The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-02-20
CHARITIES ANNIVERSARY.
OBSERVED WITH APPROPRIATE
EXERCISES LAST EVENING.

History of Its Twemty-five Years
Achievements by Professor Farnanl-
Report of President Francis WayIanti
President HadIey aud Rev. Anson p.
stokes Mere Present
The twenty-ffth anniversary of the
Organized Charities association was
observed last evening with suitable ex-
ercises at United church chapel in Tenn
pie street. Addresses were made by
Rev. Arson Phelps Stokes, President
Arthur r. Hadley and James B. Rey-
nolds of the social settlement of New
York. In the absence of Dean Way
land, the president of the society, who
| is confined to his home by Illness, Rev.
Z. S. Lines, D. D., of st. Panls church
presided.
President Hadley said that twenty
FIVE years ago three important public
enterprises were inaugurated in this
| city. The first was the initial step to-
wards developing system of public
parks, the second was the development
of the telephone and the third, and
greatest of them all, was the Organized
Charities.
Wilson H. Lee, on behalf Of the ex-
ecutive committee, stated the financial
condition of the society.
On behalf of the society, Rev. Mr..
Lines rendered thanks to the executive
committee and the finance committee,
The report of Dean Francis Wayland
was read to the society. 1t follows:
THE REPORT OF PRESIDENT
WAYLAND.
The report of the president, Professor
Francis Wayland, follows:
TO the Directors of the New Haven Or
ganized Charities Association:
Conference.-The twenty fifth anniver-
sary of our association appeals with
especial significance to the survivors of
those who stood by its cradle.
They recall the time when the fire.
quent beggar rOamed at will from door
to door, collecting contributions of food,
clothing or money from the timid, the
thoughtless and the harmfully good
natured; when help was given without
any knowledge of the real condition of
the applicant; when the encouragement
extended to the shiftless and the lazy
greatly increased the number of "stur-
dy beggars" and gave to New Haven
the unsayory name of the Paradise of
Tramps."
1t will be recalled that, in time, the
evil wrought its own cure. The nuis-
ance had become intolerable. The gem
eral discomfort at length crystalliZed
into an organized effort to protect the
community from imposition and, at the
same time, to assist, In the wisest man
ner, the deserving poor.
BY and by few simple propositions
came to the surface, as fully demon
strated by observation and experience:
First-That indiscriminate giving is
not genuine charity.
Secondhand relief should always be
preceded by investigation.
Third-That relief should never be af-
forded to able bodied applicants with
out exacting an equivalent In labor.
Fourth-That the community must be
convinced that sending beggar to our
central office means, in every case, adj
equate relief to the deserving, after in
I Yestigation.
Fifth-rhat the most practicable
method of providing work for the I'M
employed consisted of woodward fol-
men and laundry for women
Sixth-That lodging house must be
a part of our equipment, with clean
beds and compulsory bathing.
| do not, of course, mean that all
these principles were recognized at the
outset, for we were almost pioneers in
| this kind of effort, and could not bor-
row from the experience of other cities
| We were obliged to feel our way, test
| ing any proposed advance by its re-
suits.
| BY pursuing this course we have beer
| able to gain and keep the confidence oil
the community. The general co-opera'
ton of our citizens, manifested by their
moral support and their material aid
has been most gratifying. We com
mence our twenty sixth year free from
debt and with every prospect of contin-
ued prosperity.
| cannot close without adding that G
very large share of our success Is due
| to the intelligent, systematic, humane
and faithful labors of our agent, Mr. S
| o. Preston.
| Our secretary Mr.. A. f. Rowland
{ has been indefatieable in his devotion
to our interests.
| To all my active associates in every
effort to relieve distress and give occu'
patton to the unemployed I beg leave It
offer my sincere Acknowledgements.
| Faithfully Yours.
| FRANCIS WAYLAND,
President.
| New Haven, February 10, 1903.