The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-04-15
DOING A GOOD WORK
ENCOURAGING REPORTS PRESENT
ED AT SEMI-ANNUAL MEETING
OF ASSOCIATED CHARITIES
LESS DISTRESS IN THE CITY
Fewer Cases of Destitution Reported
Than Last Year-Provident Fund
and Educational Depart
ments FIOurishing.

Fifty people attended the twentieth
semi-annual meeting of the Associated
Charities held yesterday afternoon in
the mayors office in the city hall. The
following charities were represented:
Bethel Lnilds Saving association,
Childrens Home society, Christian Help
society, City Missionary society, Catholic
orphan asylum, Day Nursery, Free Dis
pensary, hebrew Ladies Benevolent So
ciety, Home for the Friendless, House
of Good Shepherd, Humane society,
Kings Daughters of Burlington Heights,
Needle Work gulId, Peoples Church In
dustrial school, plymouth Church relief,
Protestant orphan asylum, ST. James
Michaers conference. st. Paul confer
ence, St. Vincent's conference. St. Jo-
seph's hospital, ST. Margaret's guild,
Salvation Army Rescue home, Relief So
ciety, Trades and Labor assembly
Woman's Christian home, Sisters of
Peace and the following members at
large: B. F. Beardsley, Mrs. C. G. Hig-
bee, John D. Ludden, Rabi I. L. Rypins
and S. G. Smith. DR.. Smith presided.
There was considera Bile discussion con-
corning the advisabiity of hiring a visit
ing nurse, and much was said to show
the real need Of such an officer, and at
the close of the meeting a gentleman
promised to be one of ten, if the other
nine could be found, to support a visit
ing nurse.
The treasurer's report showed the re-
ceipts of the past semester to be $2473.O2
with a balance of 1926 on hand E. w
Peet, the treasurer, is i'll and was unable
to be present and in his absence the sec
rotary, A. w. Gutridge, read his report,
which was in part as follows:
Report of the Secretary.
Flowing from our plan of work possibly
the greatest benefit to st. Paul is the
quantity of light which has been thrown
upon philanthropic questions. This COM
ing together of earnest people Of SO
many different habits of thought and
practice gives the best possible oppor-
test only survive. Doctrine, which is the
united voice of the representatives of
all, is listened to by all, enlarges the
views of all, and is made a rule of ac-
ton, to greater of less degree, by al.
This is why in st. Paul public opinion
upon charity occupies such an advanced
position.
To come to the record of the past six
months we have an encoura ging story to
tell. The records in the department Of
investigation and registration show we
investigated 519 cases of reported dis
tress, and 1856 of those concerned fami-
lies whom we had not before visited
Inc total number for the corresponding
period last year was $50, and the number
Improvement of 10 per cent for the
whole and % per cent for the new
cases alone. This is the best record of
any year since we begun work except
was slightly better. But year by year
We reach out to cases which We're for
merly handled in what was called a
private manner by well disposed people,
SO that we gradually come nearer to
visiting every case of reported need.
Thus it is entirely safe to say that the
amount of destitution in the city was
less during the past winter than in any
winter since we began work This was
due to two causes the greater oppor-
tunlty for employment and the mildness
OF the winter, chiefly the latter. In nor
NAL conditions much the greater number
OF those whom we have to deal with
have no male support, he is sick or dead
or has deserted. So a mild winter is a
greater blessing to the very poor than
is ease in procuring work Our month
ly review of the families which actually
received aid during the six months, made
IN preparing our reports to pastors,
946, almost 100 less than for the same
period last year. Some Of these families
received help every month, others only
once. A few, too, were added more thar
once in the same month.
PrOvident Fund Growing.
In the six months the provident fund
has shown extraordinarily rapid develop
HlenI. several ldQleS volunteered to place
themselves under Miss Hanson's guild
ance that the merit of the work might
become better known. This enabled us
to open stations for the sale of stamps
in the Jackson, Drew, Van Buren,, Schef-
fer, Adams and Madison schools, in ad-
dition to the schools in which stations
already existed. In all the new stations
the work is progressing very satiSfactor-
lily. In the Van Buren, school 345 ac-
counts were opened the first month 1t
should be mentioned that the success,
previously noticed in the Lafayette
school, continues. This il due not a lit
tie to the zeal and thcroughness of the
principal.
The deposit for the half year was Sc. 200.
only about 800 less than for the best
previous whole year The new depos-
itors number 1000, over JOG per cent bet
ter than in any previous six months. We
have now 1872 depositors. Since we
opened this department $14, 1872 81 has been
deposited and 81 80 withdrawn, Ieav-
ing 2 now on hand. The value Of
this work in Strengthening the moral
nature is being recognized.
Our department of education has been
active. In the half year almost TWEEN
ty-five addresses upon charitable sub
Jects have been delivered chiefly in
churches, by the superintendent of the
friendly visiting and provident fund
nTI