Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-02
ALL HANDS MUST PULL TOGETHER.
Bishop PenicIS Emphasizes Necessity
for Cooperation I'm Charity work.

To the Editor of the Dispatch:
Last night i'm the Chamber Of Com
merce. at a mass-meeting called by the
ministerial Union of Richmond" most
interesting, and for those who are con-
cerned as to the betterment Of our hu-
manity, most important. conference
took place. This whole subject Is one
of education and educating. and prob
| ably one of the most helpful lessons
Just at this stage of affairs is to be
| found in a study Of the situation as re-
vealed last night at this conference,
for they are the conditions that con-
front Richmond, and with which IL has
TO do, or be done by
1t was with pain TO one and all that
the revelation was made that the moot
ing of this matter had caused falling
off of the contributions promised TO the
Citizens Relief Association" and with
which it supplied the City Mission with
funds TO relieve the many and sad cases
of need and suffering constantly press
ing for help. This ought not TO be.
Suffering should not be permitted for
an instant. while we try to perfect plans
to relieve il better and more effectively,
If we can. and to prevent those condi-
of that suffering 1t was the unhesi-
tating conviction and deep desire Of
every member of that conference last
night that the existing organizations
for doing this work should be promptly
and sufficiently supported until they are
merged into larger and more powerful
and thorough organization to do 1t, and
TO prevent 1.-THE growth Of squalor and
crime-as the present organizations
working under existing conditions cam
not now possibly do. To aid at once
and amply is everybody's duty now,
and to form a more perfect organiza-
ton TO cure crime and squalor condi-
tions is likewise everybody's duty, until
IL is accomplished, If it can be accom-
plished, and the experience of many OF
our larger cities show that it certainly
can be, if not perfectly, certainly largely
done.
The absolutely necessary thing Is full
cooperation of all the people, both indi-
vidually and through their all-constituted
organizations for charity and govern
ment.
Why cannot the Citizens Relief ASo-
citation do 1t? Because it reI2sents a
fragment of the community, eelf-con-
stituted, and hence is not represen-
tative Of the whole people.
9. Why cannot the City Mission do 1t?
Because il is exactly in the position OF
the Citizens Relief Association; 1T, too,
a portion of the community,
which has constituted for Itself this
splendid and very efficient charity, but |
it does not represent the whole people.
3. Why cannot the ministers OF the |
Ministerial Union do 1t? They are en-
trusted with, perhaps, by far the larger
ba
IRE i'm touch with by far the largest
bodies of kindly and Christian people;
ma. all things else to the contrary. not
from their very work and
relation to their congregations, know
great deal more of this citys inner life
han any or all other agencies put to-
sether Their business and life is TO go
n and out among the people, and on the
whole, they do il with more regularity
md faithfulness than any other class or
organization; yet they, too, have large
,aps, "Saharas," between them uneX-
,lored. for want of cooperation They
this fact, and came honestly
md fully to the public last night with
he request for a ''closer touch" more
complete organization, and they came.
With all their knowledge, time, pecuniary
esources, and constituency back Of them,
o plead Tor united eilOTl, anu nllelllRtHl |
They cannot do this work
.lone. 1t must be done by the people
he whole people-working in concert for
he entire good of the whole community
Tor this reason It is necessary TO have
IN organization that represents the whCis
community, and, therefore, can control
is q matter Of right, the whole forces of
he community for this agreed purpose.
Citizens Relief. City Mission.
,olice Mayor, poorhouse, and, as to that
natter, every thing and office that is or
Tered by the people, for the good of the
copeland this not as a matter of favor,
nut as a matter OF right-that great God
ven right of the people to order it's {
wn things for the protection and saving |
f their people and themselves. As these {
ruths are realized we will come to- I
ether and, coming. will care for our
oor and helpless, and purge our COM '
nunity Of the tramps, beggars, and
cious prayers on its life.
G. c. PENICK.
Richmond, Va, March 1st.