Evening star., 1904-02-27
Al 0NG QUIET LINES
League of the Good Samaritan
and It's Work.
DISPENSER OF CHARITY
PROVIDES TEMPORARILY FOR
DESTITUTE AND UNEMPLOYED.
Aids Workingmen to Secure Subsist-
ence and Extends Helping Hand
to All in Distress.


Worthily named after that noble example
of charity and benevolence portrayed by
the Bible. the League of the Good Samari-
tan of this city is an institution that ap-
peals to the best that is in human nature.
Working quietly along lines laid down by
its projectors, it has done world of good
for the unfortunate men whose sad fate
has cast them in the pathway of it's philan-
thropy, and many are the prosperous work
ers of the city today who owe their present
condition to its unostentatious benefac-
ticns. The home of the league is located
at 1922 l. street northwest, and is repre-
sented on it's official roll by such men as
William F. Downey, president; A. c. Bruen,
treasurer, and Lawrence Mangan, secre-
tary. The motto of the league speaks for
the work that 1t has done and that 1t is
continuing TO do:
"All we can hold in our cold dead hands
is what we have given away
Nine years ago the home came into ax-
istence. the intention being to provide for
the temporary wants of unemployed and
destitute men wherever they were found or
whatever be their creed 1t was the ex-
tension of relief to the unemployed wage
earners of the District that actuated the
and their achievements along these lines
have met with distinct success. During the
time that the home has been in operation
there have been four thousand men shell
tered and fed and more than five hundred
have been assisted in obtaining employ
ment. This is regarded as a worthy record
and the more SO when it is taken into con-
sideration that many were reclaimed from
lives that would likely have been given over
to crime had 1t not been for the rfiuence
of their temporary environment while un-
der the care and watchfulness of the off,
GERS of the institution. To all in need 1t
extends a helping hand Discharged prs
oners are a source of great anxiety to the
truly benevolent, and 1t is these men whom
the league seeks with great care.
One Glass of Benefciaries.
When man comes forth from prison he
is not always the unregenerate that great
portion of the world believes him to be.
But he is generally Stunned by persons
who chance to have known of his unsavory
record. 1t Is this that frequently causes
man who would otherwise attempt to re-
gain his self-respect to- fan from the path
of rectitude' and eventually find himself
catalogued among the habituaily cri.nn u
classes. The league fosters his desire to
reform and extends to him a helping hand
In the shape Of moral encoura cement and
practical assistance. If his desire is sim
cere he is helped to get work and watched
by his treatment.
In scarcely a case has the kindness Of the
persons who had him in charge been
abused, and the league workers have had
another white mark on the roll Of good
deeds. Only a self-sacrificing devotion to
the work by the persons connected with it
has made these things possible of achieve
ment
In addition to the class named there are
received at the home the aged, infirm and
weak-minded, convalescents from hospitals
habitual drunkards and wayward youths
who have run away from their homes. 1t
is the creed of the league that as Christ
condemned no man, it is not for his fellows
to do so, and not single worthy applicant
was ever tuE1ed from the hosptable doors
OF the home. Clean, wholesome food and
comfortable places to sleep are provided
for the men who struggle to It's doors with
their last hope almost gone. and rarely
have the teachings there inculcated proved
to be valueleSS.
Men whose ruin has been caused by drink
have been taught to look upon the brighter
side of life, to take the pledge of tot alb
st1nence and to aim to higher things than
They have in hundreds OF cases improved
the opportunity held out to them and have
become worthy citizens and steady laborers
after their lives had seemed to have been
wasted and their last chance to save them
selves gone. Prominent men in all walks
OF life have set the seal of their approval
on the work of the league, and have given
to it not only their moral, but their prac-
tlcaI support both In financial assistance
and personal help.
No Salaries Paid.
One OF the most important features of
the nome is that there are no salaried men
attached TO 1t, the inmates themselves do
Ing all OF the work about the place. In
many instances where charity is dispensed
fjo love
funds set aside for its support are diverted
from their intended use to the pavment ~
salaries to various clerks and other officials
who give their time and attention to the de-.
talls or the institution Not so with tha
Home OF the Good Samaritan League This
nome is conducted on the most economical
pian, and is everywhere a model of neat
n sSS. - 1900
Cieaniiness is one of the cardinal points
insisted upon, and the fumigating and
oa.n rooms are prominent features of the
establishment. Make a man clean of+ar
he has perforce been unclean. II Is uroed
ana there is at once established the fonn.
dauon for the reformation of the soul
LOT purity or thought cannot well sur
clean body. y Ga un-
Again, among the favorable features of
the nome are the moral influences which
are elevating talks to the men bv mem
pers OF the league on the best methods az
achieving success, which include the lead
ing OF honest, frugal and industrious
lives strong appeal is made to the men
70 observe the commandments Of God and
ooey the laws of the country, and they
are given every encouragement to follow
the good advice received
Glass Difficult to Deal with.
omcials of the home say that the hard
est class with which they have to deaf I.
that Of the habitual drunkard. These un-
fortunates require the greatest care ana
for the reason that they
appear at the home for help after their
last resort has gone. Frequently their
clothes have all been exchanged for drink
ana their families are starving; they are
regarded a. unreliable; no ono wants
them Tor any sort Of labor. and social os-
tracism has completely surrounded them.
When they are impoverfshed to the mOek
extreme degree the home receives them
kindly and uses all its influence 70
etraighten ont the taugle Of their lives.
epaA 49, ~