The Saint Paul globe., 1896-12-09
ARE THoUGHrFULLY CONSIDERED
BY THE ASSOCIATED CHARI-
TIES OF ST. PAUL.
PUBLIC AND / PRIVATE AID.
TION re THE GENERAL
SUBJECT.
is DEMANDED.
To Simplify and Strengthen the
Force of the Agencies Now
Operating.

Operating.
The proper sources from which re-
lief can be obtained was the general
theme before the twenty-frst parlor
| conference of the Associated Charities
at the home Of Rev. DR.. Samuel G..
Smith, 125 College avenue, last even
! ms. The parlors of Dr.: Smiths cheer
ful home were filled. Four Sources OF
relief We're suggested, from the city,
the church, the charitable society and
the individual, and each source was
ably treated in papers presented at
the meeting. Following out the long
established plan, the Associated Char
tiles seeks by these parlor conferences
to educate the public at large in the
work it is doing and the practical re-
/ suits which accrue from it. Gradually
the old idea Of indiscriminate almsgiv-
ing is passing away, the charitably in
clined coming to a realization that the
| old system was a breeder rather than
an exterminater of paupers. The new
system is scientific in it's intent and
is calculated to cultivate self-respect,
self-reliance and pride in the applicant.
The papers read at last nights confer
ence intelligently illustrated the sources
from which practical charity gains it's
sustenance and the reforms which
might be introduced to make the sys-
tenn yet more successful. Rev. Father
]. F. Dolphin presided.
H. H. Hart spoke upon 1.-THE City as a
said:
1t has been. conceded that the city or county
should provide an almshouse and a hospital
for the care of such poor persons as need
that kind Of provision. 1t is the general
practice throughout the United States for the
city or the county to provide what is known
| as outdoor relief or relief furnished to the
poor in their own homes, as distinguished
from care in almshouses or hospitals.
The provision made by the Ramsey county
aimshouse Is nobly supplemented by the
nome for the aged, which is maintained by
the Little Sisters of the Poor, and provides
generously and comfortably for about 100
aged poor people, as against about IS main
tanned by the county in the county aims
mouse. This generous charity spares the
feeilngs OF many self-respecting old people
VINO would feel deeply the degradation of
being committed to the almshouse; and at the
same TIME saves the taxpayers Of the city
many thousands Of dollars which would 9th
its wards.
While the outdoor relief of the poor, or as
IL Is sometimes called, the temporary relief
OF the poor, is generally maintained from the
public purse throughout the United States
many charity workers have earnestly advo-
Gated the abolition of all public outdoor re-
lief IN cities, leaving to the private charitable
agencles the care of all cases of temporary
relief. This plan has been actually put in
practice in the cities of Brooklyn New York
| and PHILADELPHIA
The opposition to outdoor relief has partly
arisen from the abuses which have attended
| 1t in many communities.
IN the city of ST Paul we have been es-
peelaliy favored in the fact that the board
| OF control has. not been used as a political
machlnei and 1t Is believed that they have
! administered relief economically and with
| conscientious effort to avoid, as far as possi-
oie; Lne unnecessary pauperization of its re-
clpients. Applications for relief are scru-
tinized very carefully and outdoor relief is
Withdrawn during the summer months except
m, IN cases OF unusual urgency. For the past
four years all applicants to the board of con-
trol for relief have been investigated by the
Associated Charities in the most careful man
ne ner, the board benefiting from careful registry
| OF aid granted, and the board of control has
Deen able to keep In close touch with the
ReheI society and other charitable relief
agencies thus minimizing the liability to do
| harm. ~ ~
1t is generally conceded that relief from
individuals or from private organizations
II Il careLulIy administered, is much less like
~ TO nave pauperizing effect than relief
from the public treasury Those who re-
celve aid from the city are very ant to feel
as If it was their right and that there is
no reason why they should not avail them
serves OF 1t as long as possible; but when
assistance is received from a neighbor or
from well administered relief society, there
is an absence of this feeling of proprietor
| snip, and it is much easier to stimulate the
ldea that self-support must be resumed at
the earliest possible moment 1t is true
i also, that kindly relief extended in the spirit
! OF personal friendliness does not have the
same tendency tor undermine the self-respect
! of the recipient.
l of the opinion therefore that II
would be wise for the Associated Charities
! 70 urge the society for the relief of the poor
and the st. Vincent de Paul society and the
I other relief societies of the city, including
the churches, to undertake the care of all
| new cases requiring temporary relief until
such time as it becomes evident that they
must become chronic cases of pauperism
when they may properly be turned over to
the board of control or the Little Sisters of
the Poor to be dealt with according to their
permanent necessities.
! The Associated Charities should be in
formed of such cases and it should act in
! close concert with the various relieving
agencies with reference to these cases, the
enort being in every case to avoid if possi-
Bile, such action might tend to pauperize
! In this way l am confident that much can
/ be accomplished for the prevention of pauper-
ism which is not now being done. The board
OF control should be asked to refer all cases
OF temporary distress to private agencies
/ through the Associated Charities for necessary
4 relief, conf1ning their outdoor work to chronic
/ cases. | hope that the Associated Charities
may see its way clear to take immediate
| action In this direction; and / believe that
we shall meet with prompt and favorable re-
sponse from the charitable agencies of the
| city.
Rev. DR.. Maurice d. Edwards in
/ discussing the church as a source of
| relief, said 1t had always been the
| motto of. the church that those who
| had, should share with those who had
mot. The speaker mentioned the be-
nevolence of the Hebrew race, whose
! religion taught charity in its most lib
| eral sense. The race has never for
gotten its teachings, and today stands
at the head of all races in It's work of
reEef. church which did not pro-
vide for practical charity was not COM
plete. The church and the individual
| should be inspired by personal interest
and love and not a mere sense of duty
The poor should be. made to believe,
and ChriStianc poor do believe that
there is something actually elevating
In poverty, if lit is Providential The
! Christian poor are, as rule, modest
and seldom seek aims. They have to
| be sought for 'sThe devils bBor
will not" said Mr.. Edwards. "As
! practical methods of charity, every
| church should have regularly provid-
ed fund for that purpose, which should
be supplied constantly and consistent
! ly. 1t should have a surplus to meet
! sudden and unexpected emergencies
! The charity work of church should
! foster self-respect and self-re1iance
The speaker said no church should
! keep permanentfrecor Of the people
assisted, and that work of this kind
should be known ITO as few people as
possible in order TO maintain the self
respect of those assisted. The money
advanced to the needy member of
! church congregation should be con-
sidered as an indefinite loan without
interest, to be paid back at the ability
OF the person accepting the money.
III.