The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-06-10
AFTER FIFTY YEARS AFTER FANNIE KERR
REVIEW OF STRANGERS FRIEND
SOCIETY.
Interesting Sketch Of It's Organization
And Work by Mrs. s. NJ. Damon.
Officers For the Year Elected

The fiftieth annual business meeting
of the Strangers Friend Society was
held this morning in the parlors of the
Young Mems Christian Association
There was an excellent attendance of
members, and mutual congratulations
on the anniversary were exchanged. The
celebration of the jubilee anniversary
VIII be celebrated this evening at the
residence of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Damon
Chaplain street, and in the very rooms
where the society was organized. The
program of the celebration exercises
will be found, on page of this issue.
AT the business meeting this morning
the following officers We're elected: Pre-
sident, Mrs. Alexander Macintosh: 1st
president, Mrs F. E. Hebron; 2nd
vice president, Mrs. Andrew Fuller: Sc
cretary Mrs. 5. NJ. DamOn treasurer,
Mrs. e. W. Jordan; direCtress (an Office
renewed at this meeting), Mrs. w. f.
Allen; Auditor, E. w. Jordan.
Reports of the various officers were
rear and approved. Mrs. 5. NJ. Damon
the secretary presented the following
report of the work of the year
June 10, 1902. Strangers Friend So
ciety: Today we celebrate the semi
centennial of the Strangers Friend So
ciety. The oldest benevolent society OF
the Pacific. + ifty years ago in the par
> '.
home, the society was organized, by d
few ladies, who, feeling the pressing
need of aid to destitute strangers pled-
ged themselves to do all in their power
to alleviate the sufferings of such who
were destitute and sick; and without
regard to the nationality and religious
belief. How wbH they accomplished
the work is evidenced by the minute re-
cords kept throughout the years. To
a In 70 Ia g,1.f rl,f. (,
this society was formed, remains ma
terially unchanged, for as in 50 so IN
1907 comes to the doors the never Cea-
sing call of the poor, the halt
the sick,and blind and today those who
have been benetiCaries of the society
are numbered by the thousands. Each
successive year has rather increased
tnan diminished the amount of expen-
ditures, although the work has been less
burdensOme. The associated charities
bearing largely the responsibility of
investigation of transient cases and the
Strangers Friend Society placing a
monthly allowance in care of the asso-
ciated charities for distribution to tran
sient cases. To the generous donations
of warm supporters of the society are
Its members very largely indebted for
the succ IS attending their efforts. Pro-
minent amongst these we nad in re-
names of the Hon. Charles r. Bishop,
Mr.. TheO II. Davies, Mrs. Hackfeld,
Mrs. w. G. Irwin, Mrs. $. b. Dole, Mrs.
Francis Gay, Mr.. Aubrey Robinson,
Mrs. NJ. Rice, Mrs. G. NJ. Cooke, Mrs.
LOuissOn Mrs Grinbaum and many
others worthy Of mention. OF the ORR !
ginal members who joined within the |
first month after the society was form |
ed number fifty two, but few are living. !
no 40 a /
office three years, then Mrs. s. c. Da- |
mon, better known as mother Damon |
for she was mother to all, was elect |
ed to the presidency, and held the Office |
30 years, at her death, occurring in 1890, |
Mrs w. f. Allen was elected president |
and for three years nobly sustained the |
position until 1898 when by i'll health she |
was compelled to resign. In 1894 Mrs. !
Macintosh became president, and for |
eight years has done continuously |
faithful work.
few Items regarding the past years |
work viii close my report. A large |
number of individual cases and families !
have been supplied with daily ratiOns |
and otherwise cared for. The four beds |
in the Queens hospital endowed by the |
Hon. Charles r. Bishop to the use of |
the Strangers Friend Society have been |
kept constantly filled for the year sue |
cessively occupied by 30 different pa
tents, One other endowed bed given to
the use of the society by Mrs. W. c. |
Irwin has also been kept filed, for the .
years successfully occupied by eleven |
different patients. Rents have been |
paid and monies for passages in part |
or wholly paid. Expenditures amount |
TO Sli7O.20. Receipts to $l5S2S2.
new year has just opened. If from |
the decades that have just passed, there |
S a line to cross we cheerfully lift what |
ever of burdens we bear over glad to |
again resume the responsibility of help |
to those who cannot help themselves. |
May we ever have the same earnest un- !
selfish spirit for doing good that so
the promoters of this |
work for the Strangers Friend Society |
II. DAMON, |
Secretary.