The morning call., 1894-01-04
TO AID THE POOR.
Work Done by Our City
Organizations.
How the st. Vincent de Paul Society
Cares for the Needy in the
Different Parishes.

Now that the needs of the unemployed
are forcing themselves so strongly upon
the consideration of the community, and
such urgent appeals are being made to our
more fortunate citizens to assist in swell
ing the fund for their benefit. it is perhaps
well to call the attention TO the fact that
much Of the truest kind of charitable W ork
is going on In our midst from day to day
of which special mention is seldom made.
Any one glancing over the files for the
last month cannot fail to be impressed
with the number of eedy persons whose
lives have been frightened during this
Christmas season by presents Of food and
clothing for themselves and their chill
dTen. The many charitable organizations
Of the city have done their best in every
way to send little holiday sunshine into
the hearts of the poor and respondent.
and have done much good, although it has
perfOTce been of temporary kind.
Excellent Christmas dinners have fallen
to the lot of every one not too proud TO ac-
cept this kind of cheer publicly, an d if
there be child in the city who has not
had a gift of toy il certainly is not the
fault of the kind ladies who have tried
hard to search them al out and make them
happy.
Besides this special Christmastide Civ
ing there are many societies whose labOTs
among Iu6 poor are CONTINUAL. OuT ASSO-
clate0 Charities does much work quietly
the year around, as does the Fruit and
Flower Mission, the Kings Daughters, the
Daughters of the Good Shepherd, the Fran
cisca Society and kindred organizations.
OF all these societies, however, ole of
the most important and far-re aching is
that of st. Vincent de Paul, which extends
all over our city and has as many branches
as there are Roman Catholic parishes in
the diocese. The payment OF small sum
monthly admits a person TO membership
in this association and the necessity and
duty of joining il are frequently and
strongly impressed upon the different con-
gregatiODs by their pastors.
To this society the church poor-boxes are
tributary, as is also every church member,
even the poorest who are not in actual
need giving their mite gladly. since il is
always the poor who know best how to
pity those poorer than themselves. Even
poor washerwomen and labOrers con-
tribute their twO-bts each month TO the
fund, and the amount of these small sums
is sufficient TO do much good in the differ
ent parishes, although as in all charlta bic
work the demand generally exceeds the
supply. The benevolent work of this
society is systematic and not spasmodic;
there are no public dinners and no
Christmas trees, but all the year around
cases of distress are reported at the
weekly meetings of each branch, investi-
gated by the officers of that branch and
relieved to as great an extent as is possible.
Each parish in the city thus takes care
of its own poor within Its own limits, and,
by having the town carefully districted,
there is no chance for possible 'repeaters"
to take advantage of the kindness of the
different churches.
The society of st. Vincent de Paul is
ably seconded and assisted by the Catholic
Ladies Aid Society. which has branches in
the several parishes. and together they ac-
complish much good among The poor Of the
community though in most quiet and IN
ostentatious manner. During the last
year over $1,000 has been expended by the
st. Vincent de Paul Society alone, going
from their hands directly to those in need
Their plan of work, with its excellent re-
suits. seems worthy of imitation by other
religious organizations.