The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1894-03-22

VI tue Union Relief Society last Monday,
II was decided that as the winters work
seemed to be finished and there were as
TAR as known. no more cases oil need, the
Monday afternoon meetings would be
discontinued. for a time. 1t is desired,
however, that any needin the assistance
OF the society be reported to the officers,
as heretofore. Contributions of clothing
will he received and distributed by tae
execution committee, aud special meet
ings will be called at any time, when i.
is deemed nrcesssr Try.
The society, winch was organize last
November, has fifty three members, ana
the weekly meetings have had an aver.
age attendance OF twenty.two. Great
care has been exercised that aII reported
cases be thoroughly investigated in or
der that persons be assisted according
TO their need, and the distribution be
made as wisely as possible The aim
has been mainly to .e!ieve the wants OF
women and chiltrsn who, on account oil
this years financial depression, sickness
or any either misfortune have required
assistance:
That the work might be done most
effectively, four committees were APP
pointed, each TO have entire response
bility for the discharge OF its respective
duties. These are the visitings soliciting
work and executive commit tees. The
town was divided INTO districts, each
member OF The visiting committee hav-
ing one of these as her special field in
which she is - seek out and visit needy
tamiies, ascertainlug the ma lure and ex-
tent of need and report to the society;
when it is decided by vote, W here assist
ance shall be gwen. The soliciting COM
mittee solicits money and clothing. The
work committee plans and prepares
work tor each regular meeting. The ex-
ecution committee makes purchases as
directed by the society and distributes
food and clothing to those whom it has
been decided to aid, reporting all such
purchases and distribution to the soc1e-
ty, an account of which, with names of
those helped. and lists of articles given
is kept by the secret ary In order that
all interested in this effort, may know of
the extent of tae work done, the follow
ing information-is given: -.--
Fifty.two families have been helped.
Of these, ten live in the country. Food
has been bought for nine, all have receiy-
ed clothing. Seven hundred garments
have been given out. A quantity of
good reading matter has also been
given, wherever it could be used. r total
amount OF money paid INTO the treasury
one hundred, two dollars and six cents,
of which twenty-five dollars and eighty
cents was membership fees; (this in.
cludes the fees of forty gentlemen, who
arc honary members. Seven de- liars and
eighty-one cents was contributed and
sixty-eight dollars and forty-fve cents
were the receipts of the concert. Sixty
five dollars has been paid out for materi-
al for GARMENTS, shoes and food, leaving
a balance now i'll the treasury of thirty
seven dollars and six cents.
When the ladies began the work last
fall, no one knew what It's extent would
be; but when visiting and Investigation
were entered upon Systematically, so
many were found to be suffering from
actual want, whose condition would
doubtless not have been known, had
there not been this organized efforF, that
the necessity for this movement was
found to be evengreater, than had been
supposed. 1t has been very gratifying
to those engaged in the work. to be able
to relieve so much distress, cheer the dis
ccuraged, and enable the desp pairing ones
to get through this hard winter. And
not these alone have been benefited, but
the workers, themselves, have found
that in giving they receive, that by CON-
ing into touch with their less fortunate
and knowing OF their trials
and difficulties, valuable lessons have
been learned, feeling of XII ndness and
sympathy has been created, class lines
have been crossed, and common brother
hood OF man has been established among
us. While all over the land noble effort
has been put forth for the unfortunate,
upon whom the burden of these Lard
times has fallen SD heavily, this little
band IN Sank Centre. feel that they, too,
have had part in the grand work, and
will share i'll the approval of him, who
said,-"In as much as ye have done it
uato the least of these my brethren, We
have done it unto me-" -