The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-11-04
WORK OF THE NEEDLEWORK GUILD.
What Its Doing for the Needy of
This City.
Many Poor and Discouraged Mothers
VIII Have Their Hearts Glad
ened by Its Work.

Comparatively few or our cltlZenS are
aware of a great work that is being
carried on in our midst quietly and
without parade, but which will be far
reaching in its benefits to the poor of
our city during the coming winter, and
Will carry joy and comfort into many of
the homes of the destitute
1t is the work of the Needlework
stituted in Philadelphia some years ago
and the work has since spread all over
the United States
The work is conducted in each city
by sections, each having a President
and Directors, and under the direction
OF General President. The object is
to provide clothing for distribution to
the poor, and the members are all
contributors. Each member must con-
tribute at least two articles of clothing,
ana as many more as she desires. The
donation of twenty-five articles enti
ties one to become a Section Director
and the donation of 40 garments enti-
ties one to become a Section President
Mrs. Newton Booth, who had an op-
portunity to observe the workings of
the guild in San Francisco, on her re-
ing guild here. 1t started in with
fourteen sections and has now nine
teen. AS each section compoSes ten
members, there is a membership at
present of 100 members. Although old
clothes are accepted if offered, they are
not counted as contributions to affect
the standing in sections of contribut-
orS. The present membership should,
when all the garments are in, have
given about 1000 garments.
A visit by Record Union representa-
tive TO the Croker mansion at Third
and o streets found Mrs. Booth superin-
tending the asserting of over 1000
garments already sent in. The various
articles of clothing were sorted out into
Plies. and he was astOnished to see
the variety and excellence of the gar
merts. Everything that comes in is in
perfect order and ready for use There
were many articles for children made
by the members themselves, such as
street muslin waists, drawers and skirts
and furnished with hose-supporters,
which were supplemented by cOmfOTta
bic hose and underwear purchased from
the stores. Comfortable skirts were
there, too, for half-groWn girls and
women, besides various other articles
OF clothing and underwear. Many ar
ticles of underwear and clothing, COM
Portable and warm, and of excellent
quality, were there also for men and
boys also; in fact, all that anyone of
either sex or of any age could wish for.
There were, however very few shoes,
and Mrs. Booth gently insinuated that,
as men also are eligible to become mem
berS, and there are two large sales of
shoes going on at present in the city,
that donations of that kind from those
men, young or old, who possessed the in
clination to assist their less fortunate
fellow beings, would be gladly received,
and she hoped that number would en-
brace the opportunity to do good at a
snail outlay.
1t is not proposed to give out these
articles indiscriminately to all appli-
cantS. On the contrary, certain MEM
bers will be selected to make investiga
tons into the necessities of people, and
many articles will be contributed to
persons who do not make application
but whose necessities are known. In
fact, there are a number of garments
which have been made by members to
be given to specified persons or families
who will never know from whom they
came or how they came to be given
them. Great care will be taken that the
articles do not fall into unworthy hands
or go to those who make it a business
to live on charitable contributions.
There are a number of such in this
city, but they are known to the officers
of the guild.
1t is a remarkable fact, says Mrs.
Booth, that very few of the rich people
of the city are members of the guild,
the membership being almost entirely
OF those in only moderate circum-
stances She does not despair however
OF eventually enlisting in the work
number of those who are able to con-
tribute literally, and thus effect much
more good than at present. Last year
San Francisco, with twenty-five sec
tons, was the banner guild, diStribut-
ing about 800 garments, and she
hopes this year to have Sacramento
beat that record.
At some time in the near future, when
the various sections have completed
and brought in their work, it is pro-
posed to have two afternoons on
which the contributing members Will
be invited to call and see their own
handiwork and that of the other sec
TONS and after that the clothing viii
be distributed under proper supervision.