Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-27
REVIEW OEeCHARITIES
ADDRESS BY MI CHARLES T,
WELLER MONDAY EVENING.
Conference Holds First Fall Meeting in
Office of the Associa-
ton.

The conference class of the Associated
Charities, organized for the enlistment and
training of volunteer workers, held its
first fall meeting Monday evening in the
central office of the association at 81 u
street northwest. The speaker of the even
ing was Mr.. Charles +. Weller, general
secretary. who lectured upon the subject of
1.-The Associated Charities-An Explanatory
Survey of It's Work Throughout the City"
He reviewed the history of organized char
ity since the development of the "Elberfeld
system" in Germany in 1851, and the es-
tablishment of the first Charity Organize
ton Society In London i'll 1867. He spoke
of the movement in America. which ex-
pressed itself in the formation of num-
Der of relief societies, usually called AS
ISOLATION Tor Improving the Condition of
the Poor" which mark the years of 1916 to
1850. The Associated Charities Or Charity
Organization movement in America began
in, 1877. with the establishment of the Buff
falo Associated Charities.
The speaker also reviewed the develop
ment in charity work in the line of securing
closer knowledge of the dependent poor
people for whose assistance charity exists.
DO said that in the early days charity was
bestowed mainly for the sake of the gver.
Mr.. Weller suggested that lack, of consid-
Grafton as to the effect which ones charity
is to have is peruicious
u 81
edge of each distressed family was claim
ed by the speaker to be the keynote Of mod
ern organized charity. Tire fundamental
purpose of the latter was described to be
the adequate treatment of each case of dis
tress upon the basis of an adequate under
standing of the needy family's condition
and possibilities
The prime essential in the modern organ
lied charity movement as it exists in Wash
ington was said to be the trained division
agent resourceful, energetic, devoted
worker, who Is employed to give her whole
life to relieving and upbuiding the dis
tressed poor in each OF the seven districts
into which Washington is divided for the
purposes of the Associated Charities. Mr..
Weller said that these seven division agents
received 9.O1S applications for their sery-
ices last year: 3,0S9 from business firms,
private householders. charitable societies.
etc, and 1919 from the friendlesS poor
people themselves. He spoke especially of
two classes of cases-first, those who have
fallen are falling from a better condi-
ton of life through bad habits. increasing
years or the loss of relatives, friends or
other social connections. The second class
represents the undeveloped people who
have not yet risen in the social scale. whose
margin of life is very small. so that short
idleness or small miscilance involves
them in physical distress.
The speaker stated that while the work
for both these classes was based upon the
relief of physical distress, it could not be
sound and wholesome unless it was also
made educational. The work of the agent
was therefore to restore and revive the
distressed families who have been brought
down from better days and to upbuild the
energies and resources for self-help of the
needy families who are undeveloped. I'M
educated and not advanced in the social
scale That the entire movement was edu-
catlonal as we'll as remedial was the clos
ing thought of the lecturer. He said the
needy families treated must be educated to
sef-help and to wh6fesoff1e habits of life;
that the paid agents and volunteer friendly
visitors must be ed1icated to understand
thoroughly the needy People In whose be-
half they are working, and to know how
best to prevent their pauperization and to
improve their conditions aud habits of life.
Inc community also was to be educated
into such social consciousness and social
conscience as would result in the improve
ment of neglected fieigtrborhoods, the en-
1orcement of compulsory, education, the en-
actment of proper social Legislation and in
an possible ways the development of whole
some conditions Of social life by which the
prevention of distress and the upbuiIding
OF citizenship may be accomplished