The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-10-09

all eases OF neeQ are sent ana from
which they are issued to those to whom
they belong. 1t has been aptly called a
pool" or trust Of charities and it is
well known that such declarations may
work both economically and thoroughly.
10 make its purposes clear let me
state them in its own words. 1t wishes
the cooperation of the different chart
Ties or Worcester in order
TO raise the needy above the need of
rellef, prevent begging and imposition,
and diminish pauperism;
10 encourage thrift, self-dependence
and industry through friendly inter-
course, advice and sympathy, and to aid
the poor to help themselves;
To prevent children from growing up
as paupers;
ITO aid in the diffusion of knowledge
on subjects connected with the relief of
the poor.
And to accomplish these objects, it
is designed:
Il. To provide that the case of every
applicant for relief shall be thoroughly
investigated;
"2. To place the results Of such in
vestfgation at the disposal of charitable
| societies and agencies, and of private
persons of benevolence, and of the
oVerseers of the poor, SO far as such
| investigation may be necessary for the
accomplishment of the objects of this
society;
"3. To obtain employment, if possi-
Bile, If not, to obtain, so far as neces-
sary, suitable assistance for every de-
serving applicant from charitable agen-
cies, benevolent individuals or public
authorities;
a. To make all relief, either by aims
or charitable work, conditional upon
good conduct and progressy
IS. To send to each poor family, I'M
der the advice of a district conference,
a friendly visitor;
IS. To hold public meetings and print
papers for distribution as may be found
necessary bylaws of the Associated
Charities of Worcester.
1t will be seen from this platform that
the work is positive and not negative
The churches do not act through the
central office to get rid of their poor
On the contrary, they do so simply to
assure themselves that their poor are
theirs and not the property Of every
church in town. They then care for the
poor as the poor cannot care for them
selves, Each church retains it's own.
Charitable agencies do not cease to give
lrellef in the form of money, supplies and
work when they cooperate with the
Associated Charities Rather they
Ihenceforth progress with knowledge and
sight instead of ignorance and faith.
| individuals who send the tramp and
the beggar from their doors to the cen
Itral office are not uncharitable. They are
not Sinking a duty; on the contrary
they are assuming a responsibility that
may convert the tramp into respect
able toWnsman and the beggar into
self-supporti citizen. The large object
of the socies is to spare no time, labor
or money and to be everyone's servant
If they may only build character.
We must confess that this is of more
Importance than to preserve the integ-
rlty of a long list of poor in our church
charities, to be Jealous of our own cases
in the relief societies and to ease our
misguided ana poorly educated con-
sciences by giving freely at our DOORS
For the test of real charity is not the
number of persons who come to ones
church, society or home, but the quail
ity of thought that one devotes to each
case. The church, the rooms of which
are ovsrrun with Migrants, would bet
ter close its doors. The agency that is
a rendezvous of the worthless might shut
up shop with advantage to the public.
The individual whose kitchen steps are
the headquarters of the guild of tramps
IS menace to society and the worst
enemy the tramps can have The worth
lessly INDECENT know that the bountiful
churches, societies and persons are their
own worst enemies, but, like thieves and
gamblers, they often consider their
most fatal foes their bosom friends.
i However, it may be said, Il cannot send
the stranger from my door either penni-
less or hungry. 1t would be heartless. .
If this be heartlessness, far better to
be heartless than headless. But better
than either is the combination-the
heart prompting to kindness. the head
suggesting the means The Associated
/ Charities work is constructive, not
destructive. We make applicants for
food, fuel, employment or money walt;
we send them from our doors. It seems
/ cruel, 1t seems purely negative But if
we are turning them over to those who
have the time, willingness and ability
to investigate we are simply calling into
activity our larger and more capable
self-the organization. We are serving
our neighbor in Gods way.
There is another fact that ought by
no means to be forgotten The Associ-
ated Charities organize not only the
| dlHerent sources of relief in the same
city, so that they may work most econ
omically and effectively. They also af-
hliate with the charities of other cities.
SO that cases may be traced in every
town through which they pass and NAV
finally be brought to a full stop. It
thereby establishes a guild. in effect If
not In constitution, that will sooner or
later make 1t as impossible for an I'M
worthy person to thrive on the ignor-
ance of places that have never seen hin,
as 1t is for criminal to find safe ref
uge in countries with extradition treat
les. But no less diligently does 1t helm
the worthy who have moved from one
town to another In search Of a better
opportunity for work. 1t gathers favor
able evidence as readily and with much
more satisfaction than unfavorable
and proves of positive assistance to
those in honest need. It is to be hoped
that this branch of the work will he
perfected as rapidly as possible, so that
nothing may obStruct the thoroughness
of the system.
me Associated Charities, then, stands
for the highest idea of service and as
sistanee. 1t simply wishes to be heIpful
to the helpless and helpful to the helped
1t is ready to be bureau of informa-
ton and base CT operations if it NAV
thereby discourage dependence and lazi-
ness and stimulate self-respect and in
dustry. In this city the genuineness Of
its motives, the saneness of its methods
and the eh1caciousness of its results. are
youched for by its list of officers and
by the names of those who give it their
thought and money. 1t has the unquali-
fed communication of the overseer of
the poor. It is in the immediate hands
of one who has a genuine enthusiasm
for humanity" 1t is, as a branch of the
charity organization movement, con-
cceded by those competent to judge, to
be as near perfection as charity can be
brought. 1t would not be difficult mat
ter to collect the names of economists
and financiers who give it not only a
word of approval, but hours of time and
more than their share of money.
With such support it seems strange
that it should not be attended by sue