The Portland daily press., 1896-03-05
SAMARITAN ASSOCIATION
Celebrate Their 6Sth Anniversary at Gill
bert's notwithstanding Address by Mrs.
S. Hunt-Poem by Mrs. Greene-Music
and Dancing.

The Samaritan Association celebrated
the 68th anniversary of their organization
with meeting, concert and dance at
Gilbert's hall last evening. There was
large attendance Notwithstanding the
inolement weather.
Mrs. George S. Hunt at the urgent re :
quest of the members of the association.
delivered an address, describing the foun-
dalon of the Samaritan Association By
MRS. Bisbee in 1921, and the charitable
work it had performed since that date to
the present day. Mrs. Hunt explained
that she was induced TO speak by the
special claim she felt the organization
had upon her owing to the fact that her
mother. Mrs. Barstow, was one of its
founders, and that it had had it's origin
in the First Universalist church, the
church to which sha belonged. She felt
furthermore called upon to make the ad-
dress since leach for all and all for each"
was the maxim of the society. The fol-
lowing were the leading passages in Mrs.
Hunters address:
The society was incorporated in 1921,
and Mrs. Bishee, the founder OF the Sa-
marian Association, was the wife of the
second pastor When we consider the
social position of the Universalist church
at this period, that its members were
classed as third in a trinity of "infidels,
heretics and Universalists, we wonder
at the seeming temerity of Mrs. Bisbee
IN trying to organize society which
should consider the poor, within as
we'll as without ell churches.
In studying the history of our town
ole cannot but wonder that there should
have been necessity, for forming the
Female Samaritan society IS years ago.
There could not have been large for
e1gn population. there was no Catholic
church and barely $50 persons of that
faith there were several benevolent So
cieties then in existence, while one might
safely assume that ali Professionals who
needed assistance would have been cared
for in some one of the seven churches.
But the fact that the Samaritan Associ-
alton has lived 60 years, that it has never
ceased during that time to consider the
poor" shows conolusively that there
were good reasons for its formation al
though we are unable to supply them.
4 In the early years of this society the
members met to make garments for the
pun DuV Vulp w as Ouu Ou6 OIL lU6 humane
measures-visiting the sick and unfortu-
nate, caring for the spiritual as well as
the physical needs of it's beDsfioiaries,
being also among the duties of its mem
bers. The years from 1881 to 1887 were
marked by great financial distress in
Portland. Undaunted, the Good Sama-
ritans bravely fulfilled their mission,
and neither financial distress, pestilence,
war or fire has ever interrupted the be-
MILITANT yvnrix Of this
the Civil War, in addition to doing ali
in Its power to care for the poor within
the CITY, the Samaritans sent clothing,
bedding, lint, etc., to the sanitary COM
mission, and met to make garments for
the soldiers. When Chicago was laid
desolate by the fire in 1871, barrels Of
clothing and useful articles were contri-
buted by the Samaritans in response to
an appeal for help When our own beau
tiful city realized but too keenly the
loss of homes and household goods and
all the desolation which followed the
fire Of 1855, the members Of this asso-
citation solicited clothing from friends
outside the city, opened and shared their
homes which had escaped the fire with
those who had been less fortunate, and
by counsel and advice greatly aided the
Ielelf committee who were appointed by
the city to receive and distri butte the
clothing and money which were so gene
rally contributed. These items give some
idea OF the broad SCOPE of this society
With delicaoy which women can so tru-
~ appreciate, one of / the rules of this
association provides that the names of
recipients need not be known to all of its
members, the endorsement of the ward
committee to the president being suffi-
oient guarantee of the need and genui-
ness OF the application. In this way
hundreds OF people have received sub
stantial need in times of temporary dis
tress, while their feelings have been pro-
tected, and proper pride respected. Some
times the rent has been paid during a
period OF sickness, medicines and ply
slc1an's care furnished, an annuity of
several dollars week given to a strug-
Cling clergyman, or to a clergyman
widow fuel food and clothing supplied ;
in short, the association has tried in
every way to live up to the highest ideal
of the Good Samaritan described in the
Gospel according co Luke, and to pass
no one by on the other side who has
needed assistance.
But in our songs Of joy tonight there
runs a minor surain; for three honored
members, who last year joined in our
festivities, can no longer answer to the
roll-call, since they have been called into
a higher service: Mrs. Ludwig and Mr..
Ludwig, the one who served the Asso
citation Tor many years as it's president,
and the other who did equally fai thful
service ION the advisory board; Mrs. J.
e. Kendall, whose bright face was in
itself an y inspiration towards cheerful
ness and good will, and whose heart was
ever open to the appeals of the unfortu-
nate. But although we miss the visible
presence Of our friends, since we belisve
THAT our dead are never dead until they
are forgotten" we will keep our asso-
cistes with us by the mystic chord of
memory and thus endow them with
perpetual life.
Some one has said that There is peri
cd in the human life.when one ceases to
grow DID," and cannot this be truly said
Of our Samaritan Association? 1t has
never shown that conservative spirit
which sometimes accompanies increasing
years, in thinking 'the golden age lies
In the past" but at heart and in purpose
1t has kept abreast of the times in all
plans for the public welfare.
Honored by the records of the past, re-
spected by our community as potent
factor for good, the acknowledged friend
OF the poor and unfortunate, what can
we wish for it's future years, save that
iiketthe past they may be blessed. and that
the Samaritan Association may continue
to exemplify the text, Blessed are the
merciful, for they shall obtain mercy"