Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-29
PROGRESS REPORTED
Work and Influence of Assoc
ciated Charities.
SECRETARY'S REVIEW
INSTANCES CITED OF THE Sue
CESS OF AGENTS.
Number of Applications Received the
Past Fiscal Year-Aid Given
by Volunteers.
SECRETARY'S REVIEW

1t is stated that the work of The Asso-
ciated Charities, under Secretary Charles f..
Weller, has progressed wonderfully during
the past few years. The annual report Of
Mr.. Weller contains much that is interest,"
ing. II presume there is no man or wom-
an" he says. who has not had some per-
sonal experience in relieving or uplifting q
needy brother. 1t may have been a rela-
tive, close friend or only a chance ac-
quaintance who needed your help. The
trouble may have been due to drink or
some other bad habit, to dishonesty, sick
ness or accident. or to the lack of proper
wisdom and energy In business affairs
Continuing, Mr. Weller says:
In that experience you have the key to
the purposes and methods of the Associated
Charities. For the latter aims to bring to
the poor and friendless the same kind and
quality of helpfuiness which you, or any
Christian. would give to a friend or brother
In distress.
think what a high development of prac-
teal Christianity is evidenced In commu-
nifty IL the most obscure and unattractive
sufferer is assured such consideration and
treatment as good citizen would give to a
needy relative. Consider. also. what pecu-
liar fitness and ability is required in the
agents of the Associated Charities. and
what devoted. resourceful work Is neces-
Sary in an association which proposes to
bring true neighborliness. practical Chris
tianity and permanent upbuilding to thirty
eight hundred needy families every year.
Applications Received.
During the twelve months ending July 1.
1904 the Associated Charities received 1857
applications for service to needy families. A
third of these. 1910 applications. came from
business firms. private individuals, schools,
churches and various charitable or correc-
tionable agencies who desired the advice or
assistance of the association in the helping
of distressed households. Two-thirdS, or
6.357, of all the applications were made by
the needy themselves, most of whom had
no resourceful friends and knew no place to
turn for help except to the eight scattered
offices of the Associated Charities.
1.-THE first class of applications Is typifed
in the beggar girl, the begging tramp or
the chance applicant at your door whom
you wish neither to pauperize nor refuse.
1.-The 6,357 applications from the needy
themselves are typifed by disconsolate
woman who has been reduced to extreme
want and despair, partly by El-fortune and
partly by defects of character. Perhaps 1t
Is after long hesitation and silent suffering
that she comes to the division agent of the
Associated Charities. She brings a basket
for provisions, and Is not always pleased
when the agent, instead of filling 1t on de-
mand puts on her hat and accompanies the
applicant to her home But if the needy
woman fears that her faults will be dis
covered she soon learns that the agent ex-
poets of her, not faultlessneSS. but improve
ment. She finds that she is not labeled
worthy or unworthy but is offered SIS
terly assistance in solving her problems and
recovering her self -support and self-respect
In this spirit the Associated Charities
aided. or, rs the physicians say. treated
during. the past year 3S98 families, includ-
ing II ,405 individuals. There are now, In all
Ii. 444 families recorded in our Offices. o.
the 3S98 cases treated last year 1885 or
about two-fifths applied for the first time
while 1853 families had previously been
known to the agents The white families
numbered LOOP, or about Al per cent, and
colored families 1926. or 53 per cent, the
latter being very small proportion when
one considers the comparative conditions
and resources of the white and colored peo-