Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-15
CHARITY HIS THEME
HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANCE
TALKED OF.
Chas. F. Weller Makes an Address on
Subject at First of Lenten
Series.

1.-THE History Significance and Problems
of the Charity Organization Movement"
was the subject of the first Lenten lecture
in the course of six, which was delivered
last night by Mr.. Charles F. Weller, general
secretary of the Associated Charities, in
the rooms of the association, 81 G street
northwest. The audience taxed the apart
ments to their capacity, and was composed
of the new training class of volunteer work
ers, division superintendent and others in
terested in the work Of the Associated
Charities
In addition to Mr.. Weller's lecture, Miss
Ida A. Green, the general agent of the or
ganization, Interestingly outlined the divi-
sions of the work in the District and told
of the effective service of the workers. She
introduced to the audience each of the d.
vision superintendent who were present.
and complimented them on their efforts
Mrs. Charles F. Weller also spoke of the
work of the organization along certain
lines. She described the distress of a fam
lily, the members of which, she said had
suffered deprivations in silence rather than
make known their condition. The husband
and father, an educated Russian, had
tramped all over Washington seeking en-
ployment at nominal wages, but had not
succeeded in finding work to enable him
to support his dependent ones.
Mr.. Weller was listened to with attention
throughout his lecture He began by say
ing that historical surveys of the past
have their value chiefly as guidance for
the future" Reviewing the cahrity or
ganization movement. he said such organi-
cations are now active in 172 cities in the
United States. Various names are used in
different cities. Those most commonly
heard are Associated Charities" Bureau
of Charities and Charity Organization So
ciety." There are other titles, such as
United Charities Charity Council"
or1 pf Nt,ar it snrOa niz
ISOLATION Fellowship of Charities"
Union Relief Association and Charity
Society,"
Fundamental smilarities," said Secre-
tary Weller, ARE evident here, and all this
group of charitable agencies are known
under the generic name of charity organi-
cation societies. The initiated speak Of
such a society as the C. 0. s. The gen.
eral development of the 172 similar socie-
ties of this country is known as the c. O.
s. movement or the charity organization
movement 1t was only twenty-eight years
ago that the beginning was made in Amer
lea. In 1877 the first organization of this
type was established in Buffalo, N. Y. 1t
was inspired by an English clergyman
who had previously been active in the
charity organization society of London.
American movement appeared almost 81
multaneOusly in nine leading cities of the
United States.
Grown Quickly.
Most of the good things. and some of
the bad ones, have grown quickly in Amer
lea, but the rapid. strong development of
the charity organization movement has
been notable and even unique"
Secretary Weller cited as six features or
phases of the characteristic problems Of
this work material relief, cooperation, in
vestigation and records. personal service,
paid leadership and preventive or construc-
tive measures" The disbursing of material
aims from the societies own funds was re-
ferred to as 1.-The rock of disaster"
He spoke of the Associated Charities of
this city ''at the time when it was a relief
agency, rather than a charity organization
society, when we find in the society's con-
stitution, as printed in the first annual re-
port in 1882, the significant provision that
to carry into fuller effect the objects of
the society the board shall have power to
employ such paid agents. not exceeding
two, as 1t shall deem necessary. At that
time there were ninety-five relief-giving or
ganizations In Washington, besides the
churches, and the central relief committee
disbursed $4,000 worth OF material relief
In the winter of 169S-04.
In summarizing his lecture Mr.. Weller
said:
ITO review these six features Of The char