New-York tribune., 1897-01-31
MR.. NICHOLSS ANNIVERSARY
A YEAR AS SECRETARY OF THE BUREAU
OF CHARITIES
HE HAS FOUND BROOKLYN A PLEASANT FIELD
TO WORK IN-wHAT THE BUREAU AIMS AT

HE HAS FOUND BROOKLYN A PLEASANT FELL
TO WORK IN-wHAT THE BUREAU AIMS AT
SUCCESS OF TIE vAcANT-IoT FARMS
The first year of the Rev. William l. Nichols:
connection with the Brooklyn Bureau Of Charities
| ends to-day On February last year he became
the general secretary Of that organization coming
Brooklyn from Philadelphia. where for several
years he had served minister Of the Spring
| Garden Unitarian Church He was invited to the
office he has filled for year with marked success
mainly through the efforts Of the Rev. Samuel A.
| Eliot. Of the Church Of the Saviour, who was and
| Is the vice-president of the bureau.
Mr. Nichols had long been interested In charita-
bic work. While student in the Divinity School
| at Cambridge. he neglected his Hebrew and other
things in the prescribed course In order go to
Boston and study sociology at first hand His inter-
| est was maintained while he settled over
churches in the vicinity OF Boston. and he was an
active worker among the poor during his stay in
Philadelphia. He welcomed the opportunity to
devote all his time to labor in this line when it
to him from Brooklyn, although it involved con-
siderable pecunary sacrifice.
Mr.. Nichols has found his year in Brooklyn
exceedingly interesting He had many things
to learn. and has proved an apt student. The
organization of the Bureau of Charities has been
maintained he found it. but 1t has been toned
up in every part. and large number of new people
have been induced to become Interested in 1t. The
success Of It's work is largely dependent the
corps of voluntary assistants. known as friendly
visitors and Secretary Nichols is enthusiastic in
his praise Of the cordial support and assistance he
has received from all of these.
WORK OF THE BUREAU.
The purpose Of the Bureau of Charities is not
the same as that OF relief giving society In fact.
it discourages the giving CT direct material aid
except In emergency cases. its aim being TO abolish
beggary and induce beggars to become sclfsup-
porting The purpose of the friendly visitor Is to
find work for the unemployed TO persuade the lazy
and Indifferent work. and to keep in touch with
a family that has been In distress from any cause
and give counsel and encouragement and friendly
help.
The bureau maintains two branches in addition
10 the main office in Schermcrhorn stone In the
northern part OF the city the Eastern District, DO
caled) and the other In the Bedford neighborhool
There are also organizations OF friendly visitors in
tho difreren, wards Mr.. Nichols regards the sys-
TEN as an admirable one. and believes that the
hureau has done a vast deal of good in the way Of
euucarnt eud,rn,ie ate Ewing In the course OF the year
no has spoken In many churches, ana explained the
methods of the bureau and the reasons for them.
IN almost every case TO willing ears. although now
and then he meets person who can see no harm In
Giving 70 those who ask for help. and fails 10 per-
celve that TO do so is TO encourage mendlcancy.
WHAT MIR. NICHOLS HAS LEARNED.
Az the result OF his experience during the recent
hard times Mr. Nichols says he is convinced that
the amount OF suffering among the poor has been
exaggerated 80 long there are agencies TO dis
pense relief to those protesting TO be needy said
he Yesterday there will be no lack OF peop.e apply
ing for help IT would be the same II shelters should
be opened for the homeless: they would be filled
every night. In the carrying on OF our industrial
work here we have recently made new rule name
w. that single should be paid for their work In
the woodward only IN meal and lodging tickets
Tho result has been a marked decrease in the num-
her OF appica tons for work. although 1t !s obvious
that il men OF this class are really needy the things
thew need are food and lodging. On the whole. |
ind a very healthy feeling In Brooklyn In these
matters For one thing. there has been no giving OF
what is called outdoor relief here In long time l.
Was great gain 10 do way with that sort Of thing
one OF the impor ant parts OF Mr. Nicholss work !,
s,nca no came 10 Brooklyn was the carrying Of |
the vacant-.ot farming enterprise last summer. |
Without the earnest efforts he put forth. 1t would
no, have been resumed after the discouraging x |
nerience Of the previous summer Mr.. Nichols real
ized the important OF this means Of providing work
FOR the unemployed. and a, the same time training
,Iam rightly and believed that II should not be
az, ndnned without a fair trial The trial had.
and with satisfactory results although the farming
w.s carried on on a smal! scale. gratifying
fs,,urs OF IL was that additional subscriptions
were called for. the amount raised Inc previous
vcar having been found snfIicent