The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-28
THE GREATEST OF GRACES
Some Unjust Aspcrsions on the Charity
Organization Society.
Societies Have Done for the Wor-
thy Poor of the City.

pointed to look into the work Of tho
Indianapolis Benevolent Society and the
Charity Organization. Rev. Dr. Marine was
made chairman of the committee, the other mem
bers being Revs. Poucher and Wells. The last
named, however. did not go with the committee
when the visit was paid. "The proprety of adj
]ourning our services" said DR.. Marine, who WAS
visited by Journal reporter last evening, "fOr
their animal meeting was considered. There
were also questions as to the character and pur-
poses of the societies. All the churches had
received invitations to take part iu that meet
ing, which occurs on next Sunday evening. The
invitations, as I understand, were extended
merely as a matter of courtesy, each church to
do as it pleases about accepting, and the
churches that hold service that evening will not
be considered against the work"
AN ADVERSE CRITICISM.
The reporter then read the following, clipped
from Yesterdays Enquirer, to the Doctor:
The indianapolis Benevolent Society and the
Charity Organization are TWO societies mere with
charitable purposes, as their names imply They
are distinct organizations, though the one works
through the other, and the public holds them as
one. The active spirit in these societies, as in
many other good works, is Rev. 0. c. McCul
loon, pastor of the Plymouth Congregational
Church. The present Offices of the societies are
IN ADJOINING rooms OF what is known as the old
Plymouth Church building. For some time past
the pastors of the other churches have been
viewing tile work of Rev. Mr.. McCulloch with
not to put it too neutrality-suspicious. eyes. 1t has
seemed TO them that all the credit was gong to
Plymouth Church. and that the credit of other
churches was suffering in consequence. They
nave, however, until recently had very little to
say against the societies and their methods,
though giving less and less cordial support
time has gone on. Bat now the storm is abont
10 break The congregation of Plymouth
church has a new meetDg-house in course
or erection. 1t will be ODpleted,
1T Is thought, during the winter.
IL has been asscertained that the societies
have agreed to rent office room in the new build
ing, paying therefor $500 per annum, this sum
IN he used by the church in paying off its in-
debtedness. AS these societies maintained
by the subscriptions of the public generally, the
contributions representing the membership of
all the ehurches. Jew and gentle, the pastors of
the city have concluded that this sum of $500,
10 ne paid annually to Plymouth Church. is the
straw that everlastingy breaks the camtPs
back. They have therefore. been guilty of in
vesugating the affairs of the societies, and are
quite open IN giving preston TO their opinions.
fhey have discovered that of the moneys annu-
ally paid to these societies for tue purpose of
ieving the distress of the poor, &c per cent, is
consumed in disbursing the odd 81 per cent.
An instance is given in which, out OF $3. Goo
contributed, only 81. 100 went 10 proper relief;
ana several OF the ministers unhesitatingly de-
nounce the societies an imposition upon the
public, and one has gone faras TO say that
when the societies next send him their annual
petition for contributions from his CONGREGATION
he VIII advise his people to keep their money
for disbursements by ieir own deacons and other
church officers.
OF SERVICE TO THE POLICE.
number OF pastors are also convinced that
these societies are only an arm of the police sys-
TEN, and serve no further good purpose than
exercising "a surveillance over disreputable char
aeters-a business they hold to be rather low.
One of the Objectionable features is the practice
of keeping in large books the minute details of
the life of applicants for aid. These registers
ha
Reporters of the local press have consulted
these registers when hunting up personal in
formation. The pastors claim this sort of thing
to be an infringement upon personal rights and
ordinary decency. Ii young man descended
from one of these applicants should twenty
years hence, he confronted by transcript from
one of these registers, showing his parents mis-
fortunes the effect would be shocking IN the
extreme; and they assert that whether tins
espionage accomplishes any good OF NOT, II ia
un-American and altogether wrong. They also
hold that the managers or the societies seek
only anti-Protestant and anti Chris tian fields
for labor, and they believe that the time has
come when the societies must be set upon. This
they are preparing TO do. They claim that the
Friendly Inn, one of the institutions controlled
by these societies, simply affords temporary
and convenient resort for scamps seeking to
break into Jail, and vigorously declare that the
societies 40 practically nothing In the way OF
furnishing supplies to those of the poor who are
SLOW TO make their necessities known.
DIR. MARINES REPORT.
"I can say" said the Doctor, chat at that
visit Mr. McCulloeh gave us the history of the
institutions and access to the books from begin
ming TO end. Our conclusion was that it was
well-managed and doubtless doing great deal
of good found there were two organizations,
one strictly benevolent aud the other for inves-
tigaling purposes, to determine where benevo-
lence shall go. This city without it would be
flooded with dea1-beats. Business men in
terested in the work. The fact that they can
send all applicants to one place Is great ad-
vantage to them, and they do not give To the
unworthy. The Friendly Inn is preferable TO
tine stOne-pile No appeal is made to churches,
bnt to the public in general, and contributions
are made as citizens, not as congregations AS
10 our church poor, that is wholly different
natter; each church should relieve Its own.
Business men seem willing to pay &c per cent.
to find out who are entitled to help. and for the
work done in relieving the city from The tramp
nuisance. These societies may be called an adj
juuet to the police"
WHAT Mr.. MCULLocH SAYS.
Mr.. McCulloeh, being interviewed, said;
''Tne Charity Organization Society and the In
dianapOlis Benevolent Society are two distinct
organizations. The Charity Organization Sn-
ciety is citizens association for the investiga-
tiOn of the causes of poverty, pauperiSm aud
crime; for the searching out of cases of Distress
detecting and calling public attention to cases
of imposition, and informing the public on the
best methods of helping the poor. 1t CORE
sponds in some of its work TO citizens assncia-
tons In other cities. II employs visitors to look
after every case of reported need. These are
then relieved by the agencies working in the
association. The Benevolent Society relieves
some, the Flower Mission The SICK; others are
cared for by the various asylums.
1.-The Charity ORGANIZATION Society thus has its
outposts looking over the whole field of charity
and reform. It's workers number the hest men
in the city-Judge g. &. Hines, John II. Holiday,
f. b. Martindale. A. ID. Lynch, II. Bamherger,
C. c. Foster, George b. Wright, I. a. Hendricks
and others.
''The expenditures of the society are entirely
those Ot administration. IL gives no relief
whatever in money. 1t spends money for in
formation and clerical service, any business
organization does. 1t raises its money on this
ground alone. It's published reports stale this.
The men who give make no complaints. They
are ready to give the next year as the year be-
fore. AS to the value of IL let the people speak.
The business men of this city know that they
are relieved from tramps; the people know
where to get information, and the worthy poor
have been looked after. Its records are the