Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-01-27
WANT CITY AID.
The Petition from the Directors
of the Welcome Mission.
It viii Come Before the Next Meeting OF
the City Council-S2ooo is Called for
to Enlarge the Work.

AT the last meeting of the board OF
aldermen a petition was handed in from
the directors Of the Welcome Mission,
asking for $4,000 to assist in the work and
outlining the methods of the institution.
AS the petition was not filed in due sea-
son, it was laid over.
Some of the most influential church
people in the city are back of the mis-
sion in this request. They argue that the
work saves the city great expense every
year, and that it should contribute to its
support as other cities do. The institu-
ton is not self-sustaining, and it has
been kept alive only through the finan-
cial support of many who realize what
a grand work it is doing
The petition in full is as follows:
To the Mayor and City Council of
Worcester:
Dear Sirs:-The directors of the We'll
come Mission respectfully ask that the
/ city government grant them sum of
money for the work of the mission for
the current year.
| The Welcome Mission cares for those
/ whom the city would care for were it
not for the mission, and the burden of
4 expense now borne by the friends and
supporters of the mission should i'm fair
ness be shared by the city.
! During the four years history of the
mission, upwards of Al 900 have been
cared for in some way by it, and the en-
tire expense has been cared for in some
way by gifts Of generous citizens. Had
the mission not provided lodgings and
meals the city must have done 1t at the
public charge, or these unfortunates
must have made their solicitations at
the homes of the people. The city cam
not suffer the poor and homeless to be
unsheltered in the streets, nor can
starving people be unfed. Some one
must care for them, and what the mis-
sion has done the city has saved City
aid directly given, either in public char
ity or private beneyolence, tends to
pauperize the recipients and to make
permanent pauper class. The mission
gives nothing without an equivalent.
| Through saving and splitting Of wood,
lodgings and meals must be paid for.
A considerable portion of the people
calling for assistance belong to the
tramp class. They 90 not welcome the
saw and axe, and the work which is
demanded is as unwelcome as it is i'm
perative. If it could be the policy OF the
city to give no food or shelter to the
| tramp class, except through the mis-
sion, the city would soon be largely fld
| of this undesirable class.
| For the worthy poor, men who are
without work, the mission provides a
home, where they can be tided over
| hard spot and where it can be done
without surrender Of their self-respect.
! The work Of tine mission has com
! mended itself to the large number of
1 citizens who have become familiar with.
/ it. 1t is not run on sentiment, but on
| practical lines. 1t is unsectarian and
| is nTudentlV administered.
! The policy of taking care of the poor
| through such an institution is the policy
| Of our best administered New England
cities
Boston, through its Wayfarers' Home,
spent last year $4,000, the money fur
nished by the city government. Spring
| field, Lawrence and Providence make
! generous appropriations for such an in
! etitution, and it is not only wise, but
and with a wise public policy to CO.
+ operate with the generous friends Of the
mission In the support. The directors
desire to secure larger quarters, where
better sanitary conditions can be had,
work on the part Of the city govern
ment
The directors, therefore ask that the
work of the mission for the current
/ year, and they hope that they may have
an opportunity to present their case to
such committee as you may designate
! to receive and consider this petition.
(Stgned)
Rev. Almon Gunnison,
III r.pT OsY-rera