benefittlng the community by Kidding II OF
professional frauds and OF those criminal
classes which the law Of itself cannot success.
fully reach or remove.
1t is OF comparatively recent birth, the first
order having been established In Liverpool,
Eng, In 1868, and the number OF Its members
at the close OF the first twelve months was
500. Its beneficial results and the activity of
the co-operators gave mn Impetus to the good
work, and branches were organized through
ont Great Britain and Ireland, and crossing
the Atlantic took hold in this country, Indian
apolis, md, being the frst city to adopt these
methods.
From the minutes of the National Confer
cnce of the Associated Charities In America,
held on the 25th of June last, at the hall of the
Massachusetts House of Representatives, we
learn the following interesting details
"There were 213 delegates present, repre-
senting 81 State boards, and II
Associated Charities. Representing
i'm All 20 States.
The membership at that time, June, 1881.
shows that In indianapolis there are 200
mot a ma annIar In Taag
Buffalo, N. Y, 800; Philadelphia, 5000;
Boston, 1,315; Cincinnati, 1000; Newport
r. l., 212; Poughkeepsie, N. Y, 1877; Port.
land, Me-, 100; In Taunton and Lowell, Mass,
each 100 and in New Haven, 80. Brooklyn
ls also largely represented.
Large organizations appear in Birmingham,
England; Brighton, Horsham, Glasgow, Hull
southampton, Barnslcy, and in Dublin, Ire
land
The annual meeting at Boston evidenced the
most gratifying results from all districts
wherein the Associated Charities are estab-
llshed throughout the United States, both In
relieving actual suffering among the poor and
Obviaiing Vice and Preventing
Crime.
The organization is by no means q sentl-
mental, spasmodic benevolent body, but has
for its object as much the protection of the
valuable members OF society from imposition
and impostors as the relief OF deserving and
worthy sufferers through uncomfortable cir
cumstances. IL Is n reciprocal affair and
WOIkS mutually lOr inc surety OF society from
criminals and their practices as II works to
suppress vice and to reclaim the vicious from
their course Of life. One OF its principal prac-
tical IDEAS of action is In the benefit of the
preventive plan, and II labors to the end that
il vice cannot be totally cured, 1t can be very
effectually prevented or removed. For this
purpose its members are thoroughly active
and sift the subject matter Of their charities
by personal investigation to the depths--a
task by no means diflcult, save frequently
through its unpleasantness-when one goes
about IL DprSOnally and intellioeutly
The First Branch OF the Associated
Charities
was established at the National Capital last
summer, less than a year ago. 1t has been
and eighteen subdivision organizations have
already been fully established in the city. Its
officers and members represent the best peo-
pie In our city, and the marked energy and en-
thusiasm in the good work of Its active men,
bers have already achieved much genuine re-
suits, and promise to achieve much greater.
The terms for membership are 50 annually,
and as the association depends financially
upon the membership fees and such other
contributions as may be made, 1t cordially In
vites membership and liberal contribution.
which, inclosed to the secretary, l41S Il
street northwest, will be duly acknowledged
The officers of the Central Association are
as follows: President Hon. Josiah Dent, chief
executive officer of the District; treasurer,
Hon. Al. G. Emery; secretary, J.. s. Emery
address, Mt. Pleasant, d. c., or at the Office,
141S street northwest.
Board OF Managers (ex-offlclo)-Hon Josiah
Dent Commissioner OF the District; Hon. John
Eaton, Commissioner of Education; Hon. j. X.
Barnes, Surgeon-General, u. s. A.; Major w.
q. Brock, superintendent of Police; Dr. Smith
Townshend, Chief of Board of Health.
Elected-A. $: solomons, Rev. John r.. Pax
ton, John II. Mitchell, Hon. A. NJ. Gangewer,
Dr.. II. B. Donaldson, DrWilllam Tindall, Hon.
NJ G.. Emery, Mrs. Sara A. Spencer, DR.. Joseph
Taber johnson, S. w. Tullock, Mrs. S. A. NJ.
Garfield, Mrs. NJ. +. Waling, John L Cook, A.
s. Pratt, j. l.. Moore.
As above stated, In addition 10 the Central
Association there are eighteen subdivision
associations fully organized and oflicered,
among which the city Is regularly divided and
allotted, so that each subdivision has Its own
work to do and It's own territory to look after.
Every case OF want and destituton is reported
10 the Central Association, where n complete
record is kept. Each square In the city has n
member OF one of the association, allotted to It
as friendly visitor, whose duty 1t Is to visit
each and every house in that square and as
certain the needs OF its residents.
10 show how thorough the system is, and
how well the association will be protected
against imposition when the city Is once thor
oughly canyassed, a sample case is here given.
Woman with a Sad. Wan Face.
mournful eyes, and a low, plaintive voice, ap-
peared at the central Office of the Associated
Charities a few days ago and stated that she was
about to be turned out upon the street for non
payment OF rent. long illness had prevented
her earning money at sewing. According 10
| the regulations she was referred 10 her own
| Subdivision Office, and from thence TO the Wis
| itor for her block. Her history, given by her
I
| Her husband was q printer belonging to the
| Printers Union, was kind 10 her until he took
| 10 drink and left the city with another woman
| leaving her penniless, with one child, three
| years old. Another WAS born soon after, aud
during her Illness her rent became overdue
and she was set upon the street as soon as she
| was able to go out.
Leading citizens OF Washington, whose
names and letters she had procured readily
| had befriendod her from time to time, ye
sickness and a broken heart had again ant
again left her without means 10 pay her rent
and she had at last been driven TO take refug'
in Buzzard's Roost, from whence she was nov
about 10 be turned out. During her last Hines
her children had been taken from her and pu
into Catholic Asylum, which was specla
grief TO her, she being Protestant.
The most striking feature Of the woman
case was that every word she said turned out
upon inquiry, TO be true, II was what she lef
unsald that was the secret of all her woes II
thirty minutes from the time her story wa
concluded IL was ascertained, upon persona
visit and careful investigation, that for year
she had been living wantOn, riotous, lew
life, never disturbed in her career In the rOok
cries whore herself and her male guests hel,
high carnival,
SO Long as She Paid Her Rent IL
Advance
70 Tie respectable owners or their agents, bu
bounced as soon as II came overdue. In thos
cases her respectable" gentlemen friend
delay. This time, however, they referred he
10 the Associated Charities, and hence III
facts in the case We're ascertained and put o
record. An Immediate proposition was mad
10 her 10 abandon her course OF life and acce I
shelter, employment and protection from
lady, who was ablo aud willing 10 proYld
them. she declined with thanks, and wa
"A n nrfn alrat. 40 han "A