Los Angeles herald., 1892-04-24
Local Charities Discussed at
Their Meeting.
Those Interested Describe the Va
riOus Societies.
Mrs. Wills Tells OF the Ladies' Benevo-
lent Society-Dr. Lummis on tile
Humane society-Other Papers
Which Were Read.

others.
The reform and philanthropy commit
tee have been most deeply interested OF
late in local charities, and this week
presented the results of their investiga-
tions. The mornings programme at the
last meeting opened with the reading of
The Vision of Sir Launfal by Miss Bros.
field. Mrs. Wills next presented brief
epitome OF the organization and plan of
work of the Ladies' Benevolent society.
This society was organized in December,
1876, is unsectarian in character and in
dependent in nationality. The city has
been districted and visiting committee
appointed to each district. Valuable
assistance has been received from Mrs.
w. w. Robinson, who was made aa
honorary member of the society. In
1877 it was incorporated under the sta to
law, and at the next meeting of the leg
islature asked and received state aid to
the extent of $1,000. Under the new
constitution, however, no further aid
can be given to such organizations. Mrs.
Ducommun has been president since
1883. Much of the success of the society
is due to her invaluble services and un-
firing efforts. The society has disbursed
in small sums $4,000.
DIR. Lummis next gave a short talk on
the Humane Society of Los Angeles, of
which she is secretary. The doctor de-
plored the Indifference of parents on the
subject of humanitarianism. Children
are thoughtless and cruel, especially
boys, and the custom of giving them
Gagged pets and helpless little animals
but fosters these traits. The Humane
society was organized many years ago,
but little interest had been manifested.
No one was willing to bear the bur dens,
and there was no money to pay the
workers, the money received from mem
bers apd the fines of those convicted
being very small amount.
The officers OF the society are: Pres-
dent, H. L. Lee; secretary, DR.. d. Lum-
mis-; directors, e. 4. Benchly, G. G.
Davis, f.. w. Jones, DIR. Sinsabaugh,
Mrs. Hooper, Mrs. Wills, Mrs. Baker
and Miss Elise Elderkin.
The chief thing the doctor wished to
impress upon the club was the fact,
first, that such a society existed and
next, how to reach it in an emergency.
Three years ago, when the city charter
was changed, it left out the clause for
the conviction OF any one of cruelty
from hearsay. The evidence given must
be from an eyewitness. When one,
therefore, wished a case to come before
the society, he must be able to give
name, date and exactly what was done.
Complaints can be lodged at the doc
tors office, corner Broadway and Fifth
streets, or with Police Officer Wright,
who will always be found at the police
station at noon.
Two-thirds of our horses are over
checked, heated with the sun and tor
mented with flies. They stand on our
streets and in front of our churches,
their owners alike Indifferent to their
needs or sufferings.
The next speaker was Rev. Teofilo
Coy, Waldensian minister. He gave
the club some interesting facts in regard
to two distinguished Italian philanthro.
pists.
Two names were written in golden let
ters on the Roman records; one, the
most gracious Queen Margherita, and
the other, Miss Emily Gould, an Ameri-
can lady of great goodness and philan-
throphy.
Queen Margharita, wife of Umberto,
daughter of the Duke of Genoa, is most
beautiful in character and beloved by
her people. She sustains in Rome sew.
eral charitable institutions, one of
which. the Santa Barbino, is home for
noble ladies who have fallen into pov-
erty. The speaker related pa
thetic story of Hugnenot lady, one of
the queens pensioners, who, being
offered home here, refused it on ac-
count of her religious convictions.
Trembling for fear Of the queens dis
pleasure when pension day came, she
yet remained true to her principles and
found her pension doubled by the
queens orders.
The institution for the blind is one of
the queens charities which she visits
every week. Her influence is very great
and her people regard her as almost a
goddess.
Mrs. Emily Gould, a famous American
lady of great goodness of heart, tried
when liberty was given Rome twenty
years ago, to gather together the street
Arabs into home. The outcome of her
work is the Gould Memorial home, a
beautiful villa on the Via Magenta. 1t
shelters thirty-two Italian children.
Mrs. Hogan read a paper on the
Mother Ransom home. This is refuge
for erring and homeless women which
has been adopted by the w. G. r. U.
and bids fair to be we'll sustained.
Thirty women have found shelter in it
during the past year. Eight babies have
been born within it's walls, two of which
have since died. Mother Ransom fills
the place as head of the institution, and
is deeply beloved by the inmates.
Major Hilton then presented the
local work OF the Pacific GOSPEL union,
its objects and intentions. The key
note of its work was "Love thy neigh
bor az thyself." 1t had no creed, no
church. Its hall, 431 and 433 South
spring street, is the general place of
meeting.
Major Hilton appealed to the ladies
OF the Friday Morning club to investi-
gate this work, to appoint committee
to visit the mission, the Sunday morn
ing breakfast, and to cooperate with
the union in its work of purifying the
city.
The major advocated municipal
and educational suffrage for women |;
that the laws could be first changed
that make the possibilities for sin so
great in this country, the work of pre-
vention being far better than that of
punishment after crime is committed.
On Saturday the Historical society
indulged in picnic to San Juan Cap
istrano in the interest of the preserva-
tion of the missions. To this the club
was invited. A demonstl alton lecture
at the cooking school at 10 a. m. was
also announced.
The programme for the club next
week is as follows: Sound as Related