The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-04-08
A HAND OF CHARITY.
Year Of Noble Work by the
Ladies' Relief Society.
ANNUAL REPORTS PRESENTED.
Nearly Eour Thousand Dollars Ex.
pended in Giving Relief-Hearts
Made 0lad-Nsw Home.


Chamber OF Commerce. and elected the fol-
lowing oilicen: President, Mrs. w. E. Boone;
vice president, Mrs. ]. II. Sanderson: secretary,
Miss Z. n Shumway; assistant, Mrs.. A. B. Stew
Art: treasurer, Mrs. Jacob Furth.
The annual reports OF the president, secretary,
treasurer and advisory committee were read,
showing that during the past year the society
had done far more work than ever before, and
accomplished greater results. The treasurer'a
report was peculiarly gratifying.
PRESIDENTS REPORT.
The report Of Nrs. Boone. the president. was
q follows:
"Another year has passed and we are called
together to exchange greetings, and to prepare
LOT the work Of the next twelve months.
Greater changes have taken place since our
LAST annual meeting than during any other pre-
vious year since our society was organized. The
loss OF our much loved fel!oV worker and
president, Mn. N. B. Lcary, was q severe blow.
But few days since, while was visiting poor
woman whose little boy was very i'll, she said,
with choking voice and streaming eyes, oh,
Mrs. Leary did so much for me miss her SOP
In the course OF q few months we hope to have
our former treasurer, Mrs. Gatzert, again with
Us, and she can be assured that hearty welcome
awaits her.
"Oftimes we have been perplexed as to how
We could accomplish the most good, and only by
counseling together have we settled many .
troublesome question.
"The work 10 all the time increasing. still the
sympathy ana Kindness we meet on every side
iightens the labor. The need Of greater accom-
modations at the Home are becoming impers-
tive. The temptations to the older boys TO 60
outside the gate where they see so many wan
Der as they please, are great and the yard is far
too small AZ playground for forty-three
active children. most earnestly hope we shall
very soon settle the open question In regard to
new building.
"Allow me to express my thanks to each mem
Der OF this society for her kindness to me In my
new and untried position; also to the advisory
committee, for they have been truly friends as
well as co-workers. To the city papers which,
have 80 kindly lent their columns at all times to
aid us, our thanks are due, and most heartily
are they given.
"That the good accomplished In the past may
be an incentive to our earnest work in the future
Is my earnest wish"
WORK OF THE YEAR.
The work of the advisory committee, signed
by Mrs. Cornele E. Jenner, Miss Dora Ranke and
Mrs. Lucy X. Lyon, details the work Of the year.
1t is as follows:
"However pleasant this anniversary occasion,
there must be. Of necessity, an undercurrent OF
sadness flowing through all our thought a. we
recall this day one year ago, and the face and
form OF her who occupied first place in this
society from the time Of Its organization until
her DEATH
1--WE have heard beautiful words In her praise
at various times. but none more beautiful than
the simple, heartfelt expressions Of gratitude
which have come from the lips Of some of the
poor women who were accustomed to 20 to Mrs.
Leary for both food and sympathy, and who
were not turned coldly away. They miss her,
now that she Is beyond the thought of pain and
sorrow. We have all missed her from her accus-
toned place, nevertheless the work has gone
steadily on, and now, - We glance backward
over the accomplished year, we can but feel
satisfaction In the knowledge that we have pro-
tected few from oetual suffering, and relieved
some from great distress
1--WE think 1t is the habit OF women to give
conscientious thought to any work in which
they engage, 30 we report nothing unusual when
we say We have given a. careful investigation as
possible to the various cases which have claimed
our attention--yet when all is over we can see
how We might have done better had we had
sufficient foresight Sins of omission are more
troublesome to conscience than sins of commits.
sion, one OF M remarked one day, and there Is
another member who recalls with pain the fail
ure to send a message by telephone on one oc-
casion, 1t was such little thing to do, and
meant much to one who had few friends at
a time when she needed many. Women are ac-
custoned to do many things in small ways
and the question of economy IL usually upper
most, but we have endeavored this year to look
straight at the necessities of the poor and not
wards our bank account. In other words, we
have not tried to save money ut the expense q
comfort. You have seen from the treasurers
report that good deal of money has been ex-
pended. II you consider us as unduly extrava-
CANT, please remember we have had great many
poor and sick to care for, and If any member Of
this society cares to study the situation thor
oughly, we suggest that she commence by care
fully looking over her own personal and house
hold expenses and see how nearly they balance
with the fund we have used with ell our cases,
and there has been no time during which we
have not had several families on baud We have
to report assistance given to ninety nine cases,
which represent forty-eight men, ninety-one'
women aud l9l children. The children at the
home are not counted here. 1t Is a fact that
very worthy people are in need who will not ap-
ply to us. Think of a young lady in our city
passing three days without food, because she
had no work and was too proud to ask for assist
ance. We hope the woman's Home will be
opened ere long. If ii proves to be all that the
founders expect. it will be a haven of safety and
a heaven to some of these ue-hearted girls aud
women who suffer in silence.
at is shame that in America families should
go hungry or unciothed because of failure to
obtain employment. The world does owe every
honest, energetic man or woman q living We
hope the time is not far distant when accounts
will be squared and each will pass into his in
heritsnce. Society is largely responsible for the
vile and shiftiess class also. Christian nations
ought to set up high standards of morality, and
should make it easy as possible for the weakest
to attain to them. The key note of change must
sound along many lines ere the fortunate classes
can wash their hands and say. We are innocent
concerning this mans or this woman degrade