Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-11-21
CHARITY BA|L
Chsncss Are That the Big Social
Event Will Be Dispensed With
at Des MoineA
Directors Of the Associated Chart.
ties Are Divided as to Its
Advisability.
Opposition Not Confined Entirely to
Religious Objections Said to
Lesson Interest

AsVAA6 AVSAS- " 0JSSSASAASgs
Lesson Interest
Special to Times-Republican
Des Moines, Nov. 21.-The annual dis
cussion over the charity ball is now on,
but the chances are that there will be no
charity ball in Des Moines this year.
Every year there has been a controversy
over 1t in the board of directors OF the
Associated Charities and between that
board and the Ministerial Association.
The ministers have vigorously opposed
the charity ball, chiefly because they are
opposed to dancing and think it should
be suppressed.
The charity ball has usually been
given under the auspices of the Asso-
ciated Charities. Contributions have
been made every year by subscriptions.
but the funds received from this source
have never been sufficient to carry on
the work. The ministers and the ultra
church people, those who are most earn
estly opposed to the charity ball, have
not been willing to supply the deficien-
cy which would result from failure to
give the ball. The latter usually nets
from $500 to $1,000. 1t is given by
committee Of young men with the usual
| long list Of patronesses. all Of which is
under the direct approval OF the Asso-
ciated Charities organization.
4 This year the Ministerial Association,
believing that the board Of directors Of
4 the Associated Charities as 1t is con-
stituted this year viii be opposed to the
ball, has voted to give the Associated
Charities the proceeds of the Thanks
! giving collection in the various
llschurches. The ministers have also Of
lfered to open their pulptts, each one Of
them for an evening. for the presenta-
!, tion Of the work Of organized and scien-
s tific charity as represented by the AS
i sociated Charities, in the hope that this
/ Imay interest the people in the work and
N Induce them to subscribe to its support.
. They have plainly intimated, however,
q etthat if the charity ball is given they
b Will nofrco.operate Ia the .Asspciatsd
!. Charities work and will give 1t no sup
> port, encouragement or money. directly
E Tor Indirectly. This was the ultimatum
(. delivered to the board last week by Rev.
) F. j. Van Horn. the new pastor of the
!, Congregational church. who is making
: l.auite stir in Des Moines by his SER
8 mons on politics. Hitherto the church
1 les have made very small contributions
{ Ito the organized charity work. The
Episcopal church, whose rector is not a
member OF the Ministerial Association
land whose members are not opposed to
the charity ball. has usually given al
!, Thanksgiving time as much as all the
! other churches combined. Last year ar
J. effort was made before the board to de-
I eide to give the ball to get the ministers
2 to agree to raise the money so it would
not be necessary to give the ball, but
. they declined to assume any responsi,
!. bility, altho their attitude toward tht
y ball was positively belligerent.
7 But the opposition to the cnarity bal
J, is not confined to those who have relig
e ious objections to it or who are opposet
Il to dancing for moral reasons. The mos
u active and best-informed workers in tn
: scientific organization are opposed i
r. this method OF raising money to carr
I. 1t on because they say it lessons the in
\. terest in the work itself They prefer t
y have the money for its support coma a
$. pose, instead OF its being paid out 70
4. an evenings pleasure without muc
thought of the charity work. Complain
is made that the policy Of giving
charity ball results in lack of inter
!, est in the work. They point to the fat
Il that the most successful organization
- have abandoned the charity bail, nots
80 bly, in Chicago and indianapolis. This
: freely admitted by many who favor II
,, charity ball as an easy means of raj:
= ing the money. They say they woul
Il. gladly give up the charity ball If thei
was any other sure means of producin
=, the necessary revenue without requirir
-, -, the members of the board to go out pc
y, =, sonally and devote their time to solici
- ing, something which they dislike We,
much to do. The problem will probi
bly, be solved by the employment of
~ paid solicitor to raise the $1,000 nece
re sary to support the organization.
- meeting will be held Friday night WHIT
q, the whole question will be settled.
of The Associated Charities of d
- Moines. does not aim to give aims.
II purpose is to investigate cases whit
80 are reported to it and determine upt
"a their merits. giving advice to persons i
II quiring and to organizations. It is
=, sort of clearing house of persons soil
: : iting aid. Its chief purpose is to he
- the poor to help themselves and to pr
: tect benevolent people from being il
posed upon by professional beggars. 7
work is under the immediate charge
,as Miss Charlotte Goff. who has devot
of nine years to it. She receives sm
led salary and is thoroughly devoted to t
ng Interests of the people with whom 9
In comes in contact. She is now prepa
on. ing to go and live in their midst. SO tn
,ut they may feel more at ease with her a
ILL that she may study and know me
about the poor OF the city. The orgal
zation has accomplished a vast amou
of good by encouraging persons W
Try have met with Misfortune and givi
'ial them an opportunity to better their CO
&C. dition. In extreme cases direct ASST
ley ance is sometimes given. but this is
- M exception. IA
~. ~. 1t Is possible that the society folks
yea the city will not give up the char
Ote Nal soyan 4 sif the ASSociated Cha rift