The Portland daily press., 1882-12-13
The Associated Charities.


afternoon and Lucia Christmas night.
The Associated Charities.
AT the commencement Of a new season OF
| its work this Society wishes again to acquaint
the citizens of Portland with its purpose and
methods, and to urge upon them the import
ance of making the Associated Charities an
ally in their local almsgiving. 1t should be
distinctly understood that the Associated Char
tiles is not an organization for the bestowment
of charity, but that it is valued aid of. and
operates in entire harmony with, the charita-
bic societies Of the city. Its objects are as fol-
| lows:
| First--To obtain and record full and accurate
| information as to the character, needs and
worthiness of every person who solcits aid in
| our city, whether on the street, at residences
| or places of buainess and to impart this In
| formation to our benevolent societies and to
all citizens, who will apply for it, thus enab-
| their beDefactions.
| Second-To diminish and suppress street
| begging, idleness and pauperism, and to pre-
| vent imposition unpon charitably disposed citi-
| zenS and associations. When applicants I'M
| derstand that-beyond supply of food for inn
| mediate use-no assistance will be given until
an investigation by the Associated Charlie s
| has determined the worthiness or unworthi-
| ness of the appeal, then will the number of
begging impostors in our midst be largely, if
not entirely reduced and contributions which,
otherwise, might bs bestowed on undeserving
persons will be reserved for our really worthy
poor.
Third-To seek opt the deserving poor and
helpless of our city, and to bring their snecessi-
ties to the knowledge of those who will aid
them.
There are some not to say many, among u.s.
who, having ''seen better day." are quietly
suffering for the comforts of life rather than
solicit help. To discreetly direct benevoenee
towards such is a delicate and gratifying
Office.
Fourth-To help those who from failure to
obtain work, or from loss of employment or
other discouragng circumstances, have been
and are dependent to become Independent and
self-reiant by judciouly assisting them to Sc
cure openings for service to which they are
adapted.
Such encouragement tends to rayive hope,
reestablish self respect and integrity, which
are elements of good citizenship. There are
many in our midst who would be made coura-
geous and happy by opportunities for work /,
and any of our citizens in need OF ordinary
manual labor about their houses or stores can
often render valuable aid to deS CRYING and
needy persons By applying to the Associated
Charities.
Fifth-To secure for the benevolent greater
satisfaction and increased usefulness in the ex
ercse of their benefcence by leading them to
abandon careless and indiscriDli9adte giving
and to establish a jadiciouS charity which will
bestow its aims only where investigation has
revealed the real worthiness and needs of the
object Let this point be carefully con- idered.
It IS claimed that aid, even though small, CIV
| en- upon mere appeal to those who are paupers
| only through Incidence and who solicit charity
| that they may be indolent, is most unworthily
| bestowed and even mlschievous in its results
| Its whole tendency is to encourage continu-
| ance of begging, deceit and aziness, with all
| their debasing consequences, and to expand
| and transmit these wills in the young of the
| families where they exist-thus fastening pau
| perism upon upon generations of those who
| should and could be not only self-supporting,
| but ambitious and useful citizens.
1t is safe to say that imposture upon the
| charitable will diminish IN the ratio of their
| discrimination an giving, and in the same ra-
| tho The INDECENT Ill be forced to seek useful
employment for their support, and the worthy
| poor will received deserving measure OF
| chacity and cheer. The moral ana material
benefits resulting to the community from the
| accomplishment of these purposes would be
| far reaching and of unreasonable value.
The citizens of Portland are earnestly re-
| quested to make free use of the aid and infor
| nation, which the Associated Chart es is or
ganized and ready to give them, Whenever they
| are asked to give aims to those of whom they
| have not personal knowledge.
If an application is made for help, on the
| ground of poverty or sickness, either at the
| house, the place of business on the street,
unless the applicant is known to be deserving
let him or her give name, residence and Cir
| cumstances, ara be requested 10 call at some
stated future day or hour, when an intelligent
and proper answer can be given to the appeal.
Then let the gentleman or lady applied to call
| upon or send TO the secretary OF the Associated
| Charines who will be at room No. Is, City
| Building (frst hoor), from IL O'Clock a. m. to
o'clock D. M, each day, Sundays excepted, or,
if preferred, communicate at any time with
the president at No 31t Exchange street-tele-
| phone No 181--asking information as to the
| person applying for aid This inquiry will be
| transmitted at once to the visitor in the sec
tion of the city where the applicant claims 10
| reside.
An investigation will be made and the intel
| ligence obtained will be recorded on the books
| OF the society and forwarded promptly to the
inquirer, who will thus be enabled to decide
whether it is true charity to give or to with
hold.
If our citizens will be thus deliberate in
meeting appeals for charity they will save
themselves from much imposition and will
help to blight that pauperism which springs
from Incidence, leads to vice and which thrives
on unintelligent and indiscriminate giving
Those of our citizens who have awaited them
selves of the information thus to be obtained
through the Associated Charities have beer
surprised to learn how large proportion O
those asking aims of them do not inhabit the
locality given as their residence, and are Who'll
| ly undeserving OF aid.
| LOU every CltlZou bOilCiL6u TO f6Huef dlQ VI
account of alleged poverty or misfortune ties
the value of this society by inquiring whethe
the applicant is worthy or otherwise.
THE ASSOCIATED CHARITIES WORK ROOM.
During the winter months work room il
maintained by a committee OF ladies who de-
vote a portion of two days--Wednesday ant
Friday--each week to cutting and preparing
garments and other articles TO be made rp b.
poor women and girls, who take them to thei
homes to be completed, and, on returning
them, receive a fair compensation. 1t ha
been found more advantageous to the poor tt
pay for these services in groceries and famil,
| supplies rather than In money. AS 1t is, thu
committee have been able, thus far, to furnish
these to the working women and girls at whole
sale prices, for the reason that several mer
chants have kindly Sffered to supply then
without any profit. TIE committee duly ap
preciate this liberal action which has hepet
them in this depalt ment.
The articles made are sold, and the amour
of the sales is placed in the treasury of thu
work room to purchase cloth and materials TO
future use. Many have been aided by the EN-
ployment thus given them, and it is hoped tina
during the present season others may recelv
, | benefit therefrom.
The work room-No. Is City Building
open every Wednesday and Friday forenoo
, from Dec. 1st to May 1st., and the committe
, | of ladies will then be in attendance, but wor
will be given out only on Friday. Ladies an
gentlemen interested in this charitabl
| method are invited to call at the room OF
either of the days during the sessions of tn
l committee.
> Contributions of cloth and supplies will
> gratefully received and orders for plain sew
ing are solicited for the benefit of need
women and girls, who are ready and anxiou
4 to secure useful employment.
> Such is the purpose and such are tn
methods of the Associated ChariUies, in tn
exercise and benefits of which all are invite
to share.
q PRENTIss LoRING,