Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-10-30
CITY AND DISTRICT.
THE TRUE MISSION OF CHARITY
ORGANIZATIONS.
TO Detect ImpOstOrs and Help the
Needy without Pauperixing Them.

TO the Editor of THE EVENING STAR:
Gentiemen: have read your excellent sum-
mary of the proceedings of the annual meeting
OF the Charity Organization society in last
nights STAR. am pleased you note that our
society dispenses no aims, and wish to say this
is the secret OF success of this organization in
our other large cities: but it is asked on every
hand and very rightly-"How then is the
society benefit to the pOor?' II we can obtain
careful consideration of this question from
our citizens generally We are confident of q
more general interest in our work and far
more satisfactory solution of this most difficult
ana distressing problem than can be gained by
the old plan OF taxing our citizens or appealing
TO benevolent public to contribute TO gem
| our public Institutions The argument OF the
society is simply this: very large proportion of
the aims given through public and private cham
II has been ascertained in other cities that
about half of what is given for charitable pur-
by the applicants for relief and about half of
the balance goes to persons who are able TO
work and could largely be helped to work if
proper interest was taken in them. In view,
them of these facts, 1st, register as full as can
be obtained OF applicants for relief throughout
the city is needed SO that persons trying to
or societies, or individuals at the same time
can be detected and the great waste in the du-
tors be compelled to leave our city or go To work
for q living. This is the progressive work. of
our organization. Another aim of the society
is the adequate relief of the honest poor and
the retaining Of the pauperiZed poor" 1st, to
see that the permanently disabled are cared for
by friends or placed in the proper public insti-
tuition and rightly cared for there; I'd, that
through branches of the society in every part of
the city friendly visitors go to the homes of the
poor and help them to a condition of self sup
port, rather than degrade them more and more
by carrying them aims from day to day, JOSte5
ing habits Of Incidence and dependence. But it
is said there are cases of the sick and poor who
can get work, who must be given money and
food, &c. Very true. How, then, shall they be
relieved? 1t has been demonstrated in other
single exception the grant OF public moneys for
this purpose has been wholly abolished, or that
this result is being brought about; and this
through the plan of providing for the needy
adopted by this society, viz: placing them
in charge of the church, society
less, the branch society, through friendly visi-
tors, obtaining the needed relief from priratc
sources, i.e., benevolent persons in that section
of the city, or elsewhere If need be. 1t is an
exceedingly difficult thing to give aims without
undermining the recipients selfrespect and
paupers are made by well meant but indis-
criminate aims giving.
In reply to the question: why not have fund
in our society for the relief of the poor we say:
there is sufficient private benevOlence to meet
every case of actual distress, and further that
society is not practical. This is the uniform
testimony of similar organizations in other
cities that have tried it,
But we need money for the support of an Or
ganiZing secretary Jan alduous work for office
| rent, for printing aud keeping up our register,
to publish our directory Of charitable institu-
| tions, &c, &c. j. Z. PRATT,
General Secretary