Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-21
FATHER OF THE POOR.
A Blow to the Society for the I'm
provement of the Poor.
MRS. .HERRON'SGLOWI GEXORDIUM
Unless Some One Comes Forward Literally
the Society Will Suffer.
MR.. FHAw WAS AN INCORPORATOR


society by Mr.. Thaw's death, do not see
how the society can live" These were the
words used last evening by Mrs. William
A. Heron, the President of the Society for
the Improvement of the Poor, in reference
to the philanthropist's death.
Mrs. Heron spoke with gratitude of the
aid given to the society by William Thaw
ever since its organization. "He gave
more" she said, 'than any other donor
There were years in which he gave more
than the combined contributions Of
all other persons. During one year
he gave $1,000. In addition to his
donations in large sums he was continually
giving in smaller amounts from week to
week. The scope of our society does not
permit the giving of money to the poor.
We give only provisions, clothing and
household goods; endeavor to find employ
meut for those who can work, and see that
children are comfortably clad and sent to
school. There are special cases where
money is needed, perhaps for the hiring Of
a nurse to care for sick person, and arti-
cles are sometimes needed which we do not
have. In all such cases Mr.. Thaw was
ready to act outside of the society and furn-
ish the funds necessary. The account OF
his benefactions can never be given, for no
body knows the amount. He was the great
est giver Of charity in this city. He was
the father of the poor of Pittsburg.
"Our society was established IA years ago,
and its work has grown steadily. No other
society of its kind exists in America.
We now have 13 paid visitors or mission
aries, whose districts are assigned to them
for daily visits. They search out the needy,
while nearly all other charity organizations
wait for
THE NEEDY TO ASK
for help. As rule, the worthy are the
least likely to appeal for aid. The aim of
our society is not only TO give aims, but to
elevate the poor, to improve their condition.
Whatever things are needed the missionary
gives an order to the central Office, and the
provisions aad clothing are given out on
that order. Our goods are bought by whole
sale, and the society is run upon the most
economical plan.
"'Mr. Thaw aided us from the start
After few weeks trial he saw that the plan
was a good one. He had been always a
gIedb RiNtI W dppllcduIS lOr cndrlLy. Ii
took much of his time and he was frequently
imposed upon. This society removed the
labor1ous work from him, but furnished
him with an, opportunity to contribute in
proper channels. When appeals were made
to him, he had them investigated by our
missionaries, and he then freelv gave on
their reports. He said to me once, This
charity Is the dearest to my heart In our
early days contributions were few, because
the people did not understand our work.
Mr.. Thaw made up what was lacking. Our
society has been growing in favor, and con-
tributions have annually increased.
But Notwithstanding that fact, it is very
hard work to get money. 1t requires assid-
GUS soliciting. There are 30 managers, and
they continually solicit among their friends
We give out perhaps $20. 900 worth of charity
annually. but the expense account is a very
small portion of the work done. We need
all the aid we can get. / am very much
afraid that Mr.. Thaw's loss will cripple US
seriously. We never will have another man
like him-so willing and so able to aid dis
tress."
Mrs. Lippincott, the secretary of the So
ciety, said last evening: "Mr. Thaw was
our firm friend when our society was an ex-
periment-when it needed friends. We
owe our growth,
OUR VERY LIFE,
to him. He had faith in the work from the
beginning, and stood by us when the So
ciety was unknown. He was one of the five
Incorporating members of the society, the
four others being DR.. George s. Wood, DR..
Hussey, William A. Heron and DR..
Scovel. Mr.. Thaw always made up our
money deficiencies. As the contributions
from the general public have been in
creasing, we have been compelled to call
upon him for less and less. For the last
three years he has given annually 81 900,