Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-24
HELP FOR THE POOR.
THE GENERAL COMMITTEE WILL SOON
GET DOWN TO WORK.
Dr. Parker Has Over Three Tons Of Cloth
Ing at His New Quarters on
Main street.

To give to the needy Is one OF the great
est pleasures that has been granted to
mankind by an alI-wise Providence. and
at no season Of the year should this plea
sure be more literally INDUCED In than
ut Christmas time. when Joy should reign
supreme.
There are families In Richmond--aye.
many families--who. while they may stroll
the streets and witness the glad throng
In their preparations for merriment, are
unable to Join in the general festivities,
and only return to their bare homes,
where children are crying for the peces-
caries OF life and the gaunt wolf OF
hunger stalks back and forth in bold
effrontery.
That great deal OF charity exists
among the citizens of Richmond Is I'M
questionable. but a geat deal OF suffer-
ing also exists, and II is impossible for
too much TO be done to alleviate In a
measure this suffering.
The ladies OF the City Mission are do
I Ing noble work, but their efforts and
means are insufficient to cope with the
problem which confronts them. Frater-
nal organizations throughout the city are
doing excellent work, and. DR.. Parker is
exerting his every energy in lessening the
wants of the destitute.
HAS TONS OF CLOTHING.
When seen yesterday by Dispatch
representative the Doctor expressed him
! self as being deeply gratiied at the
generosity displayed in response to his
call for clothing for the poor. and stated
that he had collected over three tons Of
clothing, the greater part of which was
| In first-class condition. He has enough,
he says, TO clothe every destitute man,
woman, and child in Richmond. He has
since his call for contributions received
money donations in sums ranging from
30 cents to SIS. The latter sum was sent
him b. Aurora Lodge. No. 116. /. o. o.
+. This amount had been voted by them
for a supper. but the members of the
lodge, In true Odd-Fellowship style. de-
cided TO forego the pleasure of a supper
and render some assistance to the needy.
The clothes which DR.. Parker has col
lected have been removed to No. 1926
east Main street, which place was placed
at his disposal by Messrs. Williams &
Bowo for as long a period as necessary
A CENTRAL MOVEMENT.
In referring to the committee OF seven
teen who were appointed at the mass
melting at the Young Mems Christian AS
ISOLATION building TO arrange for n conf
! missary to be opened at some point In
| the city, from which food may be sup
| piled to those who neeG II, the Doctor
said that he felt assured that they would
be able to do good work and accomplish
excellent results. 81 shall propose at the
meeting of the committee TO be held
Tuesday night" said he, that instead
| of making Il canvass OF the residential
portion of the city for funds the COM
mittee call upon the bankers. capitalists,
| and businessmen for contributions. This
method will be productive of much better
results, and will, / am sure, produce the
money in a much quicker time. Five
thousand dollars will be all that the
committee VIII require. The city. l
think, can be gotten TO give 5000
had a talk with Mayor Ellyson. and he
was inclined TO the belief that the Coun-
ell would, If properly approached, APP
propriate $1,000 in January and another
/ $1,000 in February.
| IL think we are now properly started
| IN our charitable work, and hope by the
| middle of January to be able to report
that the suffering among our people has
| been reduced TO a minimum"
GREAT NEED FOR HELP.
! Mr. William II. Peasants, when asked
for an expression of his ideas concerning
the question of the need for charity In
Richmond, said: There is unquestionably
n great deal of suffering in Richmond
years. The different charitable organiza-
lions are doing everything in their power
to alleviate in a measure a vast deal of
| this suffering. and they are being very
materially assisted in their efforts by the
charitable citizens generally. While
great deal Of good is being done some
little harm is also being done By this
promiscuous distribution of charities.
With so many church and charitable or
CARNATIONS of all kinds, working indie
pendently of each other, 1t is only ma
tural that mistakes should occur. Many
families, who are more clamorous for
aid than others, have been attended to
by all of the organizations, while many
of the families who are equally as needy.
but are too modest TO make known their
wants, are left to suffer.
IF the charitable organizations ana
people would combine together and dis
tribute their aims through one source.
and in a systematic manner. the diff
Guilty of duplicating and duplicating chart
ties would be obviated."
The employees Of the Cardwell Machine
| Company yesterday sent TO Mrs. Plea
SAINTS the value of one days work each
for distribution among the needy.