The Portland daily press., 1894-02-06
temporarily without employment are as
a rule the unskilled mechanics and over
numerous day laborers.
PORTLAND PRovlDENT ASSOCIATION
Something About Its History And Its
Present Condition.
To the Editor of the Press:

| L Y ttC AItttdOI W Tue L TtSS.
Forty years ago today the Portland
| Provldent Association was organized.
The organization was the result of a dis
| cussion as to how the wants of the poor
| tematically, and to their best advantage,
which arose at a meeting Of a literary
| club at the residence of Rev. VIM. B. Hay
den during the winter of 1S53-54. So
| great was the interest manifest ted that a
meeting of all citizens in sympathy with
the movement was called at the City
Hall, in Market Square, on the evening
of Feb. 5, 1854, to which call goodly
number responded. Mr.. Z. C. Hersey
called the meeting to order, Mayor j. Is.
Calhoun was chosen chairman, and II.
B. Hart Secretary. A blessing was in
voked by Rev. James Pratt, and the OBJ
ject of the meeting was fully outlined
by the chairman. A constitution was
adopted and officers for the year chosen
consisting of John B. Brown. President,
| Eliphalet Greedy, Nathan Cummings and
| Samuel Fessenden. Vice Presidents.
Joseph C.Noyes, Secretary, Eben Steele,
| Hart, Oliver Gerrish, Martin Gore, Geo.
F.Shepley, VIM. Chase, c. Thomas Haul
mond, VIM. Hadley, H. J. Libby, I. c.
Hersey, Joseph .Symonds, James l.. Far
mer, f. C. Moody. Ezra Carter, Jr., H.
c. Barnes, I. R: Jones, ]. B. Scott, Hiram
CovelI &C. Harmon, John M. Wood,
Jedediah Jewett, A bner Lowell, Rufus
E. Wood and S. r. Lyman as board of
directors. None of these are now living,
S. r. Lyman, who died few months
since, being the last survivor.
For ten years the Association kept up
the good work, using the limited con-
tributions to it's funds in the relieT OF the
deserving poor, sometimes closing the
season in debt, the deficit being made
so useful had been it's work, that it was
incorporated. The officers at this time
were Joseph r. Thompson, President
BENZ Kingsbury, jr., J. Z. McCobb and
Samuel Rolfe Vice Presidents, Ezra Car
ter, jr., Treasurer, James P. Baxter
Secretary. For ten years Mr.. Baxter was
the very efficient secretary, his records
being models of neatness in penmanship
and in clearness of expression.
In the thirty years since it's lncorpora-
ton it has received some few legacies,
and in some years when calls have not
been unusually urgent has been able
to add a little to the permanent fund
thus created, the income on it enabling
the Association to extend its useful work
served that only fuel and provisions and
some clothing shall be furnished ito
worthy applicants, no money being given
except in cases of extreme and immedl-
ate restitution need.
During the winter the agent is at the
Office of the Association for an hour at
least daily, and with him two of the
board of advisors to assist him and de-
termine the worth of the applications
which are made for assistance. During
it's forty years of quiet, useful work at
least $40, 600 have been expended for sup
plies, and thousands of garments have
been distributed.
Necessarily very large. share OF the
usefulness Of the Association is due to
the ability of the agent as upon him
very largely devolves the work of col
Letting the annual contributions and dis
tributing them. This place has been
most worthily filed. The first agent
was Rev. W. H. Hadley, who was elected
in 1854 In 1856 he was succeeded by
Rev. Thos. B. Ripley; he in 1895 by Rev.
Oliver P. Tuckerman, who continued
until his death early in 1868. Mr.. &C.
Hayes followed him, serving until 1870,
when Col. Joseph r. Thompson was ap-
pointed, continuing until 1883. The pres
emit efficient agent, Rev. w. L. Phelan was
his successor, having held the office
eleven years.. The worthy poor of all
beneficiariessof it's quiet helpfuless. May
it's good work continue SO long as poverty
and distress are with us.
The officers for the present year are as
follows: Chas. Henry Chase, President;
VIM. NJ Marks, Geo. Trefethen, J Fred
Sturdivant, Vice Presidents, Chas.ssS.
FoDes, Treasurer: Philip f. Turner,
Secretary; Board of Advisors, Alfred
Woodman, W. W. Brown, Eben Corey,
Edward Gould, F. K.Swan, WA. Quin-
cey. WIS. Dana, J.P. Baxter, Alfred Has
Gerrish, E. F. Chase, Geo. H. Lord, Sam
uel Rolfe, Aug. Cummings, Lewis Pierce
Jefferson Chase, Thomas Pennell, &c.
Chase, Geo. W. Simonton, Freeman Gree
nough, Julia Cousens, o. W. Fullam.
Origin of Taxes in England.