The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-04-07
THE LEND-A-HAND MISSION.
a Branch for the Distribution Of
Reading Matter 30 lie Established

a Branch for the Distribution OF
Reading Matter 80 lie Established
Here.
Miss Sarah p. Brigham. founder OF the
I.end-a-Hand Club. Of Boston. Mass. Is
in the city for the purpose OF organizing
here a branch Of the Lend-a- Hand Book
Mission.
This is new movement. which was or
ganized by Miss Brigham in Boston about
four years ago and the work OF which
Is being gradually pushed through
out the country. Its object is
to provide free Of cost good
reading matter, such as second
hand books. papers and magazines 10
people in the country who have not
many opportunities for securing fl. and TO
the occupants Of such Institutions as
schools. churches. factorias. penitenti-
aries and the like. that are not well enough
supplied with funds to furnish their
own literature.
Miss Brigham has talked with several
OF the well-knOwn charity workers here.
and it has been decided that this is a
good field for the organization Of a
branch Of the Lend-a-Ha Book Mission.
Organization is perfected 10y securing
ten active workers. including a president.
vice president and corresponding secre-
tary. Then a room is secured for keep
ing all the literature and reading matter
furnished to the branch for distribution
and once or twice a week some OF the
members stay at the room for the pur-
pose or distributing the literature among
teachers, ministers, factory overseers, and
the Keepers Of penitentiaries. hospitals
and jails, and wherever il is called for.
The members of such a branch are not
required 20 pay any dues or fees whatever,
nor Is this work called a charity by those
in charge of 1t. It Is rather n distribu-
ton Of reading matter and literature that
would otherwise 90 TO waste ana destruc-
tion, among those to whom 1t VIII be of
use and to whom II will be a means of
furnishing knowledge and pleasure.
These branches of the main Office act as
bureaus of information for that Office.
They, Of course, secure what literature
they can in their own community for the
purpose of distribution in the manner sta
ted, and they also find the places that are
barren OF reading matter, and these are
reported 10 the Lend-a-Hand Club at Bos-
ton. This club then sends out to the
branch office boxes and barrels OF litera-
ture for distribution in the places speci-
fed. and pays the freight upon it, so that
=
TO no expense at ALL
branches have been organized at Au-
Eusta and Milledgeville in this state. and
at Columbia and Greenville in South Caro-
lima. The secretary in charge in South
Carolina IS Mr.. j. W. Thompson of Rock
HILL The work has been quite extensive
through the north since the organization
of the Boston club Last year over 1000
letters and cards were received asking
about reading matter. and literature was
furnished to more than $4,000 readers.
Miss Brigham is the representative Of no
particular organization or denomination.
Her work is for and among all denomina-
lions and classes. and in connection with
the mother Lend-a-Hand Club of Boston.
Is doing much good throughout the coun-
try. She acts as the medium between
those who have old literature they do not
want, and those who desire to secure il.
The work has in view the benedting Of all
classes and races, and II is expected that
those among whom the literature IS dis
tributed will, when they have finished
with 1t, keep it going from hand to hand,
so that sort of a circulating library is
thus formed.
Miss Brigham will meet some of Savan-
nah's prominent charity workers in a day
or two for the purpose of perfecting here
q branch of the Lend-a-Hand mission.
The work will no doubt be one that will
meet with much encouragement.