The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-01-18
ASSOCIATED
CHARITIES
Pauperism Shown 10
Be at a Minimum.
HONOLULU is GENEROUS
Number of those Calling for Help
Has Decreased Strikirg|y
Lately.

Associated Charities was held Wednes-
day in the managers office, President
Governor Dole presiding.
Mrs E. F. Berger, manager, reported
for the quarter ending January 16,
1901. Twenty-Five new cases and seven
recurring cases; reading paper on the
work, as follows:
From this report it will be seen
that the work varies. We have had
as high as twenty-four new applica-
tions in one month; while for the quar-
ter just ending we report only twenty
five new cases. We can account for
this condition of things In TWO ways:
First-the work is now we'll organized.
All the poor of the city requiring con-
slant aid are being cared for by the
various societies, and it Is only occa-
sionally, when trouble comes to a fam
lily, that we hear from a resident. so
the new. work is for the most part
with strangers. 1t is evident that not
so many of the class that needs help
are coming here just now, and cOndl-
lions are so favorable that those who
are here, and are able to work, find
enough to do to enable them to live
comfortably. So, until new wave OF
travel strikes us, we are not likely
to have so many applicants.
1--WE have as new affiliations, the
British Benevolent Society and the
Young Women's Christian Association,
Our relations with these societies are
pleasantly begun, and have already
been of mutual benefit. There are
now sixteen of the city's societies af-
filiating and working tremendously
with US. We never call upon any So
ciety to aid in a case, but it responds
cheerfully and promptly. There has
been no lack of funds to prosecute the
work. We owe no bills and have no
debts. A few weeks ago one of the
members of the Associated Charities
gave 500, to be a Managers Fund,
to be used at her own discretion. When
i tell you that the amount was prompt
~ put into the society's treasury, you
will readily see there is no longer
want of a. managers fund. But how
grateful she would have been a year
or more ago for such fund. Shortly
before Christmas donations began COM
ing in to enable us to give dinners,
money, clothing and other necessities
to the poor. By this means thirty-nine
people had good and substantial din
ners on Christmas; twenty-eight child
rem had clothes and toys, and other
things that delight the hearts Of the
receive their gifts, and seemed very
grateful and happy. Great quantities
of secondhand, but excellent clothing,
came in; also, reading matter, all Of
which was distributed during holiday
week.
1T is we'll for all sorts of persons,
business and social concerns, to take
account of stock occasionally to see
how they have progressed, and how
they stand. This organization is no
exception, but should fall into line, and
perhaps make some New Year resolu-
lions. This office was opened for bust
ness seventeen months ago. At the
beginning there We're twelve societies
affiliating; there are now sixteen The
membership has increased very little,
there being only about 100 paying mem
bers. Need of growth in this direction
has been felt, and we followed the sug-
gestion of our president TO mail our
annual reports and circular letters 20
those throughout the Islands Who
would presumably have an interest in
such an organization. Three hundred
reports and the sar,le number of cir
cular letters Were sent out in October,
and we are not aware of a single new
member having been gained in this
way, though, no doubt it has done
good in other ways. People on the
other Islands, at least, know that such
an institution as the Associated Char
tiles of Hawaii exists, and that we
care for the poor and sick who come
from Hawaii, as we'll as those from
Oahu.
But it seems that only personal So
licitation can secure members, and as
a large membership is the life or an
organization, it would appear that an
effort should be made to increase our
list in that way. To have a real and
n in mi on.
needs TO work for it, and we suggest
that the members of our executive
committee, of whom there are sixteen,
exclusive of the officers, be the ones
10 do this work. Each member has the
annual report, with list of members.
names, and can no doubt find many
friends who, on their personal solicita-
ton, would gladly become members.
We receive from time to time applica-
lions for relief from people, from the
sugar plantations who are sick, and
come to Honolulu for medical or other
aid, and these people we nave always
cared for, placing them in the hospi-
tails, or giving them other relief Now
it seems 20 US that if the managers and
officers OF plantations generally knew
this, they would gladly become mem
bers of an institution doing this kind
OF work. But printed matter does not
seem to interest them. Perhaps per-
sonal letters would.
We desire the organization of a
scandinavian society, as we have num-
bers OF their people applying to u.s.
Such a society could be self supporting,
we believe, if carried out on the lines
OF the Portuguese charitable societies
OF Hawaii. An officer in that society
mas shown me list of 1876 names of
members. They pay at the rate of %
cents per month, or IS per year, giving
them an insurance of $500. Of course.
the Scandinayians are few in number
mere, compared with the Portuguese.
out there would also be fewer to help,
and we believe in societies by country
men for countrymen. Someone may
suggest a way of starting such a
movement.
The friends and patrons of this as
soclation seem loyal and helpful. and
the manager feels CORRESPONDENCE
grateful for encoura cement received
during the year, and earnestly hopes
that the association will grow in num-
bers as well as in strength. TIL 1t be-
GENES, verify, the Associated Charities
of Hawaii"
Letters We're read from the Strang-
ers Friend Society, and the treasurer
or the American Relief Fund. of a con-
sratulatory nature, and both heartily
endorsing Mrs. Berger's methods Of
management. One of the writers states,