New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-20
ASSOCIATED CHARITIES.
THEIR STRENGTH AND Weakness
ABLY CONSIDERED.
MRS. CHARLES RUSSELL LOWELL. JOHN GRAHAM
BROOKS AND WILLIAM I. NICHOLS

BROOKS AND WILLIAM l. NICHOLS
AMONG THE SPEAKERS
The last Of the series OF charity conferences.
which have beef held monthly during the winter.
under the auspices OF the Charity Organization So
ciety. took place yesterday morning I'm the Assem-
bly, Hall OF the Charities Building Miss Kate
Bond. chairman OF the Conference Committee. pre-
sided and the speakers were John Graham Brooks.
Of cambridge: William l. Nichols. Of the Brooklyn
Bureau Of Charities. and Mrs. Charles Russell
/ Lowell
Mr.. Brooks the first speaker. and discussed
THE Strength and the Weakness of Associated
Charities" The strength Of such charity. he said.
in Its funda mental principles OF investigation.
cooperation and friendly visiting Its chief weak
In the lack OF proper visitors
The only way 10 overcome this weakness" he
continued is to convince people that our methods
are right and that 1t Is worth while to work with
us This only be done by presenting TO them
absolutely good evidence in our favor. and W
greatly need effective propaganda for this pur-
pose. feeling OF hostility toward associated char.
tiles exists among large class Of people whose
cooperation most want. They think We might
help the poor with less fuss and impertinence. The
college settlement almost always has something
Of this feeling and as long as II exists anywhere
II is impossible for associated charity TO DO tts
best work. The associated charities in Chicago
have been greltly hindered by the hostility OF an
old fashioned relief society while a town In Illi-
nos was completely revoutonized in few years
by charity organization society which had the
good fortune to the active sympathies or the
supervisors OF the poor
Another weakness Is that the administration OF
associated charities IL almost to fall into
the hands Of a clique Of well-to-do people Under
this condition it is impossible to have the right
relation with the poor there is to be friction
The only way to overcome this weakness 10 to
utinzs every opportunity to get working men and
women into the work"
The speaker also said that he did not think u
possible for charitable organizations TO furnish
work Whatever they did In this line should he
educatve merely a test. and should be kept
OF sight $ much possible.
INDUSTRIAL AID.
Mr. Nichols spoke on industrial Aid IN Asso-
ciated Charity" He said that he thought the asso-
ciated charities had laid too much stress on their
three foundation principles, and had neglected tho
more humane side OF the work. They could not
promise help to those whom investigation proved to
be worthy because they had not taken pains 10
provide ready relief and had been unable 70 90 90.
as they had not the sympa ny OF the pnoIc' . =.
he sad sag pSSc WORK with
and you may be sure that your beneficiary will re-:
Sir Nichols said that the BROOKLYN Bureau OF
dustriai asencis and that he considered them hs
most important part Of associated charity work
The reason people can't get work. he continued.
rs that they don't know how 70 do IT. and II is
certainly better TO render them capable OF earning
a livelihood than ~ give them package NJ gro
ceries that is gone few days and leads 70 moth
ing Moreover, such work makes the work ~ the
friendly visitor much easier.
There should he no giving in a charity organiza-
ton society. and such relief will Kill any organzs-
tion that tries TO carry IL II II IL impossible 70
disp,nse with giving altogether It should be kept
out OF sight
FTEL-SAVING SCHEME.
Mr.. Lowell outlined a fuel-saving scheme which
was adopted last Thursday by the Charity Organ
ization Society II Is combination, she said. of
the plan OF the Fuel-Saving Society. OF Philadel-
phia and that OF the Penny Provident Fund. ot
New-York Cards and stamps wifi be issued by tho
society on payment OF their face value In money
and these will be receivable by designated dealers
in exchange for coal. Any church or club wishing
10 estab ish a fuel-saving station can OBTAIN the
stamps free OF charge. The secretary Will buy the
coal during the summer. and depositors 10 the
amount OF s. 30 can get II during the winter at sum
MGR rates Collections will be made weekly which