The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-12-12
ASSOCIATED CHARITIES.

ASSOCIATED CHARITIES.
The Annual Election and Reports of Of
fcers.
The Associated Charities held their an
nual meeting at their room In City
building yesterday afternoon. President
Gerrish in the chair.
This report WINS presented by Miss 0.
M Beckett the secretary, and ordered
on file:
Mr.. Presi1en and friends-About 20
years ago the idea began to impress itself
upon the minds of philanthrop1c men
and women of our country, those VINO
had han most experience In benevolent
work that hap-bazarf aims giving, the
sort that lacked knowledge, wisdom and
discrimination, was causing more evils
than it cured. Soon after this discovery,
and in consequence Of it, organized oharl-
ty had it's birth.
The first associated charities was orga-
niZed in Buffalo, N. Y, Immediately FOL
lowed by like societies in Philadelphia,
New Haven and Syracuse. The next
year our own saw the light, being the
fifth in order Of time in the United
States.
The basic principles of our organization
are Investigation and cooperation and
friendly visiting. Another has given in
q nut shell what there seek to accom-
plish. by investigation, the light is
turned Oh, and knowledge becomes the
maud maid Of pity. By cooperation
brourht to bear. By friendly visiting
the personal touch, all the higher values
of society, its mental and moral disoi-
pline, it's thrift, ingen v. hope, cour-
age and kindness. are I Led at the ser
vice Of the unfortunate, the dlSheartenea
and apathetic
Cur report for the past year is In many
respects most encouraging. Whereas dur
ing the first years Of our existence many
of our benevolent societies stood alooi,
not understanding our object and aims,
now there is scarcely one which does not
cooperate with us. For the kindly SYM
pathy aud prompt assistance, we render
them most hearty thanks.
Our monthly meetings have been regu-
larly held and with Que exception, owing
to severed torm, the attenianc has been
excellent A t every meeting two or more
members have been added. The subject
discussed at the first meeting was, what
shall be done with those men who from
| laziness or intemperance. Will not sup
port their families. This is the most dill :
cult problem that coDfronts us IN all
| our work, and as We had present some OF
the wisest and most experienced of our
city workers, we hoped to have soma
| light thrown upon it. Legislation against
| marriage of such classes, was suggested.
The whippiI post was limited at. but
| no effective method of dealing could De
| found.
| At another meeting the probation law
| of Massaeh usetts was considered. ny
this law the offender. if deemed best, 10
| not placed in confinement but SLOWED
| under the eye of the probation onseer, 80
| continue his occupation and tfus sup
mort his family, or in case OF young per-
sons assisted for the first offence, under
the eye of the same officer, released after
certain term of good behavior, witnou1
the stigma which would cling to them
of having been in jail or house OF cnrreo-
ton. We all admitted the great efficiency
| of such a law, and some time when our
| city fathers have not quite as many Calls
| for outlay as at present, mean to ask tnat
| Portland culprits may be dealt Win as
those in Massachusetts are.
At still another meeting the condition
of the tenement houses occupied by the
poor people WIS the theme of discussion.
Some facts were brought to light which
surprised us all A paper prepared Tor
the Boston charities. by Mrs. Alice LIN
coin. was read, W hich was full of cautious
suggestions. Although there is Still
abundance of work in our city for the
health officer and reformer along this
line there has been some improvements
the past summer, and we hope for still
greater In the near future. "
| Agniu the curfeW law, looking to the
better protection of our young people.
was before us. A petition asking that
the boys and girls, under Is years, be
kept from the public streets. promenades
| Cjo nCG u
in summer after 9, unless accompanied
by parents or guardians, was widely cir
culated, and many influen tial signatures
obtained But our city government ga
NOT deem it best to grant our request.
The end is not yet. This ordinance, en-
acted first in our Western cities, has now
reached the East, advancing rapidly In
public favor. We shall be heard from
| again in this matter.
There have ueen 1l2 applications for
aid the mast season. These, when found
worthy Gas WAS the case with 3ost), were
referred TO the different benevolent soc1-
cites. and received prompt relief. There
have been 40 new cases investigated, ano
quite q large number re-lns estlgated.
The agents of the Associated Charlu!es
in cities far and near, have sent inquiries
concerning those who formerly I'VE
here, or say they have formerly ilTeo
here Against four of these cases only
we were obliged to mark frauds.
We aaTe a work Of caution when car
hest be given by an illustration. Las
winter there came here family iron
Massa chusetts in very destitute c'rcum
| stances. Immediately on this fact being
, known several individuals started out
independent of each other, to gather II
for the needy ones with such results Una
/ there was food enough snpplIeo LOT thres
or four families of its size, and mucf
was necessarily spoiled. So much cloth
ing was collected, as for instance. fou
oyercoats for tbs man, that part wa
boxed up and put aside. Had there beer
careful investigation as to the past, VIVA
was needed and concerted action IN sup
plying the need, no such extravagan
waste would have occurred.
In looking forward to another yea