Morning journal and courier., 1886-11-20
saturday, November 20, 1886.
A STORY WITH A MORAL.
The Story of The Young Man From
 MerideD And Hts Moral.

The Story of The Young Man From
 Meriden And Hts Moral.
 The following was written for the COURIER by prominent New Haven clergymen:
 In small company of clergymen gathered in this city last week, it was found that five had needed the request of a young fellow who had asked for money to purchase tick ct to Meriden. He was slightly built boy of eighteen or twenty, and he played his part admirably. He said he was the son of the sexton of St. Andrews church, Meriden, and he was footsore and weary by his walk from Bridgeport. and only half dollar was needed to place him once more within the paternal mansion in the city where all that shines is not silver. The suggestion that
 strangers like him had in times past proved
 other than saints in distress grieved his hon.
 est heart. To be thought capable of decep-
 ton was to him hardly endurable. When
 the clergyman appeared disposed to refuse
 his request his lip quivered and tears start ed to his eyes. That was sufficient to ob-
 tain transportation to Meriden for this i'm
 poverished young man.
 Five tickets to Meriden and one supper al
 least this enterprising youth gathered 1T from the clergy of one denomination in New Haven. He did not confne his attentions tt one religious body. His ecclesiastical sym pathies were wide and gave him entrance tt parsonage and rectory of every name. Hi quivering lip sent the hand of priest and pas tor to the pocket. Laymen felt it's power as well as clergymen, and the young man who pined for Meriden and the ancestral home l has a large number of our fellow citizens "upon his list"
 parts of the country and show that New Haven did not alone receive the attentions oi the young man from Meriden. The Nauga
 tuck valley and Waterbury in particular
 were visited and ever the appeal was for
 means to reach Meriden and thes sexton's s
 house. But now there is a warning rom
 Neriden itself to beware of young man
 like the one known to so many charitable people in this city. Apparently ons ot the tickets obtained here has been used and the homesIck youth desires above all things to reach New Haven. Bridgeport is sometimes his objective point. He has diligently work ed Meriden and doubtless is now canvassing in some ether field. When last heard from he was still anxious to reach his home in anoth- CT city and the provision for his journey by kind hearted people appears everywhere to be ample His acquaintance Is increasing and it is to be hoped that on some fortunate day a knowledge of his peculiar way or earn ing living will provide him more pressing welcome than he has yet received. He must
 
 it were we'll that he rested for time in the service of the State.
 This young man is one among many who are making a living by deception. Their brightness and shrewdness are great and they are most successful in their line ot work. They obtain little of any one person, but the aggregate of their collections IS large. The existence of such 8 class of persons proves as nothing else can the necessity of organized or associated charities and this case makes good ground for an appeal to cit izens to support the society which by 1nves- tigation and registration makes such dlshon- esty impossible. The time of the year has come when by offerings in the churches and personal subscriptions the income of the As sociated Board of Charities must be provid- ed. At 23 Church street its agency for the of such rogue as this young man from Meriden is at the service of every clti- zen. The applicant for relief whom you do not know and yet do not wish to turn away can be sent there with the full assurance that the case will be kindly and honestly investi- gated. To that office the inquiry concerning any person asking help can be sent and answer can be ob- tained. There the homeless man can earn his lodging and breakfast in the wood yard in perfectly proper way. There tie man out of work can, as rule, earn dollar 8 day. The test of work is applied to appi- cants for aid and nothing could be more wholesome. The deserving poor are given temporary relief and placed in communica- ton with the church, society or town upon which they have a claim.
 The board is not primarily an agency for Fse bsIe pedps ls work is h.p to apply the Christian principle that he who eats should work. Such work as this is of the first importance in large city. It has not for the kind hearted the same at traction that the giving of relief has. But giving makes pauperism and relief without investigation does more harm than good. Investigation through central agency like that at 23 Church street is abso- lutely necessary for wise and helpful charity. The appeal to thoughtful and kindly men and women was never stronger than to day.
 The money contributed by citizens for the work is used with the utmost economy. The books and all the work of the society are two thousand dollars are required for rent, for salaries and for the operation of the so- cietv. More than that amount is saved to the citizens year by year, and the rule Of charity and self help without the encourage ment of pauperism is followed. There is no wiser and more carefully managed work in the city. Recently postal cards have been prepared for the use of the clergy and others who will describe cases which they wish investigated. When next the young man from Meriden with the quivering lip or anyone whom you may suspect to be like him asks for rail road ticket or money send him, with a note if you wish, to 23 Church street. Go there yourself the next day and you will find that in the great majority of cases the applicant did not appear. He wanted your money without inquiry as to his character Proba- bly, nine out of ten of the applicants for re- lief are unworthy of your help.
 The conclusion of the matter is that wise people who do not wish to be deceived will use the Associated Board of Charities. If minded they will contribute to the sup port of the society, inform themselves con corning it's methods and principles. It Is an organization born of new social needs. It courts inquiry and study. It asks and de- serves your support through personal sub- scriptions and church collections.
 w. C..T. U.
 The w C. T U temperauee. meeting will