Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-11-23
The MASS MEETING.
The Associated Charities and Public Hos
pital Meet With Every Assurance
Of Success.

Immense Turnout of Prominent Citizens
Blacks Opera House Last Night-The
Atdresse.-Pian Of the work-List
of Incorporators.
Notwithstanding the inclemency of II
weather. there was very large turnout
the mass meeting held at Blacks Oper
! House last evening for the purpose Of brins
/ ing before the people the subject of tn
associated charities and city hospita
/ Almost every seat in the lower part Of tn
house was filled and there was a goo
sprinkling of people in the gallery. Eithe
on the stage OF in the audience could b
seen the face of almost every prominen
manufacturer or professional man in tn
city. 5. A. Bowman. president of tn
meeting. opened il at O'Clock by intro
ducing Rev. McWhinney. of the Christian
church. who made feeling appeal to tn
Almighty. The opening musical selection
The God of Abraham Praise" was thel
magniticently rendered. by the choir of tn
First Presbyterian church, Miss Drusie Hels
kell. Alice Vose. c. c. Kilmer and Mino
Williams
This was followed by selections from tn,
scriptures having peculiar fitness for tn,
occasion. read by Rev. W. II. Webb. Tn.
choir then rendered Let the Lower Light,
Be Burning" Mr.. Bowman then addressed
the meeting explaining that Springfield had
grown from a village to a city. and that the
question of caring for the destitute was one
demanding solution. He said that some
idea might be formed of the extent of
poverty in Springfield from the fact that
during the wear of 1854 the Ladies Benevo-
lent Society had visited and relieved 500
families, expending s5.l4i; while
the township trustees had visited
hundreds Of families and expended
S.. He then explained the benefits To
he gained by the Associated Charities. in
doing more efficient service with less money
than could possibly be done by indiscrim-
mate alms-giving. which is conducive to the
increase of pauperism and crime. He also
explained at length the scheme or plan on
which the Associated Charities were 10 be-
formed.
Ii is a. follows: First. il is proposed that
in each of the wards of the city there be
a district society. with its presi-
ient- such corps of visitors and such other
officers as may be found convenient in or
der tO thoroughly investigate the
of the destitute In their re-
spective wards. These district aux
lliary societies are not to distribute any
ptcuniary relief. but are to report the fact
Df destitution 10 the board of trustees of
the corporation. Every one in each ward
81 annually to the funds of
this society, becomes member Of that
society.
The corporation is to be organized. next
is the Associated Charities Of Springfield.
All the members of these district societies
are members of the corporation, and along
with them shall be, the mayor Of the city,
he president of the city council, member
,f the township trustees. the president of
he corpOratOrs, and such other persons as
shall have contributed not less than IS to
he funds of the corporation. during the
,urrent year.
The business of the corporation. accord
ng to the plan. will be managed by board
If trustees. which board will be composed
If the nine presidents of the ward
presumably ladies, the mayor
# the city. the president of the city coun-
ii. the trustee of the township to be Sc
ected. and twelve members to be selected
~ the corporation at its annual meeting.
presumably gentlemen. making board of
This board will bring within
( the knowledge of the mayor of the city.
If the president of the city council. Of the
ownship trustees, and of the presidents of
he district or ward organizations.
He said that in this connection it was
proposed to fill long felt want by estab-
ishing a city hospital, and in connection
with this also to in time have another long
elt want, trained nurses. He stated that
,ouncil was authorized to build and main
ain a hospital.
Rev. W. II. Warren was then intro
luced, and made stirring address on the
necessity and practicability of city hospi-
sl. He started out by saying that as soon
S the necessity for such an institution was
enerally recognized, city hospital would
e an accomplished fact He then cited at
angth several cases of misery and suffering
nd death that might have been relieved OF
revented by city hospital. He read sew
raj cases cited by the mayor Of sick men,
romen and even children found on the
treets that had been taken by the officers
o the station house for no other reason
han because they had no better place
o be taken to. On the question of its prac-
he held that a modest start could
asily be made. He said that even a single
oom. provided with one single woman ca
'able Of taking care of the sick. would be
ears in advance of the position We hold
onight. What was needed at first was
modest residence rented in the suburbs.
With six or seven beds. He then dealt with
he power Of council TO build and maintain
hospital. or to enter into an arrangement
With charitable corporation for this pur-
nose. He ended with a stirring appeal 10
he people to join earnestly in the work and
make the hospital not a thing to be looked
onward to for few years, nor few months.
mt thing TO be had in a few weeks.
Gen. Keifer was then introduced and
'pened his address by saying that he liked
he idea of having partially private rather
han wholly public enterprise. He said
/ magnificent building was not wanted, but
ather a modest little house or cottage well
,uilt with reference to ventilation. &c. He
hen went on to speak on public charities as
work of philanthropy. He said that in
he afternoon Of the nineteenth century the
necessity of public charities was too
we'll recognized TO need argument.
He then touched upon the establishments of
he first blind, deaf, dumb and insane asy-
ums little over century ago. He spoke
IF Dorothea L. Dicks. of Boston, who
within twenty years established nineteen
hospitals for the insane in the United States.
He devoted the best Of his allotted time to
argument in favor of the Associate Chari-
lies. He said that it was not intended to
AK the citizens for more money. On the
contrary il required less money. and taught