New-York tribune., 1904-08-30
DEACONEss FUND ALL RIGHT.
Clubwoman's Committee Finds Little OPP
POSITION to It's Plans

Ever since the clubwomen Of New-York proposed
to provide a deaconess TO work in St Marks
parish. Gesolated by the Slocum tragedy, there
haze been some who dlsapprOved OF the plan. but
th4 number OF sympathizers We're so much larger
H-d their enthusiasm great that not much
stteati0n was paid to the opposition. This minor
-ltv however has lately been nnagniied by runor
into formidable body. and the friends Of the
cause have been alarmed by a report that the
cluts were turning deaf 10 the third ap-
pal Of the committee charged with the task Of
raising the fund.
This alarm turns out on investigation to be
quite unnecessary The committee knows nothing
bout third appeal or protested subscriptions and
already has so much money in hand that even Il
1he clubwomen had decided go back on their
pledges il would not be very serious difficulties
When Mrs Augustine Wilson. treasurer Of the
deac0.ess fund. was seen yesterday. she had not
heard Of the ru-nor to the effect that of the
women who had promised money had backed out
That story is made out Of whole cloth" she ex-
claimed, Indignantly I never heard before OF
such trumped up affair, OF the women who
promised TO contribute at the meeting, all but
have paid their money already, and I'm alb
solUtely certain that she has thought Of re
fusing her contribution She is out OF for the
summer. that is aK Twenty-eight dollars was
handed 10 the day of the meeting and SCI
was pledged then.
Altogether the committee has raised nearly $500
which has been paid 20 me This money all came
IN response 10 The appeal which We are sending
out 70 the ClubWOrreu individually. We have sent
our appeal 10 the president Of every wonans club
IN the city ana almost every president has sent
back word that she viii be glad 10 bring the mat
Ter before her club at its first meeting"
Mrs. Ralph. who was one Of the first to suggest
helping the Slocun sufferers, took the view
OF the rumored criticisms as did Mrs. Wilson.
The people who say that there need for
rs 10 engage deacOness,' she said, evidently
know nothing Of the existing conditions. If they
had investigated they would have found that the
slocum fund. as Il now stands, does not comprise
any great amount OF money After the funeral
expenses OF the victims paid and
laid aside TO help the families next winter. the
1und took z big fall Moreover. q careful consid-
er7t4on OF the subject would have shown the
oisgruntled ones that a deaconess could not
eoraing 70 the letter OF the law. be paid
1und When the deasoness left the Mother House
in Philadelphia TO come TO Us, we paid down $3.50
70 the house ~ time for her services. She
has gone right into the families and IS doing her
seatesJ work in bringing to light needy cases 10
Oe leLEsec by the general fund.
And what small amount is 500 from the
oa @otlen ems Slues q New-York2 Il means that no
r5eIn9er gives only few cents the money viii lie
o; MS rs Belle d Rivera wes The only representative
were superfuo1s
,s. vas in perfect sympathy with the sentiment
Sweetest and lovIiest sentiment in the world. but
shouldn't be paid out OF the fund raised by the city
There is 10 reason why should have a lot OF
nttle funds. 1 don't know TO what extent my feel
sngs II the matter shared By others. I have
talked 10 several clubwonen who think I
alc 70 others who very enthusiastic IL support
Si the plan Some even want 10 do more than has
been pledged. and not only pay the deaconess for
one year. but keep her at St Marks. I think that
Is lovely idea II would be beautiful memorial
CT The dead. and more than the citizens committee
could be expected TO DO bat doubt II II be
done New-York cIUbwOmen have many claims
upon their time and pockets. and the impression
OF even such terrible disaster that Of the
burning Of the siocum is shortlived. When the
clubWomen get back 70 the city again doubt If
They viii be quite much interested in the mat
ter as the VOC Whea they went aWay--