St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-12-15
ASSOCIATED CHARITIES.
A Lively Meeting--O. a. Pray Re
signs--A Reorganization Next.

signs--A Reorganization Next.
At the adjourned meeting of the central
council of the Associated charities held yes
terday. with the largest attendance for
nearly year, o. A. Pray rendered his res
ignation as member of the board of direct
ors, because of complaints that the organi-
cation had proven an abject failure.
The secretary gave it as his opinion that
in case the present organization is aban-
doned another organization will be perfected
soon after. He felt free to confess that
many mistakes had occurred. but thought it
not surprising owing to the youthfulness of
the association.
D. c. Bell proclaimed that the theory of
the Associated charities is a correct prlnci-
pie in philanthropic work. Yet an element
OF Encouragement had entered into it
which had sadly interfered with the prose-
cution of good-dOing. He was gratiied to
note that the balance on the ledger is on the
right side, however.
Father McGOlrick realized that consider
able difficulty had been encountered in Or
ganiZing and syStematizng the work. Many
egregious blunders had been made, but he
thought there was no tangible reason for
feeling discouraged. Much good had been
accomplished, and the council could
profit by experience and increase its
usefulness. He stated that the first
object of the Associated charities
is to prevent beneiciaries from receiving
charitable aid from more than one society
at time, and the object is to have a head
quarters from which to distribute clothing
to the needy and deserving, and as third
reason he specified that it was intended that
an employment bureau should be estab-
lished. He thought it impracticabe to keep
an able bodied secretary in the Office all the
time. He should be instructed to visit daily
all the societies forming the association and
keep thoroughly posted in the work being
done.
Rev. Torrey had yet to see person who
had had experience with Associated chart
ties in the East who had no faith in them.
He said the association had been failure
from combination of causes, and he sug-
gested that pamphlets be published for the
purpose of discriminating and instructing
| members how TO conduct themselves. Much
of the charitable work is done by private
| citizens, and such philanthropic acts are not
now reported to the Associated charities,
but if they were the people would be shiel-
ded from dissemblers and impostors. He
| felt certain that certain directors were not
in sympathy with the wOrk-the most es-
sential point in the organization.
This proposition brought o. A. Pray to
his feet in furry. He wished to correct
any impression that he was not in full SYM
patty with the Associated charities. He
| knew that the association had proven a
failure, and therefore did not want longer
to remain on the board of directors. He
alleged that the board of directors had fur
| nished the money which had
been expended and had saved
to the people more money than had been
| expended. To select nine directors and
| expect them TO furnish all the money is be-
yond reason. Money had been saved on
dead-beats The people of Minneapolis
know nothing of what has been accom-
plished. and to that reason may be
ascribed the general apathy. MI. Pray
scored Rev. E. S. Williams for manifesting
/ a lack of interest.
! Rev. Williams felt constrained to place
himself Alright. He had been very busy
with other Christian work. He believed
the associated charities is substantially on
the right track. He then cited many in
stances where poverty and distress existed
that could not be relieved by the city. He
felt that there were many reasons for feel
| ing discouraged
Kew. Iorrey stated that the city will be
full of poor people who must be helped
this winter. Hundreds and perhaps thou
sands OF poor men have been compelled to
work through the summer for S1.25 per
day and to support families. They could
not have laid by cent for winter.
James t. Wyman acknowledged that the
members of the association had not thor
oughly understood the science OF principle
upon which associated charities should be
conducted. They are now just beginning
to understand. He suggested that com
mittee be appointed to reorganize or else
abandon the work until the city feels the
need of such an Institution. 1t has not been