The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-11-23

nOIo tiBOAoNS ehbh Cu1ClouL prObSCutlUu VI ADo
benevolent purposes. The meetings of the
Visitors are to be held hereafter fortnightly,on
Monday afternoons 10 Reception Hall, the
next one occurring Dec 10th, when it is ex-
pected that Visitors who have undertaken
special missions will furnish interesting re-
ports. James P. Baxter, Esq, lot being able
to be present at the meeting, addressed letter
to the president which was read. In view of
the importance and value of its suggestions,
relating to the work of the society, the letter
is published entire.
LETTER OF MR.. BAXTER.
PORTLAND, Me-, Nov. Goth, 1883.
My Dear Sir-As [ shall be absent frem the
city when you hold your annual meeting, /
feel that / ought to emphasize one or two
points which we recently discussed. The first
is with respect to registration This should be
SO simple and yet complete that one wanting
information respecting any person in the city,
needing aid, should be able to go at once and
get it from the record, which, by the way,
should be at all times open at the Office for in
spection. If the applicant for charity is not
found recorded, the name can be left with the
secretary for investigation and report. lam
not to be understood as advising the disuse OF
the enquiry cards, but am aware that many
persons would like to be able to personally con-
suit the record. The second point is with re-
ciated Charities depends, it should be ever re-
membered, upon the efficient personal work OF
| the Visitors. This cannot be too strongly en-
forced. The visitors in a district should have
personal knowledge Of and be on terms of
friendly acquaintance with all the poor within
their district. The cause of want should be
well understood and, if possible, the remedy
applied which shall prevent the need OF de-
pendence on charity and foster self-depen-
| dence. 1t is Of Importance that the visitors
shall realize that the most important function
| Of our organization is to educate the needy to
become self-sustaining; to make them working
members of the social hive, and not permit
them to be drones.
/ Yours very truly,
To Prentiss Loring, Esq. President Associated
Charities.
| An address was delivered by the President,
| Mr.. Prentiss Loring, which was designed to
increase the activity of the membership in the
work OF the society, and to inform the people
| at large of what has been undertaken and how
they may avail themselves OF its benefits.
After its delivery, on motion of Hon. W. W.
Thomas, it was voted that copy of the ad-
dress be furnished the daily papers for publ
cation:
PRESIDENT LoRING's ADDRESS.
We meet to-day to enter upon the active
| WOIk VI ZIG hUCl6by lOF tu6 bod6Ou WuICur ID
| now opening. Reviewing what has been &C
| complished since our organization, we see that
| substantial progress has been made, and that
| the Associated Charities has established its
| right to exist and has justified the wisdom of
| the zeal and activity manifested in its incep-
ton by him who is properly and justly recog-
| nized as its founder. But what has been ac-
| complished thus far is small in comparison
| with what is proposed. Our field of service is
| wide and expanding one, and in 1t are ave-
I'll.
| with the humane purposes OF our organiza-
ton.
| 1t is to be understood that the Associated
| Charities is not an organization for dispensing
charity. The leading features of the work
| proposed by it may be stated as follows:
First-To procure through a board of Visitors
the names, residence and circumstances of all
| the poor of our city, as well as of those who
solicit aid on the street, at houses and stores.
| Second To maintain a reliable registry of
| all such persons, of their circu instances and
| thsir claims upon our charitable societies and
| citizens, go that if any lady or gentleman OF
| the city is applied to for aid by person I'M
| known to them, a!simple inquiry made of the
| Associated Charities will give them accurate
| information, and enable them readily to de-
tsrmine whether the applicant is deserving Of
| relief or is an imposter.
| Third-To suppress street begging and i'm
| posture upon the benevolent by those who are
| not entitled to charity, the number of whom is
Fourth-To encourage and assist the worthy
| poor to procure temporary or permanent en-
| ployment, adapted to their capacity, which
| shall help them to be self supporting and reli-
ant, and to direct towards the infirm and help
| less, for their comfort and relief the bone
factions of our charitable societies and benevo-
lent citizens. 1.-THE ,controling consideration in
dealing with all these cases must be the best
welfare of the poor themselves"
1t is proper to add that it is proposed to so
ua fho Of Aecc tad Ghorif fac
among the poor that due regard shall he had
| for the feelings of those who, having seen bet
ter days, are sensitive to their present circum-
stances, and that all shall be helped rather
than hindered or restricted in Iany efforts they
may make to free themselves from dependent
| conditions.
If these objects can be attained the good
| which will result will be of inestimable value,
not only to the poor of our city, but to the rich
and thrifty as well, and toisociety at large.
| La entering upon our work this season it is
| obvious that we may proftably develop more
| thoroughly than heretofore several features Of
our organization.
/ 1t is exceedingly important that our regis
tration of the poor of the city and of all solicit
tors for aid be as full and accurate as possible,
| so as to Oxford reliable information to all who
may ask for it in connection with the dispen-
sation of their charities.
| To secure this, as well as to accomplish the
best work of our society, we must rely upon
| the fidelity, the sympathy and the earnest de-
| voted labors of our visitors. The chief work of
this society is devolved upon them, and their
sphere OF usefulness for the poor and for the
| welfare of our city is very large. Thus far a
portion of our visitors have not called upon the
poor in their districts, unless specially request
| ed to do 50, in response to some inquiry.
We now wish to make an advance, and, in
order to do this, each member of the board Of
Visitors is urged to make an early and thorough
canvass of his or her district seeking and visit
ing every poor family. securing the fullest in
1 formation possible, concerning them, nd then
transferring it to our secretary for record upon
| our register. In this way we may soon have q
| large amount of useful information which we
shall have awakened a new interest in our So
| ciety, not only among its working membership
but also among our citizens.
In this connection am pleased to state that
| number OF our Visitors have consented to
| call upon some or those who have heretofore
| received attention from this society and to aid
| as they are able in this goodjwork. We anti
| cipate,. therefore, that the conference of Wis
itors to be held in this room two weeks from
today will be a most interesting one.
All Visitors of this society are earnestly in
vited to seek out the poor in their several dis
tricts and to ascertain their circumstances and
requirements and to bring their reports to the
approaching conference that our registration
may be as complete as possible.
The ladies having in charge the work room
are entitled to our cordial thanks for their
earnest and efficient aid in the beneicent work
our society has undertaken. Early in Decem-
Der they will announce the time of opening
| the room for the distribution of work to the
poor women and girls who may be entitled to
| it, SO far as the means at hand will allow.
| Those of our citizens who are disposed to con-
| tribute to this department can greatly enlarge
| its usefulness as the amount of work which
| can now be given out is much less than might
be adVantageously dispensed to those who de-
| sire it.
| We recognize the loss sustained by this
| society in the recent death of our esteemed
and faithful associate, Mr.. Joseph r. Thomp-
| son, who has been an active and helpful mem.
Der of the board of managers since the organ
ization Of our society, and we give to hi
family the expression of our sympathy in theil
grief.
While our chief aim is to encourage an6
l helm the moor to rise from their pOverty by do