Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-01-23
Correspondence.
Wanted; A Benevolent society.

ELLSWORTH, Jan. 10, 1901.
To the Editor Of The american:
When the Hand-in- Hand circle OF
Kings Daughters brought its work to a
close and disbanded nearly Two years ago,
a full explanation was given through the
columns OF THE AMERICAN, and there
was ne thought that the matter would
ever again be brought before the public
Bot now 1t seems only just to those fami-
lies " hom the circle sought to aid. as well
as to the citizens without whose CO.
operation the circle eoald no. have con-
tinued its work for ten years, that a word
should be spoken, since false impression
| is current that the circle disbanded be-
cause there YVES no further demand for
its work.
| The books OF the Hsud-in- Hand circle
show a membership, at one time, OF
sixty five, which through sickness, death,
removals from town, added home cares
which prevented public activity, and in a
few cases, lack Of interest in the work,
dwindled to about twenty active mem
oers in the fall OF 1898. These few
women, finding that 1t was impracticable
not to say impossible, to carry the
burden which had been borne by three
| times that number, after struggling
Through the winter OF 1898 90, realized
| that the only course open to them was to
wipe out the Indebtedness OF the circle
and TO bring its work to an end.
| This Is, in brief, the official report which
was given to the public in April 1899.
| Had the demands of the work dimin Is he'd
| In proportion to the resources of the
circle, those twenty women could have
continued the work and there would still
have been small benevolent society in
town. On the contrary, the books show
that the benovient committee never had
more calls than during that last winter,
and to this day the former members OF
! that committee are frequently approached
\ by people soliciting aid aud asking IL
there is not some society to take the
place OF the Kings Daughters.
4 Another false impression that somehow
helped by the Hand-in- Hand circle would
have been provided for by the overseers OF
the poor II the KiBg'A Daag hters had lol
come to the front. Therecords of the be-
nsvoient committee, which were always
I open 10 tue inspection of the citizens,
prove that the families which the circle
sought to aid were not eligible TO help
from the city authorities, bat were ismit-
| les which sickness or other misfortune
had rendered temporarily destitute. AS
soon as 1t was found that family receiving
aid from the circle was also being helped
4 by the city or was eligible to such help,
that family was promptly discharged.
This letter is not written to exonerste
the Hsnd-in- Hand circle or to Reuse
many mistakes which it made, least of all
in the hope OF reyiving that old society
4 for its work, whether good or Ill, is over
but simply to prove, by records kept for
| ten years, that there 10 crying need in
our little city OF n benevolent society that
shall extend a friendly, helpful band to
those who cannot receive aid from the
city authorities.
/ The men and women OF Ellsworth are
noted for their generosity in subscribing
| money to relieve distress and In giving at
| their doors, and without doubt there is
enough freely given here each winter to
make every poor family in town compar-
atiyeiy comfortable II it were wisely dis
tributed through the medium OF a we'll
ordered benevolent society. The noble
effort made this winter by five little girls
to raise money to buy Christmas presents
for poor children, and the hearty response
OF the public to their appeal, is another
evidence that there are willing hands and
hearts always ready to help the unfortu-
nate when way is opened.
I The establishment OF benevolent
( society, or better still, of associated
charieties, in which each church should
be represented-a society which should be
conducted with the same skill snd pru-
denee with which our business men and
women administer their own affairs
would be a glorious wsy for Eiiworth to
| celebrate the dawn OF the new century.
Miss NJ. A. GREEDY.