Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-27
THE CHARITY ORGANIZATION.
Bishop PenicIs Gives Interesting In
formution on This Subject.

The Ministerial Union, of Richmond
having decided at it's called meeting last
Monday TO call a mass-meeting Of citi-
Gems in the Chamber of Commerce en-
Monday next at SIS P. NJ, TO form
charity organization. I ask that you VIII
kindly publish the following as an an
swer to the many inquiries asked:
1. How can we organize? A meeting OF
citizens decides first what constitute an
nual dues, and what a life membership.
In most large cities s. Is the former and
so the latter. We might start with
smaller sum-say 81 and SIS. All who pay
this amount are entitled to vote and pro-
coed at once to elect board or mana
gers, consisting, say, Of fifteen OF our best
citizens; add to these the Mayor or the
city. Chief Of Police, City Surpeon or In
spector, and City Superintendent OF the
Poor. These gentlemen meet at once ana
elect a president. vice-president, secretary
and treasurer, whose duties shall be those
usually discharged by SUCH ofhcers' Inc
next step is to select the best, wisest,
and Invest man they can possibly obtain,
for agent or manager. The city Is then
districted. and the best possible visitors
secured for each district, who shall pro-
coed at once to become thoroughly ac-
ouainted with everything I'm that district
that concerns human good or degrade
ton. The next step is to start a friendly
inn" with lots OF soap and water, stock
of good substantial, plain food, and big
pile of unsawed or unsplit wood. Put the
woodpile and inn where IL is readily ac-
cessible to the city's centre OF population.
Let tickets in packages of twenty be sold
to our citizens One ticket entities man
TO a meal. for an hour and half's work;
two tickets TO a nights lodging and break
fast, for three hours work.
when an unknown man applies at a
house for food OF money to get meal or
nights lodging, give him sufficient tickets,
and send him TO the friendly inn," where
he will be provided for, upon his working
for about one-half Of his fare; II he Is not
willing TO do this, 1t would actually help
m degrade him to give him food and
shelter. OF course. II the man Is SICK ana
unable 70 work, all due allowance must De
,nade. in fact. there must be no cast-iron
about the organization, but sanctihed
will a. wise frrnness, and ever q brothers
hand TO lift This will at once dispose III
n week of the menacing army OF uamps
that prowl around our homes and threat
on their sacredness. The police force Is
then ready and right to arrest any per-
sistent beggar
In cases where children are sent to beg
mon the street, with a strong possibility
of the girls being quickly FORMED into
nrostitutes and the boys into criminals
sand thew whose misguided kindness be-
slows gifts on such children are In imml-
nent danger of producing just these re-
snlts): In such cases. the district visitor
should nj once be notified, thorough IN
yestigation instituted, and II the family
10 truly helpless. the assistance and CO.
oneration of some strong body of charita-
HE neople or church should be sought,
and the case turned over to them, for
close friendship and steady pull upward
towards a better and nobler life. Thus,
tn two weeks after the charity organiza-
lion gets well TO work we ought to be
ahla 70 clear our streets Of beggars, with
ont wronging one. and at the same time
have onened a door towards self-sus-
.otn,ng life for every one OF them. The
money now worse than wasted by being
a,iven 10 regular beggars and paying
,bam 10 continue in their downward and
degrading life is, perhaps. three or four
times as much as would suffice to run the
entire institution and set US to helping
,eople 10 help themselves. AT least so II
has been proved In other cities Where tho
efforts have been tried.
This is not a thing Of any religious de-