The herald., 1895-03-03
THE
LADIES
OF THE
ASSOCIATED
CHARITIES
OF
LOS ANGELES

The system of associating charities was
first instituted in London, England, about
twenty years ago, and was the outgrowth
of much thought among active and prac-
teal charity workers, who had seen and
realized the vast amount of money and
strength wasted by charitably disposed in
divlduals and societies, through indis-
criminate alms-giving, to say nothing OF
its demoralizing effect upon those whom
such giving was intended to help.
During these twenty years the system
has grown and spread until it is now the
established method of relief in all the
cities of Europe and the United States 1t
is national institution and every organi-
cation is in communication with every
other similar society. Unfortunately its
method and aim is still misunderstood by
very many people, notwithstanding the
fact that it has the hearty sympathy and
earnest support of great majority OF
charity workers throughout the civilized
world.
Its one object is to prevent fraud and
imposition its one aim, to ferret out the
deserving among the needy and either as
sist them or refer their cases to the proper
channel with recommendation for help.
There has been and is so much mis-
placed sentimentality in charity work that
the founders of the Associated Charities
and those who are carrying on the work,
felt and still feel the imperative need OF
investigating the history of every case
presented. This is done in order to guard
against helping some who are already be-
Co Nv OIL IN tho ri mo II,
of those who may be in as dire need, but
who have no means of getting assistance
from any source.
The local organization is founded on the
same principles, and the work is carried
on along the same lines as all the other
charity organizations. 1t is the outgrowth
of the Ladies Benevolent Society, and
was formally organized and named 1.-The
Associated Charities of Los Angeles, "
November 10, 1898, but active and regular
work was not commenced until January
/, 1894.
1t came into existence at the most criti-
cal time in the history of the city, and in
its fifteen months OF life has met and
dealt with the situation in a manner that
reflects the greatest possible credit upon
uuc mdSbcIly ClhOlCHCy VI iOc oiiSCio. Ii
never has had, and has not now, the sup
port it deserves and might have. In other
cities the membership ranges from 81 to
500, with the greatest number at So and
$40 per year. The Los Angeles member
ship is 81 annually and last year there
were only 1856 members out of the tens of
thousands of inhabitants; and this, with
some timely and generous donations, has
been its sole revenue.
The San Francisco association, which
has the smallest force of paid employees
of any of these associations, has six on its
pay roll the Los Angeles association has
Just one, who draws salary so small that
if be did not have other pay-also small
for doing the county relief work, it would
not be possible for him to attend to the
duties he has to perform, and yet he does
three mems work.
Mr.. Stuart is ably assisted by Mrs. H.
G. Bath the third vice-president of the
association, whose heart is as big and as
generous for humanity as her head is
clear for business. She is noble exam-
pie of womanhood, and since the incep-
ton of the organization has given her
time and her physical, mental and moral
strength to her self-imposed task about
twenty-five hours each day, that the
money which would have had to be used
in payment of salaries for the same work
from others might be devoted to the
assistance of the needy. If Christian for
titude and perseverance for humanity S
sake is any guarantee of the crown here
after, Mrs. Baths crown is an assured
fact.
Since January, 1894, the Los Angeles
Associated Charities have had reported
and have investigated 1850 cases OF fam-
lies, aside from the hundreds of cases of
single men, all of which are on file in the
headquarters of the association in the
Court House. These reports or statements
are all numbered and indexed for the con-
venience and ready reference of the work
ers, or for the use of other societies, who
may be called upon for aid; and by thus
keeping complete record of what is being
done, what has been done, and by whom,
overlapping and fraud are, to large ex-
tent, prevented.
Individual workers of other organiza-
tions are free to avail themselves of the
privilege of the information this society
has at its command, and it is at the dis
posal OF all those who are properly inter
ested in the work.
1t is not to be made public, nor exposed
to the idle curiosity of any one, but is
simply for the protection of the helper
and the one being helped.
. A statement is taken on blanks which
are carefully filled out as follows: