The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-02-15
THE ASSOCIATED CHARITIES.
An Enthusiastic Mass-Meetins to AID
vance the Cause.

vance the Cause.
A mass meeting in the interests of the
Seattle Bureau of Associated Charities was
held yesterday afternoon at Ranke's hall
and addresses were delivered in sup
port of the organization. The stage was
occupied by Rev. ID. c. Garrett, Rev. S. A.
Bright, Rev. Clark Davis, Major George
W. Hall, Major S. Y. Rinehart. Thomas
W. Prosch, Jerome Catiin, Jacob Furth,
Joseph Shipper and other gentlemen
prominent in the movement. Music was
furnished by the choir of St. Marks
church.
After an opening prayer by Rev. Clark
Davis, few Introductory words by Rev.
| S. A. Bright, who acted as chairman of the
meeting. led up to the introduction of the
principal speaker, Thomas n. Strong,
president of the Portland City Board of
Charities. Mr.. Strong sketched in an in
teresting way the origin of associated
charities in Portland and the work it has
been doing, and his remarks were well en-
phasized by humorous and pathetic
incidents of the work. Five years
| ago, while he was arguing
law suit in Portland, young man of
wretched appearance came into the court
room and told the story Of poor woman
in one of the worst quarters of the city
who was without food, without funds,
and would probably soon be without
shelter, as her landlord had threatened
to turn her out unless her rent was paid.
The Judge gave the young man an order
for IS for the payment of the rent, and
that was the last heard of the case. But
all through the forensic battle that fol-
lowed the mind of the speaker was
haunted with the thought of that woman
and the inadequate means of providing
| for such cases as hers. 1t was not
question of money, for 500 could have
been raised by subscription in the room
in a few minutes, but it was as to the
duty the people owed to the needy. The
question was: Was this story true? This
and other similar instances awake feel
ing that something must be done tor the
organization of charities. He classified
the recipients of charity into two classes
those who need help and those who ask
help. As rule, those who asked help
most loudly are generally not the class
whose needs are the greatest, while those
who really need help suffer in silence and
alone. 1t was necessary to make dis
sinction between these classes.
+.
the Portland bureau, which was organ
lied three years ago. With few other of
the organizers he had started the work by
going through the city getting subscrip-
tons, which averaged. about so cents a
| month from each individual. A central
office was established in the heart of the
city. and all the charitable work passed
through that. Subscribers were furnished
+icl-a To- q
for charity, directing them to take the tick
cts to the Office. At first the work was done
by one secretary, who was paid for his sery-
ices. Now they have head secretary at
a salary of SIPS q month, and two assist
ants. one of whom is a woman, at $50 a
month. A perfect register of all the facts
in every case is kept, and the secretaries
are generally acquainted with every per-
son who was the object of charity. By
this system begging on the streets had
been reduced to the minimum, only an oc-
casional tramp coming in from the out
side, and such are cared for by the police.
The speaker related several amusing ac-
counts of the persons who had attempted
to beat the society and obtain charity
when unworthy of it. On one occasion
| they furnished aid to q woman who
claimed to have lost all her money
through bank failure and that she was
in actual want. Thorough investigation
revealed the fact that she was worth $780,
! 600 in cold cash, and she was compelled to
refund the money that she had collected
| from different persons on the strength of
| her pitiful story.
| All abIe-bodied men desiring help were
| first made to work in order to earn their
-f1ia han fo,y
| great deal of good in exposing worthless
characters. One day there walked into
| the office big, healthy fellow who laid
! down ticket as though he thought it was
good for drink or a meal or so much
| cash. He asked the secretary what he
| could get for it.
| "You can get work." was the reply.
| well, this hill of charity" snorted
| the indignant applicant for aims, as he
stalked out of the Office.
| The secretary kept his eye on the fellow
| and saw him make his way across the
street to a public park. 1t was warm
| weather and there stretched out on the
| grounds q man, somewhat the worse for
/ liquor, was enjoying g nap. The man who
had been disappointed in his racket ap-
| preached the sleeper, relieved him Of his
watch and the money in his pockets, and
| was about to make off when arrested by an
| officer summoned by the secretary.
Mr. Bright announced that Rev. Father
| Prefontaine, Of the Church of Our
| Lady of Good Help, had sent word that he
| was unable to attend the meeting, but
! that the movement had his best wishes
/ and would receive his support.
| Joseph Shipper made an earnest talk of
| several minutes urging the necessity of
associated charities.
Rev. d. c. Garrett made an eloquent an
| peal in behalf of the cause, declaring that
| what was needed most was practical and
| scientific application of charity. One of
| the most important features of the system
was the effort to cure pauperism. Ten
wears of associated ch"'ities in the city of
| Buffalo had decreased paupet;sm 80 per
| cent, notwithstanding the growth of the
/ city. The secretary of the bureau there
had reported that in another ten year.
paup,risn could be practically wiped out.
| The same thing could be accomplished in
| Seattle.
| At the close of the speeches the chair
man appointed Jerome Catlin, Thomas W
1 Prosch. Jacob Furth and Major Rinehart
| ss 4 committee to canvass the audience for
subscriptions. These gentlemen secured
quite a number of names as members Of
the society.