The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-22
CRYING NEED is FOR HELP
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under serious difficulties from the fact
that the only available room was poor
| ly lighted for such work and poorly
ventilated for so large number. In
spite of these disadvantages we feel
that much good work was done ana
that great credit is due to the ladies
who were so faithful under such con-
ditions. Seventeen meetings were held,
with an enrolment of 20 and an aver
| age attendance of II. On the day of the
last meeting a delightful entertain
| ment was given through the kindness
of Mrs. William H. Bliss. short
musical program was rendered when
was much enjoyed by all, and at the
close refreshments were served.
1.-The Home Savings Society has ex-
tended its work this year both in the
number of deposits and the amoun LI
collected. We are especially encouraged
by the fact that $390.75 was deposited
on individual accounts.
THE flower mission has continued to
do most excellent and systematic
work, of which a more detailed &C
count will be given in separate re-
! port.
THE meetings of the membership
committee composed of delegates from
the churches have been held each
month with a very fair attendance.
in the reports and in the discussion of
| individual cases. We hope during the
| coming year to increase the number
| and the efficiency of this committee.
Emergency work has been provided
| by the Employment Society, as in pre-
| vious years, to the amount of $9S. we
/ paid for 81 worth of this work in cash,
the rest being paid for in coal and
| grocery orders. We feel that this
branch of the work has been more set
isfactory than ever before in the effort
which the women have made to do
what has been required of them for
the aid received.
THE most important office work
undertaken this year has been that of
putting the street list, upon which we
had been experimenting for some time,
into more convenient and permanent
form By means of this list, which is
made out as a card index it is possible
to tell whether we have ever had an
application from any given house in
the city. 1t is very useful in studying
the different sections of the city, but 1t
is still more helpful in locating families
where there has been any misunder-
standing about the name. This street
list will, we believe, be still more val
liable as we come to deal more largely
With the foreigners whose names are
not easily understood.
"At Thanksgiving 81 families were
provided with dinners through the gen.
erosity of the Downing Street School,
White, Pevey & Dexter Company, the
Silver Cross League and the Girls
Brigade of St. Johns Church, the
Lend-a-Hand Clubs of the Church of
the Unity and the First Unitarian
Church and several Individual donors.
AT Christmas, also, about 200 chill
dren were made happy by the kindly
thought of others for them.
I'VE feel grateful to the different
churches who gave us the opportunity
to share in their Christmas giving, by
coming to us for the names of the chill
dren, most of whom would otherwise
have had a very meagre Christmas.
I'VE wish, also, to express our
thanks to all who have helped us in
carrying on our work, either by their
contributions of money or clothing or
by their personal service.
1--WE are always in need of personal
service in our work, definite service on
which we can rely. We are in need of
collectors for our Home Savings So
cety, of teachers in our sewing school
and of friendly visitors; and we appeal
again, as we have so many times be-
fore, for such assistance as you may
be able to give"
After the reading of the general sec
retary's report, the chair appointed
nominating committee of four for next
year. The committee is Nathaniel
Paine, B. w. Potter, Mrs. A. A. Bige-
low and Mrs. F. A. Gaskill.
Representatives of several organiza-
lions that act in helpful cooperation
with the Associated Charities were
present by request of that body, and
gave accounts of work.
Mrs. Charles H. Davis, president Of
the Good Samaritan Society, read a pa
per- giving a history of that organiza-
ton and an outline of its work.
The society was founded in 1892. 1t
works unostentatiously. Last year SO
physicians sent in orders for the use
of the society's sick room necessities,
such as wheel chairs rubber articles,
etc. Five hundred and two articles
were sent out during the year. Other
cities and towns have formed societies,
modelled after the Worcester organiza-
| ton.
Miss Annie Fisher spoke briefly
about the District Nursing Associa-
| ton The cases that come under the
| care of the district nurse are those of
| consumptives, persons suffering from
| rheumatism, hip diseases, burns, cases
from Memorial Hospital. Mothers are
| taught the care of babies.
Miss Adeline NJ Disco reported for
| the Flower Mission. 1t was instituted
a year ago last May and was patterned
| after a similar society at St. Mark
Church. Ten churches are now repre-
scented at it's monthly meetings. Dur
ing the past year 507 visits were made,
! IS gifts of flowers were taken to Memo
rial Hospital, % to the Home Farm and
| four to the Isolation Hospital. While
| all who contributed flowers for the
work of the mission were sincerely
| thanked. Hon. Stephen Salisbury and
Mrs. S. B. Dewey were especially men
toned as weekly donors.
Col. E. J. Russell spoke on the work
| of the probation officer. Since 1891
| when his work began $4,000 persons
have been discharged from court with
out publicity. Col Russell spoke high
ly of the help given him by the Wor-
cester police, and said that on the
whole the police strive manfully to dc
their duty and to help unfortunates
More than so per cent of the persons
allowed to go on probation never neec
10 be subjected to probation again.
Col Russell said before closing:
TWENTY-FIVE years ago it used to be
said that a man who got drunk was
an Irishman. The Irish young men OF
the city can give young Americans
, points on the matter of sobriety. This
is due to the fostering interest of the
Catholic Church. Watch the Catholic
societies. No one can be gentleman
unless he's first sober. The work that
Catholic societies are doing is aston
ishing I have to deal with as many
young men of American parentage as
of Irish parentage. If churches of all
| denominations did the same work and