The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-07-05
Union Centennial Service of
Women's Philanthro-
pic Associations.
Historical Sketches of the
Various Societies.
What Has Been Done and Is
Being Done.


of the women of Portland. A large platform
was filed with representatives of the various
| organizations. The church was handsomely
decorated with bunting and profusion of
| flowers. Mrs. L. NJ. N. Stevens, whose
name is a synonym for philanthropy
| throughout the city, and the State, presided.
| The exercises began with the singing Of
America, by the congregation, led by Mrs.
Geo. o. Gosse at the organ. Mrs. VIM. Clark
read a portion of the 10Th chapter of John,
and offered prayer.
The historical reports appropriately OPP
ened with that of the
FEMALE CHARITABLE ASSOCIATION,
presented by Mrs Lewis O'Brion. This
society is the oldest charitable organization
in the city with the exception of the Port
land Benevolent Society, which is sometimes
called its twin brother. 1t was formed in
1912, when the distress occasioned by war
was extreme Through its efforts the desti-
tute were supplied with clothing and poor
women employed to spin and weave, to knit
and sew. A sewing school was opened for
girls. Mrs. Polly Hobart left the society a
legacy of $500 in 1924, which nessitated its
incorporation. The original constitution
contains some quaint features, such as the
promise to be watehful over each other in
sisterly love, not to divulge each others in
urInlLleS ana engaging uO COil-
yersation shall be indulged in. The aim OF
the society has ever been to help the worthy
poor especially the aged, widows and little
children.
THE SAMARITAN ASSOCIATION,
reported by Mrs. Henry Blanchard origin
ated in the. First Universalist church, and
its officers have always been of the same
faith. 1t was formed in 1923, at the sugges-
tion of Mrs. Mercy Bisbee, wife of Rev.
John Bisbee, a. woman OF great talent and
piety. The object from the first has been to
care for the physical as we'll as spiritual
needs of the poor outside of churches. Since
1884 it has raised money through fairs in ad-
dition to its regafar assessments. The
amount dispensed since its organization is as
follows: First 80 years, $500; next II years,
$4,S71; next eight years, $4,731. Boxes of
clothing were sent to the soldiers during the
war. The association now numbers 13S
members.
THE FEMALE ORPHAN ASYLUM
was represented by its president Mrs. James
l.. Farmer. Fifty-eight years ago band Of
Christian women petitioned the Legislature
of Maine for ''an act to incorporate the
Female Orphan Asylum of Portland. The
act was passed and approved in 1928. OF the
officers Of the first board, Mrs Henry Smith
Of this city, and Mrs. Nathaniel Dana, now
Of Wellesley, Mass, alone survive. The
aim of the institution is to gather destitute
or orphan children to be educated and cared
for until other good homes are provided
Miss Harriet S. McCobb gave report OF
the
HOME FOR AGED WOMEN,
established in 1854 The secretary of the
first board of officers, Mrs Charles A. Lord,
is still living. Mrs. Neal Dow and Mrs.
Albus Rea, recently deceased-th last Of the
original twenty-five managers-gaye their
untiring services for nearly thirty years. Inc
first home, on the corner of Elm and Oxford
streets, accommodated eight persons. The
present commodious home on Emery street
was completed and occupied In 1877 IL ac-
commodities twenty-five inmates and Is al
ways full, with many applications ahead.
The rules require an admission lee OF S50,
and the surrender of any property owned.
No one under sixty years of age is received.
Since the establishment OF the home seventy
one aged women have found a shelter there.
The property of the institution, exclusive OF
the house and lot in Evergreen Cemetery,
the gift of the city, is valued at S23,O0O.
The account of the
woMANs CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION,
by Mrs Asa Dalton, president, was read by
the secretary, Miss Cornelia Dow. This in
stitution was organized in 1869 and work pro-
jected under several departments. The first
of these in operation was the visiting depart
ment whose work was an expansion OF that
of the old Portland Tract Society. formed
fifty-nine years ago, which society was merg-
ed in the association In 1869 Ihe association
has started loan library. 1t has partly
sustained Rev. Mr. Wilson as missionary at
large. A second distinct work of the as
sOciation has been the establishment OF
boarding home for women coming to the
city to engage in business teaching sewing
and the like A substantial brick house, No.
