New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-10
HOPES TO ACCOMPIIsH-THE RIGHT
MAN IN THE RIGHT PLACE.


begGars from preying on the public ana ohtaihlhs'
as doubtless they DO. considerable sums of money
which is thus diverted from the legitimate channels
| through which charity may be administered 70
| those In actual need.
Eut this Is only small part cf the work which he
hopes 20 accomplish in coming to Brooklyn. In
work allied to thai which is carried on by the Bureau
of Charities Mr.. Nichols has been Interested for
many years His interest began when he was
student at Harvard University. from which he was
graduated in 1874. and later when he VAS student
at the Divinity school in Cambridge. he studied
| sociology in the most practical way by acting as
one Of the friendly visitors for the Associated
| Charities OF Boston. His connection with that
organization was continued after the completion
of his theological studies. during the time that he
was settled over churches near enough 10 Boston
10 enable him to visit the city pretty nearly every
week.
ACTIVE WORK IN PHILADELPHIA
Six years ago Mr. Nichols was called to the Spring
| Garden Church. in Philadelphia. and he immcdate,.
connected himself with the Society FOR Organizing
| Charity in that city Not only was he an active
worker as a visitor 10 families in need Of assist
ance but before long he was elected "a one of the
directors of the central institution: an office which
his removal from Philadelphia viii compel him to
relinquish.
Mr. Nichols has long felt. as the resu. of his
personal experience. that this work is little. If In
any degree, less important to humanity than the
| pulpit work Of a minister and he therefore
| cepted with gladness the call which recently came
| 10 him from Brooklyn. although the salary which
| the Bureau is able to offer its general secretary
| is not liberal enough in itself TO induce
occupying position such Mr.. Nichols has hel1
| In the City Of Brotherly Love TO leave It,
The invitation 10 him to come 10 Brooklyn came
about in a somewhat curious way. Last Novcm-
Der the Unitarian Conference OF the Middle States
and Canada met in the Church Of The Saviour In
! Brooklyn. At one o: the sessions Mr. Nichols was
a speaker, ana he expressed With eaTnes;ness his
views regarding the Importance Of the work Of
aiding the poor on correct principles At that time
| he knew only In a general way Of the Brooklyn
Bureau Of Charities. and had idea that
cancy existed the Office OF the general secretary
caused by the death. few months ago. OF the
! Rev George Il. Stafford.
HOW HE WAS CALLED TO BROOKLYN
Some of those interested in the Bureau who
| heard Mr.. Nichols speak were at once impressed
| with the thought that he was just the man they
/ needed as a successor Mr. Sanorl. The minis
ter Of the Church OF the Saviour, the Rev. Samuel
A. Eliot. is vice-president Of the Bureau Of Chair
ties and after consultation among the officers
| he wrote to Mr.. Nichols asking him II he would
| consider an offer from the bureau. Mr. Nichols
! happened TO be situated that he was able to
turn an affirmative answer. He accepted the Offer
/ resigned from his church In Philadelphia, and has
! entered his field of labor in Brooklyn with
enthusiasm tempered by good judgment. and with
clear grasp Of the difficulties 10 be encountered
and the problems to be solved.
! one does not have to talk with Mr. Nichols,
rather to hear him talk. more than few minutes
to that he regards himself a with
mission. and realize also that he has peculiar
faculty setting his IDEAS before his hearers in
such way as to make clear and definite i'm
preston Some Of the many things he said In the
course Of a somewhat extended conversation with
the writer day two ago cannot fail to BE- OF
/ L. a "A
of the and the disposition with which he takes
| up the executive work Of the Bureau OF Charities
THE BUREAU OF CHARITIES.
word two regarding the bureau Itself may
first be in order. 1t established in 1913. at
meeting held In the chapel Of the Polytechnic Insti-
tute FOR the general purpose of promoting the wei
fare Of the poor the suffering and the fricndless
the City OF Brooklyn" The specific objects include
the promotion cordial cooperation between benev
olent societies, churches and Individuals the main
| tenance Of IA body of friendly visitors the poor
dns,Tv. the PROVISION Of TEMPORARY ennoyment for
those willing to work. but unable TO ana work. and
| the provision Of Industrial instruction.
schcTmerhofn-st in a building erected a number Of
years ago for the Joint use OF this Institution and
dus;rial woodyards and two Industrial laundries, at
which work is provided for needy men ana women;
three day nurseries in which little children be
! lodgings for worthy homeless women The Two prn-
| cpal branches Of the Bureau are at No. leo Full
|
| For many years Alfred 7. Waite president Of
! the bureau, but when he was appointed Commits
sioner OF city Works two years ago he resigned. and
S s,h Dryp qmss Ts elected to
public Office II has been said that he might return
to his old place at the head Of the bureau of Chair.
ties. but steps 10 bring this about have yet been
| taken.
| 1t his office In Scaermorhorn-st that the
| Rev Mr.. Nichols found, having just returned
| from visit 10 the headquarters of the Northern
| through city whose topography is most confusing
u "A stranger especially 10 one accustomed for years
| TO the checkerbOard arrangement OF the streets Of
Philadelphia Mr.. Nichols has the manner OF a thor
| have made his mark had h. gone into banking
mercantile pursuits. instead of taking the pulpit
| as his father and grandfather did.
MR.. NICHOLS TALKS ABOUT HIS PLANS
Mr. Nichols talked with great earnestness about
| the work OF the Bureau OF Charities.
Il have no doubt he said. that even in an In
,elligent community like this there is need OF pop
u]ar education as to the things which this institu-
ton undertakes do. our object Is not to give
sis,ance directly save in cases OF emergency where
neonlc 10 work and toward them in every re-
snect as ii true friend. The bureau aims 70 act as
q clearing house for all the chaIlttpe anu pIld.
hronic agencies OF the city and II seeks 10 DO away
with pauperism by encouraging thrlt ana hapItS OF
Industry II a woman applies FOR heip mere oi tx.
annie She is taken at once TO tho wOrkr0om ana ser
at work. encouraged TO WORK sHu al wv ci'u w. ~
dav she Is paid for her labor, mol IN money ~ IN
Goods OF some kind according to what she necds II
NAV be in groceries; II may be IN the very san
ments she has been working On. we 40 not give
something for nothing. , -. ~ ,i,,. than.
is a group of friendly visitors In eaeh ward VINO az"
Just what their name signifies whenever an 1p-
plication for relief assistance Is made II IS III.