Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-20

ton known by a different name. AS the
time is so short, I thought it might be
well to publish this letter, setting forth
briefly the aims of such an organization,
and to answer some OF the many ques-
lions that have been and will yet be
asked in regard to 1t.
THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY.
Tho Charity Organization" is too well
established, long worked, and thoroughly
tested in most Of our larger cities to need
any vindication or enlarged advocacy
for its adoption. IL Is the best possible
way yet discovered 20 meet the daily and
terrible pressure OF growing want and
pauperism, increasing so rapidly in our
land. Its workings have been tested and
approved for more than a dozen years
by our best philanthropists Throughout.
our largest and most distressed cities. So
it is no new thing. 1t IS an approved
thing. and that by our wisest, biggest
hearted and best people. Briefly, its
workings are somewhat as follows:
The organization includes the entire re-
ligious denominations Of ctles-the
Mayor. Police Justice, and such other
city officials as place the executive forces
Of each city in closest possible co-opera-
ton with the philanthropic citizens OF
that city. Having formed. the organiza-
ton elects the usual officers for organi-
zations-president, secretary, treasurer,
and a board of directors. AS a rule. and
ever as far as practicable, these should
always be from the laymen, and not
from the clergy. This is largely lay work,
and should SO be treated. a central Of
flee should then be procured, and placed
in charge of the clearest-headed, biggest
hearted, wisest man with abnormal back
bone, that can be had; he must be a
good man for the place. cost what he
may; the wrong man here means largely
failure. This agent at once opens books
and is ready to begin work. Every case
applying for aid outside OF his or her
own church should at once be referred
to this agent for investigation, ldentil-
cation, and record. If, after the inves-
tigation, the agent finds the case worthy
1t is referred back to the sender with a
written notice to this effect. sent by an
other party, so as to prevent forgery.
Then when help is given It should be
Immediately reported to the agent, and
by him recorded, so as to be able TO tell |
others the case has been helped, how |
much, and by whom. This will at once
place every beggar at large in the city |
on record, and prevent repeating, and In |
a very short time SEND the professional |
elsewhere TO beg.
GUARD AGAINST IMPOSITION.
So soon as any minister or anybody
else discovers imposition in an applicant
for aid 1t should be promptly reported
to the agent and made matter of re-
cord. If we went no further this would
be worth thousands of dollars to the city
Of Richmond in the year, and do much
to protect our homes and our defenceless
NO tfa~ ,.~f.. ,ft,,f 49, 4 1
prey upon our criminal kind heartedness.
But this is not all. The city should be
lstricted, and as many reliable district
'isitors as possible should be obtained.
Every house and its inmates should be
known, and so that the agent has only
10 find from what district a beggar halls,
AID In few hours know from his district
agent all about the needs and home life
md character of the applicant. This
brings our best life In constant touch
With our lowest populations needs, and
fits steadily and effectively to improve
heir conditions. We have Christians
enough In this city to man every single
home Of want and misery with a truN
riend, to "stand by them" unto better
nent. This sort OF thing-"Good Samari-
an religion sleeping in COM
ortable pews. or criticising the preachers
ermon, out OF sight. 1t is exceed
ngly healthy exercise for all growing
christians, the very kind Jesus says IS
-oing to win the crowns In His Fathers
.ingdom.
TO BREAK UP. BEGGING.
The police authorities should keep close
watch, and wherever 1t IS able TO find a
ase where a miserable, worthless family,
} living by forcing its children to beg,
I the risk Of making tramp and crimi-
al Of the boy. and a prostitute of the
iris, the children should be taken away
nd parents sent 10 work-house labor
nd compelled to support themselves.
know In this city to-day a case where
girl IL years old is being made 10 sup
ort a mother, father, and two Email
rothers by continuous begging and has
cen doing IL for three years. she says.
departments of the city churches, and
ANY charitable individuals, helping
ne parents TO send this child to ce-
ruction, and 20 keep her person at the
ercy Of the brutes that prowl and wait
% lonely and unprotected. God will as
lredly hold us accountable for so black
crime. If we have no law that will
ach and effectively stop such horrors
10 quicker we make one the better. and
10 severer we see 1t executed the kind
will we be 20 poor, endangered hui
anity and unprotected children.
HOW TO BE SUPPORTED.
How Is this organization 10 be support
i? Wise men will see at once that
uch OF their means now being worst
an wasted will be rightly directed, and
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