Evening star., 1901-05-17
GOOD EFFECTS NOTED.
influence of Recent Conference ON
Washington Charities

In the opinion of Mr.. John w. Douglass.
one of the officials Of the board of chill
dren's guardians, the city of Washington
will feel the good effects of the national
conference of charities and correction. re-
Gently in session here, for many years TO
come. Its charitable institutions and peo-
pie received such an inspiration he SAYS
as must bear fruit. great voluntary or
ganization like the conference, COMPOSED
OF earnest, cultured and broad-minded men
and women from all over our land with
no political or other axes to grind fired
with the single purpose of finding out the
best way to ameliorate the condition OF
the unfortunate, cannot fail to leave be-
hlnd an impress for good upon the hearts
and minds of the entire community.
we may reasonably expect" said Mr.
douglass, "as a result of the conference
meetings. first, an increasing interest in
the study of social and philanthropic prob-
lens Minister WI frankly confessed that
he knew nothing about the objects Of the
conference or the subjects which engaged
It's attention. But he added as / get
time l shall look into them and give them
study. SO will scores of our citizens who
have never before known that charity is a
science.
when our public-spirited citizens, like
the president of the Board of Trade and
the president of the board of charities
eVlnce such deep personal interest by their
cESSed by the conference IL augurs we'll
for our local charities.
Second-It will serve to get the adminis-
trat1Ve officers Of institutions and agencies
the salaried workers out of ruts II is So
easy for the daily routine work to narrow
one visions and efforts. We must occa-
slonally rise to heights from which a sur
Vey of the whole field can be had-touch
elbows with other workers in other fields;
exchange experiences and catch new meth
ods ana make new friends. Our various in
stltuuons will thus come to be even more
efficiently administered than at present
'Third-It will help to amalgamate all
interests In their allegiance to the COM
munlty. Our District charitable efforts
have lacked cohesion in the past Pet theo-
r1es and pet institutions have warped mar
rowed and shamefully limited efficiency
Ihere has been perceptible getting to-
gether for the past few years, and more
and more, as a direct result of the con-
ference spirit and teachings will our ef-
forts be united and consequently richer in
fruitage.
"Fourth-It brings us a step nearer TO tho
true conception of the fatherhood of God
and the brotherhood of man. 1t was a
grand and inspiring sight to see Protestant.
Catholic and Hebrew shoulder to shoulder
seeking for the light, tolerant as to reli-
glous and political creeds, but united I'm
their belief in social and personal right
eousness. The more heart and sentiment,
steadied by study and thought of course
we In Washington can get in to our chaEk
table work, the better will 1t be. Our pub
lie and private charities in the District OF
Columbia are fairly good now They are
free from political influences and from
scandal. But the very best known is not
too high an ideal toward which to aspire.
The soil was well prepared and in a recep-
tive condition, the seed has been sown, and
L confidently expect good fruits locally as
a direct result of the meetings of this
conference"