The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-04-16
THE ASSOCIATED CHARITIES.
Annual Meeting and Election OF
Officers.

Win our present meeting closes the sixth year
OF the Associated Charities of Portland i think
may safely report it as one both of accomplish
ment and OF promise. The regular meetings have
been interesting and increasingly well attended.
The work OF the earlier years Of the organization
had nearly done away with cases of arrant i'm
posture and greatly reduced street begging But
while these evils lie dormant the minor deceptions
continually repeat themselves, the duplication
and reduplicatiOn of appeals for charity, the as
sumption of church interests and relations to
secure material aid, the disposition to make the
sickness of one member of the family cover the
idleness of others. are matters that occur often
enough to call for much care and watchfulness.
But Justice to the poor compelS me to add that /
do not and these developments in any greater ex-
cess than one would naturally expect from OBJ
servations of human nature under far more favor
able conditions. We may well be charitable In
Thought as in deed find more honesty, more
bravery, patient endurance, courage and grati-
tude than should have supposed could survive
Seven cases only Of street begging have been
reported to us. OF these, five gave talse ad-
dresses and could not be traced. A girl OF II OF
IA, whose daily appearance upon our best Streets ~
in squaid wretchedness with begging basket
upon her arm was constant shame and sorrow,
was looked up by visitor OF the association: IN
vestigation of the case proved the need OF ner
immediate removal from the place she called
hOme She was sent to the Industrial School and
is reported as doing exceedingly WELL The sew
enth case Is still under investigation and prom
iSes developments little unusual in our city.
Enough is already known to make it desirable for
me to take this opportunity to again urge our cit
quiry. would not dc stroy one benevolent i'm
pulse; only, wait for knowledge. Send postal TO
our ONCE and with all possible promptness
stimulating vice and fraud.
Early in the winter an effort was made to put
the visiting system in better working condition
by getting an expression of readiness for duty
from those whose names were still on the lisi,
and by nlilng vacancies. Among the number
Bile work has been of much value. In this depart
ment great deal has been accomplished the re-
port Of which in detail would be interesting and
workers, laboring without thought of gratitude,
the earnest thanks, not only of the association,
but of the entire community are due. The list is
still incomplete but trust another fall will find
it filled with volunteers earnest for this work so
beneicent in its results, so ennoblng in its per-
formance.
Our thanks are due also to such OF the charita-
BILE societies as we have called upon for aid In
every case we have received generous response
ly a growing understanding Of our aims and meth
DDS and, as a result an increasing disposition to
work in harmony with us.
ceded by record books. 1t is purposed to make
this registration sufficiently complete and easy OF
consultation to be of great practical value. 1t is
believed that as it comes to be thoroughly under
stood all prejudice against it will vanish. Impost-
ers will object to tbut we do not propose to make
life pleasant to them but to make the way as plain
as possible to those who are endeavoring to deal
with them.
To any worthy person fallen with misfortune
and need such an entry as we make IN our books
becomes certificate OF good character and a
recommendation for aid
The work-room, although distinct institution.
is an outgrowth of the Associated Charities, and
as such is properly reported here.
Most of the time the full compliment of 80 have
received work. The labor of preparing this is not
light, but it is cheerfully performed by faithful
few women too whose resources and obligations
must sometimes tempt them to other uses of the
time and strength required. The good accom-
plished is not easily furnished for brief report,
but commend the subject to your thought and
attention, hoping that it may lead to ready assist
ance in disposing OF the manufactured articles
Grateful Acknowledgements are due to the fol-
lowing persons for gifts of material for the work
room, of money or of favors equally valuable to
the associations:
Mrs Dr. Gerrish Mrs. j. T. McCobb, Miss
Octayia Fox, Mrs. Edward Fox, Mrs. S. 7. Pick
ard, Mrs. Zenas Thompson, Mr.. Alfred Woodman,
Th1rston, Mrs. DR.. Gilman, Westbrook Msn1fac. ii If
turing Company, Mrs. H. NJ. Payson, H. L. Tay-
lor, Dr. c. H. Baker.
