Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-02-04
The Associated Charities.
THE GOOD WORK OF RELIEVING THE NECESSITIES OF
THE POOR, FAIRLY ENTERED UPON.


On Monday last the headquarters of the Associa-
ted Charities were opened at 1913 street, where
the management have an office and work room.
Thus far they have registered 20 men for work and
secured work for 10, who win commence breaking
stone Monday morning at 10 cents per hour. The
sewing room for women has already been started,
and women are now engaged In making gar.
UentS. The members are coming up rapidly and
paying their dues one OF the objects of the Or
gaDkation Is TO prevent imposition and the officers
have ascertained that a woman with three chill
Huren has for yearor more been living on the
charity OF churches. having passed Mrs. Dodd
In one section of the city, and Mrs. Wilson, Mrs
Burns, Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Davis in other sec
tons.
ANOTHER BRANCH ORGANIZED
Ameeting was held in the parlors of the Memo
rial Lutheran church q4th and streets) last
evening, TO organize branch OF the Associated
Charities for the sixth sub-district, bounded as
follows: South side or p street east to 5th: 5th,
north side OF, to New York avenue; to list street
east; south to /; west to New York avenue; New
YORK avenue TO 18th: east side 18th north to 7
street Rev. s. s. GiddDgs was called to the
chair and Mr.. X. B. kinsell secretary. Messrs A.
s Pratt (whO called the meeting TO order) ana
L. s. Emery secretary OF the parent association
made some remarks as 10 the objects OF the meet
Ing. The latter stated that the prime objects
might be judiciouSly expended At least One-third
OF the funds heretofore raised had been worse
than wasted, for it had encouraged idIeness to
some extent He explained that this movement
was not for the purpose OF taking the place OF
local associations, but to work with them. All
who had received aid, or who needed aid, so that
they could act Understandings and prevent impo-
Siton. He explained that they furnished work
men at ten cent per hour They proposed also
TO establish a wood yard and purchase one hun
dred cords OF wood, so that employment could be
given 10 the needy. The list which they would
make would not be public one and would be
accessible only To those who have right to know,
and only for legitimate purposes: Thus far but
N p{ q na mr. Of la
poor of his church.
Mr.. Giddings remarked that he did not see the
necessity for churches furnishing their lists.
Mr.. Emery answered by saying that a case had
been recently discovered where a woman had
Drawn on the charities OF one church for year,
and she was then drawing from another. Having
three children she sent them to different Sunday
schools and drew from each.
MI Pratt said that he had heard OF person who
mad been receiving aid from his church making
application to this society, and he thought that
there Was no necessity for making the appeal.
Mr.. Emery said that in short the object of the
organization is to make labor the basis for charity
where the condition OF the applicant will war
Mrs. Spencer having been invited addressed the
meetlng and said that the burden of pauDeriSm
was becoming unbearabie, and without rejecting
on the governments for establishing almshouses,
lor they meant We'll, she would state that the
british government by this system was filling
their country with tramps The churches, TOO,
good by their charity This associated charity
idea was the outgrowth OF the Social Science Asso
clauon, and II had OutgrOwn its mother. The
system was In vogue now in II cities. and in two
they had rld the streets or trampS. The average
cost or conducting these societies was $3.50 per
city-in some cities where the industries are
larger than others the cost being more. Mrs
Spencer explained that the prOvident wood yard
III boston was established by young men out OF
employment, and was a success: They were be-
ginning here in a small way. They had placed a
woman In charge having her own sewing machine
anu she (MrS. Spencer had sent hers there also
MI Burdette had given them cotton to start
with. Some OF the shirts sold here are made
In New York by women at cents each
IL shirts being a days work. They were pay
ing the women fifty cents per day Some of
them are working at home, and one woman was
engaged in knitting and supporting her family
Mrs Spencer said that to-day they had more
orders than they could fill, but in few days they
expected to be able to fill them. She had no
Doubt, that When 1t became known, the people OF
washington would encourage them.
Mr. L. S. Emery remarked that in regard to
color, applicants are about equally divided and Of
lhe whites the llrger portion are people who have
seen better days.
Mr.. Pratt remarked that while there was much
truth In what Mrs. Spencer said churches were
usually very careful in their aims and he did not
thli'N that as much had been wasted through
tn-i as through the almOnerS OF the DOOR
ne association proceeded to organize, and
Judge Arthur Machrtllur WAS elected president:
A = Pratt, f. kurtz johnson, vice presidents: r.
b. hinSell, secretary. Rev. s. p. Giddings, Mrs
Maria Robbins. DE-. D. Tabor johnson, Miss Mary
Wilmington. and Miss f. Swami were, with the
officers above named, elected directors. Judge
Macarthur was elected delegate to the central as
sociaton.