The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-13
II OF CHARITY WORK.
Information Furnished the Ministers
About the Charity Organization,
All of Which Is Received with Thanks, AL
though the Conference Is Not Character
lied by q Spirit Of Harmony.

though the Conference Is Not Character
lied by o Spirit Of Harmony.
The Indianapolis Ministers Association, to the
number of forty or more. met yesterday fore
noon, in the pastors study Of the Second Pres
byterian Church, the meeting being one OF in
quiry into the management Of the affairs OF the
Indianapolis Benevolent Society and the various
interests federated under the name of the Char
fly Organization. Rev. N. A. Hyde was called
TO the chair, and Rev. j. A. Rondthaler opened
the meeting with prayer. Rev. NJ. l. Haines
acted as secretary. Rev. o. G. McCulloch. v.
p. Fishback, Charles Martindale and Nathan
Morris, of the executive COMMITTEES of the Char
ity Organization, were present. The chairman
announced that the object Of the meeting was to
define the relation of the organization to the
churches, and to discuss matters Of administra-
ton of the society and methods of work. Mr..
Rondthaler said, the matter being now virtually
before the meeting, be would ask, SO that every
one might understand, the relations between the
Indianapolis Benevolent Society (of which Mr..
McCulloch is president, and the Charity Organi-
cation.
Mr.. McCulloch then explained, not without fire.
Quent Interruptions, the method Of work of the
Charity Organization, and showed that the Be
nevolent Society, while connected with that or
ganization, was still separate and distinct, and
that the organized charity work. costing about
$1,000 a year, was in nowise sustained by money
from the Benevolent Society. He showed,
among other good works that had been done,
the Charity Organization had given efficient aid
In putting Town the Vincennes lottery, in push
ing an inquiry into the management of the
Marion County Poor-farm, which brought about
q reform in that institution, in furthering the
proiecr which led to the erection Of our present
work-house, and so forth. It seeks to abolish pau
perism, to relieve distress, to keep a record of the
criminal and unworthy classes. to know the
causes Of crime and the cost of it. Above all,
prompt and adequate relief is characteristic of
the action of the society.
Mr.. McCulloch was closely catechised on the
point whether money contributed to the Indian
apolis Benevolent Society was not used to pay
expenses Of the other organizations One gen.
tleman asked. Arc these organizations civil or
ecclesiastical" to which he very pointedly re-
piled. "Civil; nothing ecclesiastical until this
morning"
DR.. Mcleod said that it had been understood
that when the collectors went round to collect
funds from those disposed to be charitable, it
was not clearly shown where their contributions
went-that it all went to Mr.. McCulloch, and the
distinction between the funds of the Benevolent
Society and that of the Charity Organization was
an illUSOry one.
Mr.. McCulloch, in reply, said as a matter of
fact, that was an entire misapprehension, and
that while he drew all the checks the funds were
kept separate.
Mr.. Fishback explained that each subscriber
was asked to indicate into which society his con-
tribution was to go.
DIR. Jenckes asked if the weekly meetings of
the Charity Organization were open to clergymen
tn sons. To this Mr.. McCulloch replied that
anyone could come, that Mr.. Rondthaler, Mr..
Hunter, DR.. Mcleod and Father Bessonies at
tended the meetingF, the last named having
missed few meetings during the last six years.
DIR. Jepckes said: DO you ask US as ministers or
subscribersf' to which Mr.. McCulloch replied: II
ask you as citizens. There are no ministers In
this organization
DIR. Mcleod said that he regretted that there
was not q closer bond Of sympathy between the
churches and the charities, for an impression
existed that the ministers had nothing to do
with the organized benevolence of the city. In
enlarging upon this he said that it was generally
believed that if a business man should give $50
to the canvasser, $50. or even more OF it, would
20 toward expenses Of the administration, while
less than $25 would go to the poor. In other
words, it took about SO per cent. of all the money
collected to expend the other so per cent
"A statement like that is false in spirit and in
fact" interrupted Mr.. McCulloch.
DIR. Mcleod replied that his statement was
based on information obtained from the annual
report Of the societies. This report shows that
the receipts for the year ending Oct. 81, 1885,
less 1892. A of unpaid subscriptions and q ball
ance carried forward, amounted to SIS, 309. "a. OF
this amount the sum of 1913 Is was paid on old
debts, leaving a total cash expenditure in the
work of charity for the current year of 81, 396. 19.
The total cost of administration for the year
amounts to So. POI. SO. Hence. it appears that
SOL per cent was consumed in the cost of admin
istration, so that, of every dollar given for re-
lief, 493 cents reaches the poor, and it requires
the other 503 cents to find out where the worthy
poor are.
DIR. Gilbert said he had labored in three cities
larger than Indianapolis. Those cities were
Buffalo, Cincinnati and Milwaukee,; but ne had
never been IN any community where there had
been so much said on the subject of charity as in
Indianapolis. Never had he had brought to his
personal notice so great an amount of want.
During che last month twenty-eight persons had
come to his door for charity. It was an alarm
ing state of affairs, simply overwhelming and
appalling. Meridian street Church takes entire
care of her own poor. He wished there were more;
for there were not many of them. A large mum
Der OF the men In that church are connected with
the various organized charities, among whom are
Messrs. Malott, Ship, KragsGray and Haughey,
and others nave oeen contributing freely TO the
benevolenee of the city, and he would not deter
them. Meridian-street Church last year gave
no less than $500 in that way. He would cast no
criticism en- the organization, but it seemed to
him there ought to be some plan devised to learn
the cause of this alarming pauperism, and also
some way to have a more vital union between
the evangelical churches of the city and this or
ganization.
Mr.. Rondthaler remarked that DIR. Gilbert,
who was a newcomer, had the same experience
that he himself had, when he first came here, in
the way of begging visitors. He provided him
self with tickets directing them to the Charity
Organization. Many of them were, without
doubt, unworthy. The Charity Organization in
vestigated. and put relief where it was deserved.
DR.. Jenckes said there was not a single one Of
the ministers present who might not have been
in generous rivalry with Brother McCulloch in
his GOOD work if he had seem ft to be Rnt Mr.