The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-11-22
Annual Meeting Of Asso.
ciatcd Charities Held
Last Night.
REPORTS q ELL
YEAR IS r S,IJ / 81
Prominent Workers Discus.
Problems and Point Out Renle-
dies-Money Wasted in
False Charity Organ
ization Indisper,-
sable.

!.
money absolutely threw. away u
.Richmesd each yesr In false rhsrity
weuId be nore thas ampIes to- ssppsrs5
al work needed n the city, sssSs
This statement, made by one OF ths
speakers at the annual meetias OF the 4
Associated Charities last night In thu
Jefferson auditorium. ttranted general
attention. The spirit OF; the organt1a-
5ticn was declared to be that sof a civic
movement to prevent any worthy per-
son In the city from starving and I'D /
prevent any able-bodied person from
eating the bread OF idleness at thu
expense OF Richmond people. \
"A representative audicnce, alnonn
whom were saSnnmberi a OF the most ac-
tive workers. among the poor, was
present including Is many ladies whose
names have become sy,1onyfnDus N itfI
the best charity work Of the city. The
Rev. Thomas Semmes. retiring prexi.
dent Of the organisation. occupied fths
secretary. the Rav. DR.. James .uucl,.
ianan, with Mr.. Joseph Bryan, MI.
Henry ,,L. Cabell, Mr. Alfred q. VIII
!liams. the Rev. Robert Forsyth Mr..
g. G. Pinckney, Mr.. George y. Dayta
and MI. Robert Lecky, Il 4,
some sfftthe Causes. i5S II &
The Rev. Mr.. ssmnes made brief
opening address, reviewing tho hiss
tory OF the Associated Charities, IN
organization which was formed Lam
-uary L, 1906. to oco-ordinates The various.
Charitable efforts OF the people q
Richmond. The speaker told OF the
careful examinations which ih1d been
made into conditions here during the
past twenty-five months, saying that
previous to that time the charity work
of the city had been sporadic and dis
connected. Now that for nearly two
years the conditions have been studied
and analyzed. comparative review OF
the causes ana cure Of poverty was
possible. and from, this time on the
work could EoR ferther5 TOW ard 4 res
mopsl OF those scauseS. ~ ss.stt
Much OF the poverty, said Mr.
lSemmes, was found to have been cre-s
'ated BY tho ease with which, people in
Richmond may obtain assistance. Few
cities are more chs rita bly inclined. and
a man OF the worthless type soon flnds
without working. and falls back on the
kindly citizen. The motto Of til e ore
ganization should be. tIelp man ia
help fimselt.'' e
'sThe best charity. :. continued Hr.s
Semmes. rs that which leaves no needy
case unattended to. and which vat
gives the least possible amount to the
lazy or the unworthy.''
Continuing, Mr.. Sommes gayesa NUM-
ber of Instances which had come under
his observation, saving that one Of
the most difficult tN1sses to deal VII til !
We're families deserted by fathers.
The money available for charity
work in the city IL still much scatter
ed."t he declared. While many agen-
the poor. we need to further Coz oper-
ate our efforts and to continue a pro-
cess Of education OF our people ass to
the true meaning of the word cha rity..''
Reports Presented.
Tie report of Mr.. John Stewart
Bryan, treasurer. showed total receipts
of $10,395.74 and disbursements Of an
elmost equal amount.
The Rev. DR.. James Buchanan. the
general secretary, read his annual re-
port, showing In detail the progress
that the first problem to be encoun<-g
cred by the association was to- rid the 4
city of able-bodied tramps who were
capable of earning a living. and who
would not accept, employment, al
though factories were then advertise
ing for men,. During all this time the
association has been in a posi- lion 70
nnd work for every q able-bodied person q 4
in Richmond, and to give them food.
shelter and necessary clothes Unit
they secured their first wages. During.
tho year SIS men applied for assist
ance. };! 4! s 4 Y iS9
The Police Department was highly
commanded forfthe enforcement of he \
ivagrants law, and public sentiment wa
called on to assist In this work.
Further. on the report poInss out
that IN the office of the Asseeiated
Charities there are now the full records
of i ,062 whit families In moro or stess
indigent condition. and the fuil Nsclr r.
OF their means Of SUPPORT
and the cause of their; poor cond dition
are carefully noted, to Eether Will lists
Of the various Items Of relief furnished
by the Associated Charlttesgsnn its \
allied orga tions. is;s4 5Ss ss
During the gear .9a4 orders for
groceries We're issued for Sanlounts AS
gregating over $4,000; 1881 personal
for assi stance have been
made at the central Q flee. al of which \
have been carefully invest lgate = he
problem Of the wort hl less husband wss
dwelt on at some len 9Th. 4; E5 3s
Work Of Others.
The report OF the Ice Aiission. an
allied organizations was ,resd. showing
receipts OF 35lo.Sa, q total OF ls1 400
20 unds OF Ice having heen distributed
assong tho poor and sick. There wesa
also items ferS medicines In the case
OF severe illness. .lss y s5 ,5is. 4 n N
The report OF the Richmond CITY,
Mission told in detail OF the aworlS done 4
by that org sarilzation for the past thirty
Years, and of the need felt for the
Formation of q a ceptral dpin!straslye \
once gu & OF which grew the tNssnctat tsd
sS Y DIS 8 n VI, I'm
The report OF the Visiting ElrsNs II
reterrsd to the exc cllsrt
work done by tte8tratnsd nurses oes tlls 4
city In conjunction with the Assectatsd
Charities. The nurses Etyo thelr slsill \
and advice. and in some very a n ncsdl
cases medic ines and diet. sspsc ctails II.
prepared They lend sickyropnl utsns IVA a
stls and bed clothing. The .Assocta tatsS III M
order book. by the means a{of whieil
within certain limits. she rnays Issue N II