The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-18
REMEMBER THEPOOR.
Associated Charities the Theme
of a Sermon.
ECHOES FROM MANY PuLPlTs.
Activity in Congregations, Subsidiary
Societies and sunday Schools
General Church Notes.

At St. Marks church yesterday morn
ing Rev. ID. c. Garrett preached practi-
cable sermon from the text:
Galations i:1o--"We should remember the
poor"
Mr.. Garrett said that the organization
OF the Associated Charities in Seattle has
reached the point when a sufficient en-
roilment of members will insure the
speedy working of the system, and that
whlle the plan of this association is
strictly non-sectarian, he deemed it duty
OF the churches to take an active interest
In the furtherance of the object. The
methods OF the Associated Charities, he
said, had already been clearly explained,
but he thought il well to restate some of
the principal points.
lie explained that all who will sign their
names as members and subscribe S. year
are asked to meet next Wednesday even
ing at the Chamber of Commerce to COM
piete the organization. The members
elect the eleven directors. The directors
elect superintendent, who shall have a
central office where all applicants for re-
lief shall be sent and where a complete
record shall be kept of all aid given by
every charity agency in the city. If all
these agencies will cooperate in this
bureau there will be vast economy of
time, energy and expense, and thor
ough check put upon all street mendi-
cants and fraudulent beggars.
Mr.. Garrett related how a few DAYS ago
young swindier, who was an adept at
letter writing. got enough money out of
benevolent citizens to support this associa-
ton a whole month. He proceeded to
show that instead of being an additional
tax on the people, this system really saves
money to the taxpayers and protects from
fraud the kind hearted. In 1887, after ten
years trial in the city of Buffalo, pauper-
ism had been reduced so per cent, and the
superintendent declared that if funds
enough and friendly visitors sufficient
were given the association, 1897 would find
chronic pauperism practically eradicated
from Buffalo.
Mr.. Garrett called attention to the OBJ
lection sometimes raised against scientific
charity on the ground that it destroys in
dividual work and personal sympathy.
Continuing, he said in substance:
When regularly carried out this system has
just the opposite effect. "We should remember
the poor by the individual method as well as
by the general cooperative plan. In
ciated Charities guide and direct In nearly
all the larger cities OF the world
that individual work is carried on
by what is known as the Elberfeld system. This
means not only the distributing OF the city for the
service Of friendly visitors, but the placing OF
four poor families under the immediate care
and guidance of one friendly visitor who, by
tact and kindness sympathy and encourage
ment shall endeavor to teach these families the
lessons OF self help This is the only real remedy
for poverty. There il no reason why pauperism
should not in time be abolished. That over
$1,000 persons should have to receive aims in
this country during a single year is a blot upon
our civilization. Many quoting Christs words,
"The poor ye have with you always" waive all
responsibility on the ground that there must nee
essarily be poverty and there is no use worrying
about ii. But Christ did not say, "The poor ye
shall have with you always" Nor will the true
spirit of Christs teachings justify us in letting
well enough alone. Pauperism, aside from the
temporary distress oecssioned by misfortune,
can be cured by united, systematic and per-
sistent efforts. We shall not be loval citizens
unless we personally endeavor to promote uni
versal comfort and happiness in the life here on
earth. Unless we go to the root caused of pow
erty and stop the evil there, the plague win
spread and multiply marvelously. That noble
hearted philanthropist, Mr.. Oscar McCulloch,
made q study of one family in Indian
apolis and discovered that from one Ben
Ishmael, who lived in Kentucky about
1870, there had sprung before the
year 1870, 1850 paupers, among whom were l2S
prostitutes Imagine how much this one family
has cost the state. little friendly visiting,
advice and guidance years ago might have
saved the community this interminable ex-
pense, aud what is more important saved hun
dreds OF souls from the horrors of sin and dis
tress
Bishop Potter tells the story of how a Chris
tian woman in New York reclaimed from drink
by one days sisterly devotion a creature so
abandoned that she had been turned away as
irretrievable from nearly every asylum In that
city.
Mr.. Garrett pointed out that there is
great scope in connection with the Asso-
ciated Charities for personal aetiv-
ity in behalf of the poor. Every case of
distress in this city, whether chronic
or temporary, should have the brotherly or
sisterly attention of some friendly visitor.
He said: What work more glorious for
professed followers of Christ? Our Lord
himself has placed US the test of fitness for
the heavenly kingdom this personal care
for the unfortunate on earth. For [
was an hungered and ye gaveme meat; /
was thirsty and ye gave me drink; | was a
stranger and We took me in; naked and We
clothed me- j was sick and We visited me:
/ was in prison and We came unto me-
And when the righteous shall ask, when
did we all this p the King shall say: In
asmuch as we have done it unto one of the
least of these my brethren, ye have done it
unto me- ~