With sad consciousness of the little done in
comparison with the great needs, yet with a con-
viction of good accomplished, l submit my report
in the earnest hope that, with added experience,
more general cooperation still, with more, not
better, laborers in the visiting department, and
with more adequate resources to draw upon for
relief, the association may enter upon year of
far wider and better results.
George Mcdonald says in recent book, "To
hope nightly is to believe in God" To believe
truly in God is, certainly to hope nightly in the
uplifting OF humanity, and to labor earnestly
therefor.
Rev. Mr.. Blanchard then read the follow
ing report:
To the Menbers3 Of the associated Charities of
Portland:
The undersigned, committee appointed at the
last meeting to consider the need of restatng the
reasons for the continued existence of the organi-
cation, beg leave to report that meeting was
held on Tuesday, April 6th and the following dec
laration and recommendation were adopted The
reasons for the continued existence of the AsSoci
these.
1. There is need of some central bureau of in
formation in philanthropic work in order to pre-
vent imposition. This organization constitutes
such bureau.
II. There is always a need of visitation to the
discouraged that they may be cheered, and to the
thriftless that they may be wisely taught. 1t Is
one of the chief aims of this organization TO do
this work.
III. All the charitable organizations of the
city desire the continuance of the Associated
Charities as an important auxiliary to their work.
Your committee, in view of these facts, recon-
mend that an appeal az @ be made to the city govern
the financial maintenance of the association. The
amount needed is small,-no more than 5000 a
year-and 1t is believed that the wisdom of max
ing such an appropriation can be easily made
clear to those who are in authority.
HENRY BLANCHARD
RUFUS H. HINKLEY,
CHARLES MCLAUGHLIN,
.PRENTISS LORING,
MABEL S. DAvEIs,
MRS. WOODBURY. s. DANA,
JAENNIE l.. erie.
After reading the committees report Mr..
Blanchard made some explanatory remarks.
The meeting at which the committee was
raised was small and not encouraging. The
committee when they met agreed upon the
points mentioned in the report and also upon
the necessity of personal solicitation for
funds should the appropriation not be grant
ed. He then referred to the necessity of this
central organization to prevent assistance
being given where it would not do good and
the desire of the other charitable societies
for the continued existence of the Associated
Charities. In regard to the appropriation
from the city government, Mr.. Blanchard
said that he had seen the Mayor, who had
offered to give the association hearing and
had spoken favorably of the matter. Mr.
B anchard was sanguine of the petition be-
ing granted as the work of the Associated
Charities tends to reduce the city's expendi-
ture for the assistance of the poor.
Mr.. Gerrish moved that the committee be
continued and present the matter to the city
government either by hearing or through a
committee. He thought this matter con-
cerning the city and the organization one
they should help to support.
Mr.. Blanchard mentioned as in favor of
the continuance of the Associated Charities,
the Samaritan Association, Provident As
ISOLATION and the officers of the Eye and Ear
Inirmary which is to be opened next week.
Mrs. L. NJ. N. Stevens representing the
W. G. L. U. spoke heartily in favor of the
work of the Associated Charities.
Mr.. Baker, Secretary of the Board of
Overseers of the Poor, explained the law
governing pauper settlements and said that,
in order to prevent a great addition to the
numbers having such settlements in Port
land, the board desired aid to be extended
only to those already having legal settle
ments here. There are about $50 families of
these settlements.
Mr.. Mclaughlin referred to the labor done
by the Widows Wood Society in investigat-
ing the cases of applicants, and Rev. DR..
Bashford asked if it would not be well to
have all these matters placed in the control
of the Associated Charities. He made refer
ence to case of swindling by false repre-
sentations made to a church charity.
Rev. Mr.. Phelan instanced the good done
by helping people who, at the time of reeeiv-
ing assistance, were undeserving and after
wards became respectable members of
society.
The motion of Mr.. Gerrish was then
passed
The President made reference to the work
of the Secretary during the past year, and
Mrs. Lilley called attention to the efforts of
the visitors.
The election of officers being next in order,
reference to the constitution showed the
Mayor to be the president ex-officio, with
various other city officers on the board OF
government. This provision has evidently
been disregarded DIR. Dalton declining q
reelection, Rev. Mr.. Hayden was elected
President, and Mrs. Lilley Secretary. On
motion of Rev Mr. Little all the other