The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-12-20
NEEDED, CHRISTMAS GIFTS
TO THE CTTY MISSIONS FOR THE
COMFORT or THEIR WORTHY POOR

During the Coming Syinter-A Letter
from Rev. Mr.. Mossman, the Niission-
airy Pastor.
To the Editor of the Journal and Cour-
ier-Sir:
| am sure that neither at Christmas
time nor at any other time, in winter
nor in summer, would any of our New
Haven people be willing to have any
one else in the city suffer discomfort
from lack of food, or fuel, or clothing
All the more if it were known that
there were among those in any such
| trouble, or even in danger of it, old and
| feeble people, or sick persons or weak
women, or little helpless children. /
sincerely believe that if it We're known
that any such distress existed, or was
even likely to, there are hundreds of
kind hearts that would quickly call out
let us help
| The City Missionary association is
| not and does not claim to be an orr
ganization for the distribution of gem
eral relief to everyone who may be in
| need. To do this would be to under
take the work of the city officials APP
| pointed to decide in such matters, or
| to try to take the place of the Organ
| lied Charities which, while not a gem
eral relief society, stands ready to give
guidance and if need be temporary re-
| lief to those in need of either No one
should ever give less to the Organized
Charities because of any appeal for spe
cial help by our own or any other or
ganization which is working cooper
atively with them and receiving valu-
able aid from them
But it is nevertheless true that in
stead of too much being done for the
really poor people of New Haven, there
is still at times a pitiful and painful
lack of knowledge ON the part of us all
as to where these people are, and also
as to what are their varying needs from
week to week or from day to day. To be
sure there are plenty of people in this
city quite willing to be accounted
among the poor if they can thereby get
a living without working for it. But
I refer especially to the silent sufferers
among the worthy poor, who are just
as respectable in their present poverty
as they were when formerly able to
support themselves, and because OF
their self-respect are never seen or
heard among those who call for reilet
because they are poor, and who are
poor because of an evil life, or idleness,
or shiftlessness and continue poor pc
cause unwilling to bear correction.
And it is for these, the struggling,
worthy, self-respecting poor, that are
known to us in our mission work, that
I ask for gifts at this Christmas time
For working men without work, and
who would prefer work to any other
kind of help for their families; for
working women with the daily care OF
a household of fatherless children, but
without the help of any other woman;
for little children who would be hearty
and strong if they had enough nourish-
ing food for old people who do not
want so very much to eat, but who feel
the cold more than they used to, and
who lack for comfortable clothing and I
warm bedding in the winter time. We |
are not church and do not expect to
be. but we feel the same responsibility |
for those who are known to us, and |
who have no other religious relation
ship, as church should feel toward !
those under its care. Many of our
people are in trouble, or are going to
be if left to struggle on alone We |
wish to lend a helping hand wherever |
needed, but instead of trying to help |
1ut of future trouble we would like to /
be able to prevent it.
Do you ask How can I help your" I
In any other way you choose, but es-
oecially by sending to me your Christ
mas gift for some of those I have men |
toned, either in an order on your mark
etman or grocer, for one, two, three, or
i've dollars, to be used at my discre-
ion, for any who may need it either
COW or later in the winter; or similar
amounts or more. in money, to be de-
posted by you in my Mission bank to
he credit of such persons or families
with our mission as eth
N YOU or / may name, but who
will know 1T only when. sooner or later,
hey need it, and will then be surprised
o find you have thought Of them and
1ave given positive proof that you care
or them. And no one else is to know it
out you and I, and they and God Will
lot this be doing as they would wish it
o be done and as you would wish to be
lone by, and as the Christ of that first
Christmas time would wish 1t also?
Respectfully yours,
w. d. Mossman,
Missionary Pastor