The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-01-26
CHARITIES SOCIETY
PRESIDENT SUBMITS ANNUAL
 REPORT.
Quorum Not Present at -Leeting for Sunday Afternoon But ofn- cers Make Public Years
 Work.

The first annual report of the President of the Organized Charities was issued yes terday by Rabbi A. J. Messing, President pro tenn of the organization.
 The annual meeting which was to nase been held Sunday was passed on account of the lack of a quorum of ten mempers'
 In the Young Mems Christian Associa- ton parlors. where the meeting was 10 gomerians who are loyal to the work, as- sembled They were Mrs. T. F. 1iarrl- son, Rabbi A. J. Messing. Rev. Father Hugh O'Brien, John kohn, w. E'
 After waiting vainly for a quorum the meeting adjourned until call of the Presl- dent, which 1t is indicated will be within
 The statement of Rabbi Messing is an exhaustive and eloquent outline Of the conditions in Montgomery for and against ! the successful operation of an organized effort for charitable purposes. , A portion of the statement IS as tol-
 "Founded a year ago. the purposes or our Society were clearly set forth Tn Ihe Constitution so wisely drawn up oy pr. O. F. Gregory, to combine and develop all the charitable resources Of the com munity, for the relief of poverty, the pre- raising of the standards of the communi- ty.' These objects it is true nave as yet been by no means attained. The com plete federation of our charitable organl- ZaIlOnS IS 1lOI yet dIl But in the one year of our existence, 1t will not be controverted. think. that our Society has been the means Of establish, ing an entente cordiaie between soclal workers in the city. which has never here tofore existed that 1t has given the mem- bers of one society the opportunity or coming into contact with the workings or similar societies, and that 1t has demon strated beyond cavil of a doubt, that the Charities of Montgomery. organized, Is an army-divided, a mob. Nor will the assumption bo adjudged overbold, take 1t, when all things are considered, that our Society has been the inspiration and source of much of the increased charit- able endeavor so notably manifest Tn the community this winter: , on Gnristmss mn kets of provisions to needy families. the names of whom were largely supplied by this society. On New Years Day the Red Men gave a public dinner to the children of the poor. Such philanthropic projects had never before been undertaken in our city and furnish the best evidence that the conscience of the community is grad ually being awakened to sense or US duty and its obligation
 "A recent statement of our Secretary indicated that up to the first day of Octo- Der our Society had assisted 29l persons. Since that time 1t has come to the relief of 1l2 additional. so that within the year The Organized Charities has acted in the cases of 403 persons in distress: The az gregate of human misery in little town like this is appalling to contemplate. No person can give attention to it without being profoundly moved. But the more he sees and hears of it the more is he depressed with sense of his own utter impotency to bring adequate relief. And not only so, but he is startled and humll- lated by the fact that Mans inhumanity to man makes countless millions mourn
 Organized Charity would discourage occasional almsgiving. believing that the thoughtless aimsgiver stands but one de- gree above the spendthrift. who thinks only of today's pleasure and ignores to- morrow's pain. Not aims, but friend is the motto of our order. and to carry out this idea. the system of Friendly Visiting or Personal Service is absolutely neces- sary. The best aid that can be given to the poor. is to help them to help them selves. And it is becoming more apparent daily that the Friendly Visitor, the man or woman who gives personal service to the poor. if intelligent and tactful. can be of inestimnable blessing .
 'In view of what has already been said with regard to the 'secretiveness' of char
 ity we cannot publish here in full the names of the needy families to whose res cue we have come in time of trial. There