26 Spring street, was opened In 1874. Inc
boarderS are in no sense benehclarleS, but
pay their way and the home is self-support-
ing. After thorough repairs it re-opens this
month with promise of increasing useful
ness. There are also relief and employment
departments with the germ OF bureau Oh
industry and instruction.
woMAN's MISSIONARY WORK.
The report of womans missionary work
in connection with the churches of Portland
was prepared and read by Mrs Wm H.Fenn.
Fifty years ago the women of one of our
churches supported two children in Ceylon,
one of whom, Frances Chickering, still lives,
a faithful christian woman. The women IN
connection with the Baptist church contrib
ute over $500 year to foreign missions.
Good work is also done for home missions
and for the McAll mission in France. The
women of the seven congregational churches
oaganized in 1873 for foreign missionary
work, and raised about $1,000 year for that
field, and $500 year fer home missions.
Boxes of clothing are also sent. The wonl-
en- of the Episcopal churches contribute
about $500 year to home missions, chiefly
for the Oneida Indians and for mission IN
Mexico. The Free Baptist church contrib
utes very generously in proportion 10 us
membership, raising $23S last year for mis-
sionS, most of which was sent to India. The
Friends contribute 800 year to missionary
work. The Methodist women Of Portland
organized w. f. NJ. society in 1870, to
which they contributed over $500 last year.
The Roman Catholic Sisters of Mercy do
large amount of home mission work. Inc
Portland Unitarian auxiliary numbers about
one hundred members, and contributes S11O
year to Preble Chapel, $40 a year to the
American Unitarian Association, and about
500 tracts pamphlets, books and packages 10
the post office mission. The ladies OF the
Universalist churches have only recently Or
ganized. They have contributed 500 TO
small mission in Glasgow, but have been
mainly engrossed in home charities.
THE INDIAN ASSOCIATION
was represented by its president, Mrs. Myra
Frye. The society was organized 1857. Al
lusion was made to the recent sad death OF
Frank Modoc, occasioned by his unwarrant-
able removal with his tribe to unhealthy
lands.
THE RELIEF CORPS
connected with Bosworth and Thatcher
Posts were reported by Mrs. +. G. Johnston.
The former was organized In 1869 ana mas
the distinction of being the first association
of the kind in the country. The object OF
these societies is well known.
THE FEMALE PRovIDENT ASSOCIATION
was reported by its secretary, Mrs. j. II.
Coffin. The early records were destroyed i'll
the fire of 1866; an old cash book which was
alone preserved commences with an entry OF
81 90 from Mr.. ST. John Smith, December,
1856. The amount raised by regular sub
scriptions. from 1855 to the present is about
$4,000. But single dollar has ever been
given in money In material the amounts
given since the reorganization in 1866 have
been, in round numbers: 10000 yards print,
5000 yards cotton cloth, 1000 yards flannel,
1000 yards cotton flannel, 800 yards dress
goods, 500 pairs boots and shoes. Mrs; D.
w. Bashford presented report prepared by
Mrs. A. w. Longfellow concerning the
TEMPORARY HOME FOR WOMEN AND Chill
DREN.
The idea and the first efforts toward a
temporary home were the direct outgrowth
of the w. G. T. u. In 1882 it became
separate organization, being Incorporated as
| a state institution. The management is in
| the hands of an executive committee OF SIX,
| one of whom visits the home daily and re-
| ports at the weekly meeting. By the gifts
| of friends new house and pleasant grounds
were secured at the West End in october,
| '84, with no Indebtedness. One hundred ana
seventeen inmates have been received ana
! the results in saving the fallen ana nnulng
! homes for fatherless children have been
most encouraging. The State recognizes ap-
propriates $500 annually for this institution
The report of the
| MARTHA WASHINGTON SOCIETY,
prepared by its secretary, Mrs. G. w. Beals,
was read by Mrs. Geo D. Hunt IL was