The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-12-10
ASSOCIATED CHARITIES.
Annual Election of OFFICERS and Reports
Yesterday.

IcsCerudys
The annual meeting and election of
officers of the Associated Charities was
held yesterday.
THE ANNUAL REPORT.
Mrs. NJ. ]. Lilly, the secretary presented
the annual report as follows:
Mr.. President, Ladi, and Gentlemen:
10 those of you who attended the
regular meetings of tn. association
through the last winter the report to-
Gay wall offer nothing new. You are
aware that in the enforced absence of the
secretary the WORK was carried on with
faitniulness and ability by the assistant
secretary, Mrs Martha b. Moore. Her
reports gave YOU each months work in
accurate detail. The subjects presented
sslhe Tramp Question" 1.-The Curfew
Law and manual Training were well
handled but as you are aware arr sJlii
open subjects demanding your most
serious consideration. In his connec,ion
two very able lectures must De gra. efully
a knowledged. One on the Tramp
Ouestion, by William NJ. Cole, A. M,
of New York on February-l6. and one on
Emanuel Training" by key. Samuel
Worcester on the 10Th OF April.
These open meetings are certainly OF
benefit to the community In the oppor-
tunities they offer for discussion upon
matters of public Importance. A large
attendance would greatly increase their
value.
We have had no equally able presenta-
tion of the "Curfew Law" with much
g neral discussion. Whatever your present
OF. MONS may be as to the practicaDility
OF such an ordnance you must all
acknowledge the importance of the
reform at which it aims. In view of this.
and The honor in which we hold the noble
woman, Mrs Margaret L. W Merrili,
who SO perservingly asks our attention TO
it l would recommend an early anu able
exposition of it's claims in your puDllc
meetings.
The usual and thorough investigation
WAS given all cases presented either b.
other charitable organizations or by
private citizens There is a gradual IN
crease in the use of the society for this
purpose The recent action OF one OF our
best business men in this connecsioa was
certainly communicable. MIR. Ben]amin
shaw brought SIS 10 the secretary With
the remark that he wished to feel perfect
" at liberty to send to her for lnVestigA-
ton all applicants for aid VINO came 10
his office Nr. Shaw would OF course
have been perfectly at liberty to DO This
without compensation. Indeed IL Is
favor to.us to bring us these cases, as IN
this way we acquire needed Information.
Rl,t o,lr Wo,k cannot be carried on
| without funds, and if our society Is TO
| take its place with kindred organizations
our citizens will be Obliged to contribute
| literally to its support
| There hrs been as much friendly visiting
as the number of visitors permitted
There has been much excellent work done
| in this departmenJ and the fact that II
1 xyoto ON ar imRta IDEAL
| is not true of our society alone. Reports
i from all similar organizations make
urgent appeals for reinIorcements in this
deDartment In New York, this year
/ there was a sort of summer school OF
| Philanthropy. Glasses were held for SIX
weeks to train and recruit for the winter S
| work.
This visiting department. is the right
arm of the organic ton, and only with
an effective visiting force can It's funda-
mental idea of permanent improvement
be developed.
The only Industrial branch of tia
society, the sewing room, was open Tor
nye months, and old Its usual benehcent
work l have not been furnished with
any report from it's officers. but | am
| familiar with its operations and know It's
value to manv of the women. 1t is hard
| ly possible for people having free Use OF
| money. spending so cents or dollar
easily to crafty passing fancy to under
stand how much it has meant to many OF
| the women to earn as much as that week
~ ut the sewing room. With many it has
been the one plank that saved from
| pauperism, and they await its opening
eagerly. Instances of good accomplished
| In this department, and by faithful
| friendly visitings as also instances OF
| fraud suppressed would be of interest, but
| the time is required for other business.
Respectfully submitted.
OFFICERS ELECTED.
| These officers we're elected:
President-Rev. K. r. Purdy.
! Vice President s-Rey. w. Z. Phelan,
| DR.. o. P Smith.
Secretary and Treasurer-Mrs. Martha
kR. Moore.
Attorney-Byron D. Verrill
| Mrs Lilly presented a paper on the
needs OF the organization, which was &C
copied and its publication requested.
A committee was appointed to organize
a work room, the former one having been
discontinued.
On motion Of DR.. Blanchard it was
voted to reorganize the association on
somewhat different lines.
A REMARKABLY OPERATION.