The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-01-20

That there is need of immediate CO.
operation by the public for the relief of
the poor was impressed upon the mind
of TIMES reporter yesterday when
visiting the clergymen of the city. It
was his object to find out the wants of
the poorer classes during this unpre-
cedented weather. and by what means
they were surviving the extreme cold,
when out-of-doors labor had been shut
Off almost entirely, and also to gain the
assistance of the church in organizing a
food and fuel popular subscription fund
for their support which is to be worked
upon the following basis:
Subscriptions from the public in any
amounts will be received at The TIMES
Office, such contributions to be held sub.
ject to the order of the ministers OF the
city until they can meet and appoint a
com mittee to dispose of them among
the worthy poor of the city. The city
to be divided into sections, and the do
nations to be made according to the
amount of poverty in tho district and in
the shape OF orders upon grocery and
provision stores and upon tho coal and
wood yards. Outside of the financial
benefits for the poor, there is another
and equally useful charity. Every nan
and woman of position in Roanoke can
certainly spare something from their
clothes press. Any thing in the way OF
clothing will be acceptable. In fact any
and all kinds Of contributions will be
thankfully received, such as groceries,
provisions, coal, wood. or any useful
article for the poor. All contributions
to be addressed FOOD and Fuel Fund,
TIMES Office" Every morning an &C
acknowledgement of the receipts OF the
previous day will be made in THE TIMES.
In speaking of the present charities
many OF the preachers said that the
poor of the city were loath TO apply for
assistance either to the city, the
churches or the aid societies and that
it was actually necessary to hunt out
the cases of destitution, their Unborn
pride preventing the poor making their
wants known.
Rev. j. w. Lynch, of st. Andrews,
said to reporter that it was absolutely
necessary in number of cases to seek
out tue poor who really knew that they
had only to ask to be aided
All of thes churches in the city are
doing wonderful work. not only for the
poor OF their congregations, but also
with such outside suffering as comes to
their notice, and the same applies to
the work Of the mayor and the aid
societies, but still there is absolute
want going on in Roanoke, and particu.
larly in the eastern portion Of the city.
The preachers in that district sum
married number of cases, which even
while they were engaged in dispensing
aid came to their ears only by accident.
Rev. w. II Meade. rector of St.
Johns Church, said: "Such an unusual
spell OF hard weather as we have been
passing through calls for unusual
ing poor in our city. Among such
methods is The TINES fund of which I
wish to express my thankful appreci-
alton. This effort will reach many
cheerful givers whom the churches can.
not reach, and its proposed management
will secure a judicious distri bution
among the deserving poor"
0. e. Flippo, Of the First Baptist
Church, said: "All honor to THE TINES
for the gracious prompting There is
a power OF Christianity in such charity
fund. 1t can be raised and 1t is needed.
There is much destiIution in Roanoke,
but our pc ,ple are responsible to every
call for the re ief Of human suffering.
The method OF distribution insures the
prompt and proper apportionment OF
every dime contributed whore it is
mostlp needed. Let every one hear and
heed the cry Of the poor am on my
way now to an afflicted home with funds
from the church of which I am pastor"
w. L. Hammer, pastor OF Greene.
Memorial Church: 1.-THE TIMES food
and fuel fl ,rt for the poor is a noble
effort, in good cause and / most
heartily approve OF it. The churches
and benevolent societies are making
con mendable efforts to supply the
suffer ng poor, bat the situation is
extraordinary, little short of perilous,
and calls for special effort. sincerely
nope that our enthusiastically char
liable people will Cooperate with your
excellent plan"
Father Lynch, of st. Andrews
Catholic Church, in conversation with
the reporter, said: You can put me
down as saying that L will do every
thing in my power. Ihave been out to-
day on the same errrnd and 1 am salts.
fed that with systematic work the OBJ