Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-03-24

A worthy CharItY-SeveRth Annual
Report.

We have before US the seventh annual re-
port of the Industrial Relief Society and
Home Of the Friendless, one OF the most
deserving eleemosynary institutions in the
city. That our readers may know the ex-
tent Of the good work accomplished by the
society, we make the following extracts
from the several reports:
At the commencement Of the year there
was balance In the hands Of the Treasurer
amounting to 81, 1876 50: received from vari-
Gus sources, s., IA 03, making total of
81 40 IS; expenditures. 81, l20 IS, leaving a
cash balance on hand at the close of this
report of $641 S. During the year there
were furnished the Home SOUP aud meals
to 43 men aud ,4S2 women. making a total
Of meals furnished 1525 The receipts at
the laundry were 81, go ~, and the expendi-
lures for wages, etc, 1927 II. Days
work given. 1854; number OF pieces
washed, 30,023. In the needle woman's
department the receipts we're 81 ,O40 so;
expenditures 1922 90; leaving balance OF
SLY 65. The sewing school shows As
scholars enrolled during the year; 123 gar
ments completed, and seven teschers. The
Presidents report, which we give herewith,
enters more fully into the workings Of the
society, and will be found OF interest.
REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT.
The close Of this seventh year of our or
g9niZation may Justify retrospect OF the
years past, all Of which have been signal
with the blessings of God and the beDefac-
lions OF those in our community "who en-
slider the poor"
Not for q summing up of achieved sue
cesses DO we thus glance backward. Il is
rather ha of 047r ora fifT1da for
the encouragement derived, as we recall the
help received for every duty. and the
strength for every bill Of difficulty. in full
filed experience Of the promise, Gas thy
DAYS, so shall thy strength be-"
or the twenty-four ladies who constituted
our first Board Of Managers, but six are With
US at present. designations, caused by the
pressure of other duties, removals from the
city. and death, have changed the list, but
we n Jolce that other earnest and energetic
workers have filed the places thus made
vacant.
We pause to pay the tribute Of love and
respect tn the memory of those who started
out with us, but are row numbered
among the departed.
Our first loss was when that faithful friend
Of the poor, end pillar of strength in al
good works, Mrs. John Murchison, left Us.
she was soon followed by Mrs. Robert Nc
henevolence. Our revered Treasurer, Mr.
John stoddard. next exchanged the service
10 life for the icy of heaven. Soon, too
soon, came the summons to our beloved
Vice President, "Come uD hi;heT " Thus
tt life so full in its outgoings of love and
sympathy and efforts so constant and sue
cessful In this behalf wers sadly terminated.
Still more recently have we been called to
mourn the loss of our staunch friend and
Hharo7 han fac+nr Mr. Ghariaa Evnr
ready to counsel, ami generously suggesting
and forwarding methods for the advance
ment and success of this society, we fad
ourselves to dsy deeply in sympathy with
many others in this community snd else
where, who miss his friendship, his cOuu-
sells, and bis bounty. The precious legacy
of these bright and shining lives is left NJ
to illumire the gloom that shadows our
hearts as we miss them, and TO lead US 70
look upward, and press onward il snticips-
tion OF the Joy OF their heavenly dwelling
Work among the poor is history that re
peats itself continually. 1t is, therefore,
impossible to organize any plan that car de
feat the prophetic words, "The poor shall
never cease out of the land"
Misfortune comes to all, but 1t is left to
enlightened thought and sympathy so 10 re-
lieve the "stranded sufferers on the shoals
of life" that under the incentive Of kind
and hopeful words and helpful efforts they
may be guided TO the firm ground Of inde-
pendent self support.
In our great and rapidly extending
country Of liberty and equality, it becomes
not Only the duty of the christian and
philsnthropist, but equslly that OF the
government itself, TO provide for Its poor.
For since God Outlines raiseth the beggar
and setteth him among princes, is 1t not
both polite and imperative to reclaim from
the ignorance and vices of poverty those
who occupy the hard places 10 the substra-
tum OF society TO day. hut 70 whom
the future Of political Influence, wealth
and power, are possibilities to even the
humb es'? It is subj-ct for cOngratulstiou
tina; such provision made in our Own S's'e
by wise legislation not only increases edu-
catioUal facilities, but also places In the
hands OF the Commissioners Of Chatham
county fund for the relief Of It's poor A
portion of this fund, accom-. anied with the
express appreciation and confidence Of the
Commissioners. has been placed yearly at
our disposal. To our worthy district Wis
itor, Mrs Amanda E Palmer, is committed
the charge of It's eiiribution. With unre-
laxirg vigilance and fidelity she has visited
all the benefcisries at their homes, listened
patiently 10 these "short and simple annals
of the poor" and relieved them with
studied thoughtfulness. She has obtained
situations for such as needed employment
secured for the afflicted people care, pro
cured permits for the return to their fami-
lies Of many distressed sojourners. aud has
kept faithful record Of all who have been
thus assisted.
The distributions of the year past ave
been as follows, viz 3l6 cords OF wood,
cost 1907 IS; cash TO beneficiaries, $605 so;
40 pairs shoes, S57 40; ,453 yards calico,
flannel, Jeans, ETC., $253 A; soup, meal,
groceries, from the home, $4O9; salary Of
visitor, $3.50; making q total of 81, 17S IS.
OF the number who have stopped at the
Industrial Home, some for few days, or
those who have been under Its care and
training for months or years until placed in
situations, scattered as they now are in this
and other States, some, we regret to know,
have Welded to sharp temptations, but 9TH
ers are filing Satisfactorily positions OF trust
aud responsibility, and from time to time
send grateful receptions Of help received
while with US.
The health of the inmates has been gen
orally good, and when otherwise, the cheer
full and prompt attentions of our good
friend and physician, DR.. T. J. Charlton,
have been successful; thus we have lost
none by death; even through the dark and
trying DAYS of the epidemic our household
WAS unbroken.
Frequent donations of clothing from
ladies have lessened our expenses In this
line, and we would make especial mention
of the kind membranes of the ladies Of
the Episcopal churches for our inmates at
the festivals of the year.
Soup and meals have been furnished
daily, and rations weekly from the door TO
the poor.
The difficulty Of obtaining other shelter
for persons of enfeebled minds and lunatic
tendencies, gave us some trouble during the
past summer, but after applying to the city
authorities, we were finally relieved. Sill
the necessity was made evident Of better
provision for this class of persons than is
possible in charitable institution. We hope
the City Fathers and County Commissioners
will take this matter IN hand, as cases are of
frequent occurrence that justify the need.
The receipts Of the laundry of the Indus
trial Home are not so large as former years,
still the report is encouraging, as, in spite
Of some drawbacks, the laundry is approx
mating our endesvor to make 1t means Of
supporting the Home. It has paid and fed
its workers, furnished all its own material,
besides the coal and sundries for the Home,
and shows q small balance to it's credit.
This result would have been better stIll
could we have retained steamer washing.
The articles sent to us have been mostly