The Indianapolis journal., 1884-12-01

community. | assume that every dollar CON
tributed will be used wisely, economically and
for the purpose for which it is given. All these
things being admitted then our duty as Christ
ians and as citizens is plain. Let us use this so
ciety as our almoners. OF course the church
has its own distinctive work to do in the sphere
of benevolence But the church should do all in
her power to help this society in its legitimate
and noble work. The agents of this society are,
to certain extent, a kind of detective and phi
lanthropic police. They are better qualified than
any church is to deal with the stout tramp, the
lazy loafer the pious fraud and the vicious and
and criminal poor. In dealing with these cases,
am told, it has accomplished what our city
government with its police, or it's poormaste",
or its other agencies were either unable or un-
willing to accomplish, and for such work this
society deserves the thanks and hearty support
of all our citizens.
But this good work must go on. The unfor-
tunate are here. They need help to help them
selves. The unemployed are here. They are
willing to work, but they can find no man to
hire them. They must be helped. The idle, in
competent and vicious are here, and they must
be looked after. There is plenty of work for
this society to do.
1--WE will have the poor with us always. 1t is
the merest chimera to expect otherwise. Hence
such societies as these represented here to night
will be needed until the morning of the millen-
mum. If the stream of poverty and misery must
sing, with Tennyson's brook, Men may come
and men may CO. but go on forever so, too,
must this beautiful stream Of charity. These
streams must run parallel, or, rather, the stream
of charity must overflow and mingle its sweet
waters with the stream of misery. and so flow
on to the end Of time The charitable, the
philanthropic, the lovers of Jesus the Christ
must take some of the leaves, and branches, and
fruit of their God-given tree, and throw them
into these waters of Mara, so that their taste
may become less bitter, so that this
wilderness life may be made more tolerable.
1.-The poor must be helped l believe III the
religion Of humanity. l believe still more in
the humanity Of religion. And more yet do
believe in the divinity of religion. l believe in
that religion that is theanthropic. The Christ
whom we preach is the fountain of all charity.
He went about doing good He was always
about His Fathers business. Though He was
rich vet for our sake He became poor. And
therefore we, for His sake must help the poor
We have it in our power to do this But the
trouble is that much of the power in our
churches and in society is asleep. There is
enough of sleeping power amongst us, like unto
that which lay IN the storm tossed ship on the
Sea of Galilee. Then the fearful disciples were
in jeopardy, because they were filled with water.
But many now are in jeopardy because they
are filled with something else. They must be
rescued or they will perish. And as the sleep
ing human Christ was aroused, and as He
calmed the troubled sea, and saved those who
cried to Him for help, so must the sleeping body
of our fellow-citizens be aroused to hear the
cries, and the needs, and the dangers, and the
diffiulties OF the poor, and bring to them speedy
relief. This is a blessed work. 1t is Chrlstly
work, and each should bear part in carrying
it on.
LAS we cannot get rid of poverty and misery,
let us do what we can to alleviate them How
can we get rid of them, so long as there are
hundreds of mills in this city, and tens of
thousands of mills just like them all over
our land, that are kept running night and
day. and between their upper and neither mill
stones are crushing out of multtudes every
trace Of manhood} While these mills are
allowed to grind, they will grind out misery of
every grade and Of every shade. But surely it
is a blessed work to try and keep the pitiful
stream of humanity within as narrow limits as
possible; and if by collecting more OF less of
these muddy waters, and subjecting them to
to that process of filtration inaugurated by
this society, they become tolerably clear and
pure again. who of us will not rejoice4 And, in
view of such possibilities, who can refuse to the
Charity Organization Society all the moral
and all the material support in his powerl May
God bless all these brothers in their work of
faith and labors of love"
MRS HUFFoRD's pAPrR
After the Apollo quartet had sung '"The Pill
grims Song, Mrs. Lois G.. Hufford read a care
fully prepared paper on the work of the free
kindergartens. She said the only way to cleanse
a muddy stream was to begin at the source. The
sure way to reduce evil in the world was to pre-
vent it. Free kindergartens, she said, had been
opened in many places In San Francisco they
had been in operation for over six years and had
done very satisfactory and noble work In Bos-
ton more than thirty kindergartens for the poor
were supported by one noble woman In Chi
cago there are at present thirteen schools
Childrens Aid Society of this city, opened
free kindergarten on McCarty street, where
there were great many poor people.
1t is still in operation. In October 1882,
second school was opened West
Market street. In April, 1884 the society
was reorganized and incorporated under
the name of 'Children's Aid and Free Kinder
garten Association" Another school was opened
on Yandes street and shortly afterwards school
for colored children on West Market street In
these three schools, $50 children are taught, and
partially fed and clothed. 1t requires about
81, 800 year to support these schools and
this is principally raised by private contribution.
The great need of the world to-day. the speaker
thoug ght, was force of character, and the kinder
gartens did much to develop this, as well as to
teach the children how to become useful and
honorable members of society. They are taught
respect for order and government Unless the
society received more substantial financial aid it
could not increase its sphere of usefulness, as it
desired to do. Its work was supplemental to that
of the Flower Mission and Benevolent Societies.
In concluding, the speaker made an earnest ap-
peal for aid.
MR.. M'CULLoCH's ADDRESS
Mr. McCulloch, in relation to the collection of
membership slips, spoke as follows:
II trust this audience is not like that of GER
tain minister who was telling friend of having
spoken for an hour and half: i should think
you must be exhausted he exclaimed. No.
he replied. L am as fresh as when began, but
you should have seen the people, The coIlec-
ton of membership slips is important because
it Identifies this audience with the
society under whose auspices this
meeting is held, so that you will please,
so far as you can fill in your name and
address as members of the society, and the col
lection of these slips will be undertaken by
ushers. 1t is wished that there should be no
money paid in, if possible, tonight, it is diff
cult to keep track of it, and it will be collected
hereafter by some one authorized to do so.
You may remember the remark of Dean
Swift at one time when there was a meeting
for the purpose of promoting some charity He
said Now, brethren, he that lendeth to the