The Saint Paul globe., 1897-11-01
ST. PAUL's PLAN OF ASSOCIATED
CHARITIES IS WARMLY COM
MENDED ELSEWHERE.
VISITORS HAVE GOOD WORDS
FOR TT WHEN THEY SEE IT'S RE-
SUITS IN VARIOUS
WAYS.
IL PLATFORM MEETING
Of the Local Organization Was Held
Last Evening at the Peoples
Church.

The fifth annual public meeting of
the Associated Charities at the Peoples
church last evening was attended by
a large audience. On the platform,
which was handsomely decorated with
flowers and palms, were seated Mayor
Doran, Aid. NJ. J. Bell, Father McNul-
ty, Rev. ]. H. Tjornholm, Rev. w R.
Lord Rev. G. Cowgirl, Rev. S. G.
Smith, Rev. e. P. Ingersoll Rev. G. F.
Soper, of Alexandria; Miss Julia G. La
throp, of Chicago, Mrs. G. A. Sever
ance, DR.. Frank L. McVey, T. A. Abb
bott, e. w. Peet, D. T. Wellington, NJ.
L. Hutchins and ]. F. Jackson.
Rev. S. G. Smith, in opening the ser
vices, stated that the Associated Char
tiles of st. Paul was not equaled in
any other city in the country. By it
the associations work was placed on
scientific basis. The private charities
in the city all co-operated with the as
sociation, and it was in fact the clear
ing house for all the local charities.
The plan had been copied by other
cities to great advantage In the five
years of its existence there had been
no complaints as to the work of it's
agents. Members of various faiths had
worked in perfect harmony. Since the
organization of the association the
work has been a most important one,
owing to the very trying times in the
past few years. That the work had
been done so we'll was due largely to
Supt. Jackson and his associates. The
organization closed the year, after ex-
pending nearly $4,000, out of debt and
with a balance of $2.47 in the treasury
More money, however, would be needed
next year. The prudent savings fund
plan had been greatly advanced and
the people taught how to save money.
Friendly visits made by the associa-
ton had also increased.
Rev. Father ]. j. Lawler had been
announced to deliver an address, but
was called out of the city unexpectedly
and sent a letter expressing his re-
grets.
DR.. Frank McVey, of the state uni
versity, spoke briefly on "Co-operative
Banks" A cooperative bank he
said, was one organized to give to it's
members the benefits of credit The
objects of the various banking associ-
ations were simply to save. The saw
ings banks were also careful as to how
they loaned money. The failure of a
number of cooperative institutions
was due to the fact that they had no
capital. A cooperative bank would
give opportunity to a number of per
sons to engage in BUSINESS who were
now prevented.
A credit association would be of
no way Of benefiting themselves owing
10 thelr having no capital to engage in
business. Such institutions were nu-
merous in Germany, Austria and Italy.
In Germany 900 institutions were doing
business. Credit was provided by
drawing together people who borrowed
as an association and the money let
out to those desiring by paying a small
interest. Men in many cities paid 10
or II per cent interest. These Good
erative banks would pay no dividends.
but the money made at and per
cent interest would be used in the
work. Money could be let to men on
their labor, and it had been found in
Europe that money loaned on per-
sonal notes was always repaid better
than when let on security
Secretary Jackson, of the organiza-
tion, spoke on Incorporation" He said
in part:
Organizations are multiplying on
every hand to enable their members to
cooperate for their common ADVANTAGE
in every field of human interest Co
operation IS WatchWOrd of our times
Inc first cooperative charity society
in America was established in Buffalo.
IN 1877; now there are 130 such societies
in the United States. The fundamen-
tai thought with them is the co-opera-
ton of the charitable agencies of a
given city, and the best coordination
OF their efforts. For these purposes the
charities of st. Paul combined in es-
tablishing the Associated Charities, as
the first step in cooperation.
The next step was for this agency to
act as joint bureau of investigation.
This was public necessity, for even
ShreWd people are deceived Investi-
cation is economical, because it fire.
quently happens that two societies
want an investigation in the same part
of the city, the same time.
Investigation is considerate. If diff
ferent organizations should be interest
ed, one man can get at the facts for all
concerned and save the unfortunate
one the humiliation of reiterating the
story of his misfortune. The Associat-
ed Charities was asked at $3.50 D. M to
investigate an unnamed family which
proved to be one known to us. We
found the deserted wife sick and in
dire need. The Relief society gave a
mattress, a man was found to deliver
it to the woman, the board of control
gave fuel, a local society gave food,
and the Childrens Home society cared
for the infant We had attended to
everything before night No other city
can excel that for promptness or for
cooperative investigation. Enough
was secured and not too much. Inves-
tigation is thorough. This agency learns
the city, knows where and how to get
facts, that would be passed unnOticed
by people of small experience. A CO.
operative agency of investigation en-
ables a small organization or an in
dividual to obtain the very best ser
vice.
The next important means of CO.
operation is registration, which is re-
cording on a card all information ac-
quired, concerning a particular family,
frCm investigation, and from mis%al-
laneous sources. The st. Paul Assoei-
ated Charities is peculiarly fortunate
in having full transcripts on it's cards
of all relief granted by the charitable
agencies. This information is only
for people known to have a charitable
interest in the people.
Individual charity is of vital impor-
tance, and yet the fact that there are
impostors and that other people are
liable to attempt charitable relations
with ones poor friend makes it essen
tial that individuals cooperate with
the Associated Charities as fully as
societies. Churches are jealous of the
privacy of their work. However, 1 am
persuaded that more quiet and privacy
Will I1oc hwy iStr