The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1884-05-15
THE LADIES BENEVOLENT sO-
CIETY


AanuAI Report OF the Retiring Presi-
Edent, Hrs. L. X. Wright.
LADIES: Originally this society was or
ganized IS an auxiliary to the Home for |
the Friendless'' and "OFphen's Homes
at Leayenworth. Afterwards while the |
same organization was maintained, its /
object was changed and our efforts have /
since been directed exclusively 70 afford
ing temporary help to the poor and
needy of our own neighboFhood, and the |
society was named 'The Ladies' BsEev-
client So ;iety." Through the
liberality of our citizens We have been
enabled to do much in the direction In
dictated. Each year just before the be-
ginning of the winter season, money, |
provisions, and fuel, and farther on |
clothing have been generously placed
ct our disposal, and to the best of our |
ability we have distributed from time to |
time these liberal offerings where We
thought they would do the most good.
Doubtless we have dispensed these /
charitable contributions sometimes
where We ought not, and possibly we |
may in some instances have withheld /
when We should have given, but our /
purpose has always been to do our very |
best in carrying out the intention of the /
donors, and much suffering has been
avoided. and many hearts and homes |
have been made glad by the timely help |
which this society has been able to rem.
der. We have done something the |
past long winter in providing clothing |
for the children Of poor parents. who were |
too poorly clad to enable then. to remain |
in school. These children were thus |
held many hours each day under the re-
fining influence and guidance of faith
full teachers, insuring better hope of
moral and intellectual training, while /
without this assistance many of them /
could not have attended school during |
the cold weather, but must have
renamed housed amid Tin some /
instances) the rags, ignorance, and filth |
of badly kept and worse governed homes,
or exposed to the vicious associations /
of hestreet. Besides the charity thus be-
slowed prevented many heartaches OF
the little ones, who are as ambitious As
the more financially favored to keep to
the front in their classes.
Our work Is not free from embarrass-
ing features. One of the greatest of these
is that our existence has become so well /
known, and our mission so perfectly |
understood by some, that they seem to
exercise but little foFethought and to
make but little or no preparation
during the summer and working
season for the greater needs
of the winter, seemingly depending
upon drawing on this society cat sight"
in the hour Of their extremity, which
hour they expect will come, and which
expectation they are sure to realize.
Upon the other hand, timldity and re-
luctance in asking aims characteriZes
many who come only when our aid is
necessity and its bestowsl ID properly |
used and duly appreciated. |
Amid much thanklessness we /
have been sometimes cheered |
with both spoken and written express
sions of gratitude from those whom we |
have helped. Take it all in ali we feel
that our work is good one, and that 1t |
has come to be an almost indispensable |
one, snd that thousand thanks arc due |
tozhose whose generous hearts have put
I iAto our hands the means for alleviat
ling SO much restitution and suffering.
4 You will remember that two years
since I had printed and bound blank
orders with stubs attached to be used in
| the purchase of provisions &c, and
for drawing money from the treasury.
My ann in this was to inaugurate q
uniform and systemized mode-of tran
sactiug the business of the society. This
printed order system has only
been partially carried out,
| but still think that this or some SINH |
larry exact system should be adopted
and strictly adhered too, whereby the
treasurer may always have on file as |
vouchers for money paid, and merchants |
ss vouchers for provisions furnished |
orders thus uniformity printed and |
properly signed by some officer that
the society might designate. By |
this 81 stemstic and approved mode of
transacting our business, much embar-
rassment, confusion and may be loss
might be avoided, both upon the part Of
the society and the merchants with whom
we have necessary and frequent
business relations. Those who
gretuitously afford US the
means to carry forward our benevolent
work have right to expect, and do re-
quire that our business should be 80
conducted IS to insure a perfect and
ready knowledge at any time OF our
financial condition, and such an eco
nomical and prudent management that
there should be complete insurance /
against any waste. should not
likely speak of these business matters
in this connection or at this /
time, were it not my purpose |
to retire from the active duties
of the society. and hence this is probab- |
| " the only and last opportunity afforded |
me to suggest such improvement In our |
management as my experience has
taught me would be for the better. l
retire from the more active duties OF the |
society because my health is usually so |
DOOR in the winter season when we have
the most work to do, that / am unable |
10 do my part Is faithfully as think I
ought.
Ladies, feel that you have all work
ed peTsistently and without complaint,
often leaving your comfortable homes
amid pressing domestic duties, and
braved the cold and storm to look after
and provide for the needy. Mostly
your sacrifices have deem unnoticsd and
unknown save 70 the society, and the
subjects Of its charities. You have been
very kind in conferriag upon me tho
honor of acting as your president the
three past years this day ended,
and sincerely thank you for 1t. / also
recognize your forbearance in relieving
me of much duty which my feeble
health unified me to perform. thank
you for siI courtesy, kindness and honor
received ct Your hands.
MRS. l.. z. WRIGHT.
EmpoyIa, May 10, 1884.
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