The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-10-18

The first of October brings us to the
close of another year of the work of the
Associated Charities, the time for looking
back over the past and forward to the
possibilities of the future.
The hope expressed at the last annual
meeting, that the winter of 81 and SO
would prove to be easier, foc the poor
than the previous winter had been, was
not to any extent fulfilled.
Six hundred and flfty-one families have
been dealt with by US during this last
year, only a slight falling off from the
number registered during the preceding
year. Two hundred and sixty-seven 1ami-
lies came to us for the first time. but Of
these twenty-seven asked only assistance
in obtaining work OF the new families
forty-three per cent were native born, the
remaining fifty-seven per cent being div
ided among seventeen different nationals
ties.
The holidays; as usual, brought from
many a generous expression of their good
will towards those less fortunate than
themselves. At Thanksgiving, seventeen
families were provided with substantial
dinners, either from money given to us
for that purpose or by individuals who
sent dinners directly TO different families.
Over seventy children were invited to
the Christmas trees given by the Young
people of the Church of the Unity and Of
the First Unitarian churches; while many
more were also made happy by the very
generous donations which were sent to
the office for distribution. We are always
glad when the Christmas presents are in
shoes and stockings.
The special work has gone on this year
with even more satisfactory results than
ever before.
Mrs. c. c. Houghton sends the follow
ing report of the sewing class: 1.-The
mothers sewing class was opened at the
rooms, IS Pearl street, Nov. 10, 1897, and
were in attendance. One hundred and
twelve garments were made from second
hand and new material, ffty-one dresses
of all Sizes and sixty-one garments for
hOWG besides y nP frft
We feel that this statement does but
scant justice to the faithful patient work
of Mrs. Houshton, Mrs. Il, w. Allen, Mrs
b. w. Blacker, Mrs. John III. Goes, and
OF srs. The fact that in the middle of the
summer, women began to ask permission
to join the circle in the fall shows how
much they appreciate the privilege. On
the last day refreshments. were served by
the ladies in charge and the occasion was
much enjoyed by all.
The Home Savings Society under Miss
Weiss and Miss Edith Billings still con-
tinues its valuable work. Figures can not
express what has been done, but ii may
be interesting to you to know that we
have now on deposit for the society
$l26.3l, and that we hold nine bank books
for families, most of whom never saved
anything before. Since June 1896, we have
received 1926 from depositors. When it is
considered that the weekly deposits are
in most cases very small sums, from five
cents to twenty-five cents, it will be seen
what a large number of depositors this
family consisting of nine persons had been
on the verge of restitution because of
sickness for five years previous to last
spring. At that time the father was again
able to go to work, and since then they
have saved eleven dollars.
Every, year we come TO you with the
same plea for more workers, more men
and women who by patient, kindly friend
ship can give real help to those who need
it, not that they may be comfortable in
poverty and dependence, for such a con
fni 70
but that they may have every opportunity
and encourag cement to return to normal
pcondition of self-support and indepen-
dence.
1t is certainly a matter for regret that
not more of our members could have been
present, not only for the education, but
also for the inspiration that comes from
such a gathering.
On motion of J. 3. Stone, the report
of the nominating committee was ac-
cepted, and the secretary of the meet
ing was empowered to cast ballot for
the officers. The following were elect
ed: Secretary, DR. George H. Haynes;
treasurer, Halleck Bartlett: assistant
treasurer, II. l. Bancroft; directors for
three years, Winthrop b. Fay, H. A.
Marsh, William Hart, A. A. McLaugh-
lin, c. L. Nichols, c. F. Rugg, M. ].
Whittall. Mrs. j. H. Goes, Mrs. S. b.
Dewey, Mrs c. C. Houghton; nominat-
ing committee, Mrs. S. r. Dewey, Mrs.
James Green, Horace Hobbs, r. F. Hop
t1ins.
DR.. C. L. Nichols as presiding officer
then introduced Mr.. Pettee, who spoke
in part as follows:
Our forefathers brought with them
from England belief in public relief.
and very early in the history of our
state, put in operation a system for
the care of the poor and the relief of
their necessities, which has been in
operation since that time. While the
laws governing this public use have
been changed from time to time to con-
form to changed conditions resulting
from increase of population and other
causes, the governing principles of the
system have been such as we find them
in the public statutes today. In every
city and town in Massachusetts except
Boston, all the poor are in charge of
the overseers of the poor, but in Boston
the indoor and outdoor poor have for
about rs years been in charge of differ
ent boards, the outdoor poor being in
charge of the overseers."
A short sketch of the growth of the
Boston pauper department was then
given by the speaker, together with
comments upon it from prominent men.
He then took up the subject of outdoor
relief. and dwelt at some length upon
the experiences of Brooklyn and Phila-
delphia, from which aunfavorable re-
ports have come concerning this par
ticular branch of the working relief.
His belief was that the opposition to
outdoor relief work in these cities was
founded not because it lacked real
value, but because it affords q chance