The record-union., 1899-01-10
FRIENDS OF The CHILDREN.
SOCIETY HOLDS IT'S SEMI-AN-
NUAL MEETING.
Rabbi Simon, the Secretary, the
Recipient Of an Elegant
Gift.

| y,
zens' contributions for its support in
the new year now amounted to 500. In
its accumulation fund, which looks for
ward to what is held to be an essential,
home" for the temporary care of I'M
fortunate children, it now has some
thing over 81 800, but 1t will have to be
more than doubled to accomplish the
end in view. This it is hoped to do
within the next two years, unless the
public support it now has should fail
the society.
| Special officer Daniel Healy reported
twelve cases handled in the past
month, and three trips made abroad.
On one of these cases, an aggravated
instance of child desertion, he asked
advice, and the society directed the Of
fetal board to lay the matter at once
before the District Attorney and Su-
pervisors for legal action.
| Other cases We're those of poverty,
misfortune, desertion and want of
proper care; but, for the first time in
year, no case of criminal character
was reported.
Just before the meeting closed DR..
Van Norden arose and said that he had
one little matter to speak of, purely
personal The society, he said, is now
nearly three years old. It's success has
been very remarkable. It had now the
respect of the people, the city and coun-
ty officials. and it had their cordial
support. 1t had accomplished unself-
ishly great good, but still the field for
its activity was broad, and the duties
endless.
I The success attained in a large meas
ure was due to two important factors
a courageous, devoted special officer, of
good sense and big heart, and a Secre-
tary of fidelity, untiring patience, intel
ligence and a world of human SYM
pathy. Members Of the society and
some others had noted the unselfish,
unpaid hard work, and whole hearted
administration of Secretary Simon, and
had deemed it proper at New Year
time, and a privilege, too, to make some
public expression of the respect and af
| lection felt for Rabbi Simon - some
public recognition Of his sincerity, I'M
segfishness and ability, and his love
for hapless children.
1t seemed well to put that expression
into material form, as testimonial to
Secretary Simon. He fhe President)
did not think that any Offering was
ever made that was better deserved
never one the inscription upon which
was so free from insincerity.
| He then produced a handsome gold
watch, on its outer case the monogram
"A. s." and on its inner case these
words: ITO Rabbi Abram Simon. the
devoted friend of children; from his CO.
workers, January, 1899"
Continuing, DR.. Van Norden said Sec
rotary Simons love for children was
. not for the lovely and amiable alone,
but equally for the unhappy and I'M
lovely. the defenseless, the poor. de-
serted, abused children, and for whose
rights as human beings he labored and
battled SO successfully, along with the
| society. 1t was that overlooking love
that touched the hearts of his CO.
workers and moved them to the testi-
monial manifestation u not a great
thing, merely trifie in material form
but it was full of meanig.
He prayed that Secretary Simon,
however old he might grow in body,
might be one of those whose soul and
heart remain young to the last.
Rabbi Simon was completely over
come. and fairly staggered with sur
prise as he arose amid applause to ac-
cept the token. His voice choked up,
and for some moments he was unable
to speak, and tears swan in his eyes.
| Finally he said his was an emotion too
deep for words. The music of his graf
itude could find no note tuneful enough
| to express it. He accepted the gift
with full faith in the sincerity which
prompted it. He appreciated to the
fullest the spirit of the givers and what
they meant the gift to symbolic before
| the people of this city.
! But it needed no material proof for
him that affection dwelt between the
chi1dren's friends and himself. He be-
lieved the society had the confidence,
the respect, the affection of this COM
munity, and he believed it deserved it
He was profoundly thankful that
through it he had been given an oppor-
tunity to do little something for the
social welfare of helpless little ones,
neglected youth and the unhappy
young.
The repose of confidence in one so
young as himself touched him deeply
and made him sensible that he enjoyed
a great privilege in being permitted to
give of his humble ability to so humane
| a work.
| With strong emotion Mr.. Simon con-
Guided, half choked by his feelings, and
sank into his chair while the meeting
broke up and the members gathered
about to grasp their Secretary by the
hand and wish him hundred times
Happy New Year"
| On all sides deep regret was ex-
pressed that one who had been espe-
cfaHy active in getting up the testi-
monial was absent, officer Healy being
at home attending upon, it is feared,
his dying son..