The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-16
APOSTLE OF The
SOCIETY SPEAKS
Hon. EIbTIdge 7. Gerry Addresses
an Interested Audience.
ON CRUELTY TO CHILDREN.
GOvsrnor GarVln and President Tanning Also
Spoke The Need Of 6reater Contrl-
buttons Urged,
ON CRUELTY TO CHILDREN

an entertaining address before good
sized audience at tho public meeting OF
the Society for the Prevention OF Cruelty
to Children. held at the Y. NJ. c. A. last
evening. In addition To the address OF
Mr.. Gerry interesting remarks were made
by Governor Garvin and President JOS
eph II. Tanning Of the association.
President Tanning in opening the meet
ing said in part:
Some years ago the society held
number OF public meetings both In and
out OF the city. Much interest seemed
to he shown and quite large number
OF members were added to our list also
small subscriptions were made. At that
time pictures were shown giving an
idea OF the horrible conditions OF the
children: implements OF torture were also
exhibited. and descriptions OF horrible
beatings and cruel neglect were given.
This created much sympathy at the time.
but IL soon passed away and many who
sent us their names as members have
since sent in their resignation.
Tonight we have no terrible cases to
bring before you. for We have not had
two years OF cruelty beating children.
They dare not do 1t. Largely through
the influence OF the society, whipping
was abolished in our psiblic schools, and
| can say without fear OF contradiction
that the discipline never was better than
at the present time.
1--WE have at the present time only 26
active members. and last year received
payment OF taxes from only 260 We
have A life members and 10 benefactors.
| IL may be OF interest TO you IL we give
the income of the society for the past
year The total amount received was
| 49, OF this amount we received from
| the state $500, (this amount hardly pays
| the expenses of the home) from year
| ly sum from estate OF B. b. knight
| $500: interest from funds. $3.50: from
! witness fees and incidentals. 1895; from
| a beouest, $4s2 two life memberships. $780,
| making a sum of S552I.66. showing bal
ance OF $20S2.0S. received from active
| members and subscribers The society
has in the past 20 years investigated
cases involving over 5000 children.
OF GREAT IMPORTANCE
I'VE have at the present time a work
! that Is OF the greatest Importance TO
| the citizens of the state. that Is the re-
| formation OF the parents and compelling
| them 10 care and provide for their chill
dren, and we find that over 10 per cent OF
| the cases brought by the agents against
parents are settled out OF court by prom
ising TO care and provide for their fam
| lilies"
The president In introducing Mr.. Gerry
| said: I'VE have with us tonight the man
who. ! suppose, has done more than any
| one man for the children's cause. lie
was for more than 20 years president of
| the great New York society: he has
| given largely of his wealth. and has be-
come a part OF the movement itself. IL
| gives me the greatest pleasure 10 intro
duce to you Hon. Elbridge T. Gerry Of
| Newport"
Mr.. Gerry was warmly greeted. He
took for his subject, The Utility OF So
cieties for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Children" and he said In part
| Few persons understand accurately
| the work of our societies. the cause for
| their creation, or what they have accom-
| plished j propose as briefly possible
| to make all three Of these points clear.
! First, our societies are not charitable
| institutions. They constitute the hand. SO
| to speak, which IS attached to the arm
| of the law. In other words. the society
! grasps and rescues the child by the Aid
| of the law In cases where but for Its In
terposition. while the law existed. its ap'
plica ton would be uncertain and I'm many
cases futile. Herein consists the mair
work OF the society-the rescue Qf the
child: not its reformation. II thinks only
of the child and its interests 1t errs. Il
at all. in favor of the child. The child Il
| it's client"
Mr. Gerry told OF the origin of the par
ent society i'm the United States nearly 8
years ago. The case Of little girl u
New York. who was beaten and NAL
treated was called to the attention o
Henry Bergh. the philanthropist and TIT
woman who abused the child was pun
ished. After this complaints became -
numerous that Mr.. Bergh was compelled
, 10 organize a society TO take the work :
hand.
The New York society for the Proven
ton OF Cruelty TO Children was the frs
OF it's kind IN the world, but now ther
are 3i4 societies I'm the United States AM
Canada, either combined with those 70
the prevention OF cruelty to animals a
I humane societies or existing by thei
T specific title
, A THREE-FoLD CORD.
Continuing, the speaker said: 9TH
! | great power and success or the societ
depend upon it's corporate existence. Th
Q three-fold cord. consisting or the lega
I roght 10 appear and prosecute and b
heard. the corporate right TO apply IN
= donations OF the charitable and the lega
= cies of the dead for that purpose and tn
/