Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-10-24
A WISE CHARITY.
Remarks Of NIrs Vim. HI. Armstroux.

At the annual meeting Of the fifth subdivision
OF Associated Charities, Mr.. VIM. H. Armstrong,
vice president of this subdivision. said: The
work Of the Associated Charities is to promptly
relievahuman suffering, but avoiding the vast
| age or duplicated and unmerited alms-giying
which is as pernicious to the recipient as to the
general interests of society," since it not only en-
courages imposture, but increases and perpetu-
| ates rauperism.
| To afford judicious relief to the truly needy
and deserving poor, either directly or by send
ing them where there Is full provision for their
relief, is one of the highest and most desirable
| OF duties and privileges. No encomium on
charity is ever necessary. The common con-
| in his description of the general judgment gives
| it its highest Characterization He there makes
| the Judgment and destiny of every person in the
| life to come depend on the question whether he
| mas led the hungry, clothed the naked and
| visited the sick and the prisoner AS reason
| for this judgment he gives US the grandest
| lesson concerning the poor ever given by any of
the best teachers of the world
Neither COnfucius, nor ZorOaster. nor Ma
homet, not even Gautama, the Buddha-the
| most Christ like of human teachers. ever said so
grand word as Jesus represents himself as
prOclaiming from the throne Cf the universe,
lnasmuch as We have done it unto one of the
least It Of these my brethren. ye have done it unto
the Gentles taught that NOV abdeth FAITH
Hope Charity these three, but the greatest of
these is Charity"
In our secretary's and treasaarer's reports YOU
will have only the figures of the work for the
| last year. The actual carrying on of the work
itself amid difficulties, limited resources, and
discOuragements, by the very few who were suf-
ficiently interested to take hold of it's manage
ment of these labors these figures can give no
adequate idea. And right here common Justice
demands that should say that the work might,
perhaps. months ago have been abandoned by
some of us had it not been for the noble ex-
ample set us by the patient, hopeful.
GUS, and often complicated and difficult
duties amid many discouragements of
our invaluable secretary. Mrs. Sara A. Spencer
She may not receive the full measure of appre-
citation for all she has done to keep alive and in
benefcent operation the work of Associated
Charities in this city, as well as in this
subdivision, but she will certainly have the ap-
proval of her own good conscience and the Di-
vine blessing; and must add word of grateful
appreciation of our generous and worthy presi-
dent, and our public spirited friends, VIM r.
Speare, Geo. Ryneal, W. S. Woodward and Mr.
and Mrs. H. C. Spencer, who have relieved us
from debt, and enabled us to begin the new year
with small balance in the treasury.
The carrying forward of this work depends en-
tirely upon whether the citizens of this rich SUBJ
division, lying between 18th and 18th northwest
and northwest and B street south, will take
earnest part with us in the work which is their
work, not ours, except as representing them. II
they do this the work will be light, and each
cltlzenwlii be relieved from the spectacles and
appeals of mendicancy and pauperism while the
individual reward will be an approving consci-
ence and the blessing of the Divine Father of
us all.