Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-03-16
HUMANTTY'SCAUSE.
Ladies' Relief Society Changes
Its Plan Of Work.
TO TRY THE PRACTICAL SIDE.

/
ma.ent Rssults-ward Manager Dis
psnssd with-rhs Industrial school.
By the unanimous vote of the &C.
tive members of the Rock Island La
dies Industrial Relief society at its
meeting Saturday afternoon it was
decided to adopt an entire change in
the plan Of work among the dis
tressed and unfortunate Of the CITY
from now on. The proper care of the
poor Of the city in charity's name
has been found BY the ladies in their
self-sacrificing and patient endeavor
to be problem difficult of solution.
While suffering has been alleviated,
want supplied and comfort provided
in many Rock Island home through
the noble ministration of these
ladies, the joy of well doing has been
Swallowed somewhat by the convic-
ton that the relief was but temper
airy, and the fear, which has now in
numerous instances become q realiz-
alton, that what was being done was
in reality producing q situation most
to be commended against; that in 9TH
er words the society was becoming a
necessity to the maintenance of some
homes and in keeping the wolf from
the door of families that might with
proper counsel be able to take care of
themselves. After the most thought
full consideration of the subject, the
ladies have decided to apply the
practical side of the relief question.
| To Try Practical Relief.
| Accordingly at the meeting Satur-
day it was determined to inaugurate
a system Of individual work on the
part Of the ladies of the CITY dis
posed to contribute their energies
with purpose to get nearer to the
actual necessities of those who seek
charity's aid, to learn their means,
their sources of care and their meth.
DDS OF extending the same, after
wards to counsel with them as to the
best iudicious methods of making
such money as they have go around
and where it is found the families are
destitute and in actual need of help
the same are to be certified to the
poormaster. In accordance with this
plan the system of soliciting fuel,
clothing and provisions was abol-
ished, the ward managers dispensed
with and it was decided to call a
meeting of all the ladies of the city
at the Y. M. c. A. chapel at o'clock
Saturday afternoon, when the new
plan will be fully explained. The
idea is that each lady who has con.
secrated herself to the work is to
take upon herself The responsibility
OF visiting and comforting with one
family. BY this means each lady
will become thoroughly acquainted
with family and will understand
its wants and its means of support,
and will be able to offer advice as to
the expenditure of such means as
may come in; and, where restitution
exists to properly report the same to
the overseer. The ladies believe that
many Of the poor of the city need ad-
vice as well as help, and in such cases
their condition will not improve
until they learn to better themselves.
In short the work to be done is to be
more OF permanent nature, and
thus will the number of families,
now amounting to 60. dependent
upon the society. be reduced.
Mrs. C. X. Mixter, president of the
society, and Mrs. Nellie Hayes Ste
vens. secretary. were seen this mort.
ing and both were enthusiastic over
the new plan, and confident Of re-
suits more practical and far-reaching
than have yet been accomplished.
The care of the poor is a problem, ="
said Mrs. Mixter, "to which we have
given our utmost and prayerful study.
The thought has come to us, as to
whether in all instances we were
really doing kindness either to those
we were relieving year by year in
teaching them to depend upon US and
look to US, or to those upon whose
generosity we have depended to help
us carry on our work. We have de-
cided therefore to give the plan
which we propose a test. We will
endeavor by individual work to get
nearer to the people who appeal for
aid, and by working with them we
trust We will he able Tn teach them m