The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-11-29
In AID OF THE POOR.
Objects of the Charities Bureau
Explained.
TO GIVE BY a WISE SYSTEM.
Coed work Accomplished by Charity
Organizations In This aud Other
Larger Cftfes-

The meeting held last night at the First
Methodist church in behalf OF the Bureau
OF Associated Charities Vas not so we'll
attended Is the object for which IL was
called deserved. Those who had inter
ested themselves in getting the meeting
up had worked hard TO make il q success
fai one. and they were unfortunate IN
being disappointed by the absence OF sew
ersl who were to address it. Mayor
Phelps, who was expected 10 preside. Was
unable to be present, and Chairman
Gasch, OF the board of county commits
sioners. was also absent
When the meeting opened the lower
part of the auditorium was fairly we'll
filed, and on the rostrum were seated Rev.
ID. c. Garrett, Rev. Wallace Sutting. Rev.
W. r. Taylor. Rev. Alexander Alison.
Father Garland, Superintendent j. y.
Gilfner, Of the charities bureau, Crittenden
Van Wyck and Charles F. Fishback The
Elks were represented By Exalted Ruler
T. j. E. scoones, and Queen City Lodge,
No. 10, X of p. by Chancellor Commander
ii. y. Parker. The First Regiment or.
chestra donated the instrumental music
for the evening and Miss Lottie selden.
Miss Ruby Bray aud Herman Julich gave
the vocal part of the programme.
After prayer by Rev. Wallace Nutting.
Rev. ID. c. Garrett announced that he had
received q telegram from Mayor Phelps,
who was on his say home from Portland.
saying that the train he was on had been
stopped by landslide and that he could
not reach the city in time to preside.
Chairman Gasch. of the board Of county
commissioners had also sent a note ex-
pressing regret that sickness would pre-
vent his attendance. Mr.. Garrett then ex-
planned the objects of the organization.
saying that the Bureau of AssocIst tel
Charities was not an experiment: every
city of size in the United States and Eu-
rope had q similar organization, and it
had been tried aud proved success
ful everywhere. The bureau was
clearing house. Where there we're so
many different societies organized for the
giving of charity, it was necessary, in
order to prevent overlapping. TO have one
central office. SO that the different societies
could be- brought together into one system
and for protection against deadbeats. An
other purpose was to prevent indiscrimi-
nate and wasteful giving. and 10 find and
help the poor who were not so camorous
in their needs as were a large proportion
OF those to whom charity vas given. Ii
furnished an opportunity for all relief So
cIeties to do their work inteliigently.
Superintendent j. \. Gilmer tn en- read
his report for the last year, showing that
during the year 2, 735 persons had applied
to the bureau for assistance. There had
been 263 calls for Iaborers and servants,
1901 applicants for work; 436 had been
given employment; 81 had been given
medical aid; So transportation out of the
city: sos families had been supplied with
provisions: 4l6 with clothing: IS with
fuel, and S with free water service: 90
emergency cases were supplied with meals
and lodgings One hundred and forty cases
were investigate and l25 contributions
were received. Last Christmas Us families
were supplied with clothing. provisions,
etc.
Rev. ". r. Taylor then delivered very
interesting address. in which be spoke of
the charity organization III Indianapolis,
With which he had had something 10 do,
but not so much, he said. as some might
suppose, because after the Associated
Charities organization had been in ex-
istenca few years IL was SO successful
that it took care of itself. He believed
that an ideal society would be real some
day. when not hand need hang Idle, not
child cry for bread, but notwith-
standing the efforts that were contin-
ually being put forth TO aid the poor
there was yet terrible restitution
everywhere. He wanted to live 10
see poverty abolished, and believed it
to be possible. lie mentioned the work
being done by ali the different societies
and by Gen. Booth, Of the Salvation
Army, and said that notwithstanding all
this people were starving. People have
nor Sufficiently iearsed the grace OF Civ
ing. Another great trouble was that there
was so much waste in giving. Ii is indis-
crlminate and private giving of money
that keeps up saloons. In twenty years
experience in the ministry he had yet TO
have the first deserving man come TO his
door for aid. The class that went around
back doors begging for meals Was not
worthy OF help. Il was simply common
sense 10 have general society when in
discriminate giving is wasteful and
harmful
Charles r. Fishbsek then made short
~peeca on "How Shalt We Relieve the
Poor" ia which he told several humorous
anecdotes. and mingled his humor With
the pathos Of tales OF p)verty aud want
collection vas taken up and the audi
enoe dismissed with the singing OF the