The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-06
DIT. JAMES WILLIAM WHITE,
Of philadelphia.
may be used to make unwise purchases
OF unnecessary luxurjes.
Working Boys Homes.

Working Boys Homes.
Working Boys Homes" a paper
read by Rev. James T. Ward, OF Prov
idence r. L., proved to be, as the
speaker said, not Il demonstration. but
the history of an experiment covering
ten years, during which more than
thousand boys had passed under the
care OF the writer. The home. 1t was
explained in this paper. and In a simi-
lar paper presented by Bro. Barnabas,
OF New York City. on Working Boys
! Homes" for the after care OF boys
from institutions. is designed as a
refuge for boys without homes or
parents, Just out OF orphan asylums
or schools. ready to begin working
at some trade for small wages. bu,
not yet old enough to face the world
alone. Father Ward stated that be-
fore the establishment OF the home in
Providence. over 4 per cent. OF the
State Reform School inmates were
merely technically charged with va
grancy." being homeless wanderers un-
able to earn enough to make de-
cent living.
.'At this time stated Father Ward.
over 10 per cent. of our orphan asylum
| boys fresh from an Institution where
they were carefully guarded, where
they had no knowledge of the world
and its ways, were marching straight
to the state Reform School and the
penitentary.
our home takes in boys at thirteen
and keeps them until they are able and
strong enough to be selfsupportins
In some boarding house In our neigh
borhood. say. at sixteen or seventeen.
The boys OF the home work in neigh
boring establishments. learning useful
trades and earning good wages. and
have good prospects for advancement.
Our home Is not a reform school, but
a home in every sense OF the word
such a home as each of our boys looks
forward to establishing for himself"
The Homo Attitude.
Brother Barnabas enlarged on the
same idea. agreeing with the points
made by Father Ward. He said. The
boy from the orphan asylum comes to
us with little conception of the neces-
sity OF providing for himself. The
institution has given him his food and
clothing. and looked after his physical
we'll being. Our effort Is to teach him
manllness and self-support, and his
iplace as an individual in the COM
munity
1--WE must have small groups-not
over twenty-five at moSt-and must
preserve the home attitude. There
must be music and games and an at
tractive home life, We must teach
manners as we'll as morals. and enable
our boys to win the respect and esteem
! of their future associates. We must
encourage saving. giving each boy a
bank account for his wages, and let
| him learn the use OF money, and en-
|deavor to find the trade for which his
talents and tastes are most suited. In
our effort to get away from institu-
itional methods and rules we encourage
leach boy to take an active part In
parish life on his own account, allow
ling an individual and in some measure
optional attendance at the services"
Colonel John Murphy extended an
Invitation to the members OF the con-
ference to visit Lee Camp Hall and
view the distinguished group of Con-
federate portraits on exhibition there,
which was accepted with applause.
Mr.. Amos r. Butler, former presi-
dent of the National Conference for
Charities and Correction, was presented,
and spoke briefly on unity in charitable
work Concluding, Mr. Butler said:
''Perl1aps 1t might be said that had
no place on the platform Of a Catholic
conference, hut In charity we are all
one. On no other platform have ever
seen all churches and all denomlna-
lions get together as in the considera-
tion OF charity where Jew and Gentle,
Catholic and Protestant, are all one"
Night scs.ion.
Snecial WORK, such as might suitably
engage the attention Of ST. Vincent
de Paul Society was the topic of the
night session. papers being presented
on seamen's work, summer homes and
various other phases Of specialized
work. A letter OF greeting and regret
| was received from the RI. Rev: f. -
hPrendergrast. auxiliary bishop of Phil
ndelphia,
"Conference Methods were consider
| cd in paper by Mr. Richnrd NJ
| Reilly, of Lancaster, Pa. who argued
| FOR a. sympathetic personal service to
the poor not statistical charity,
/ The "individualizaton Of charity"
as tho speaker expressed 1t, was the
objective Of the ST. Vincent societies.
'Instead OF the grim walls OF the
| costly but heart-chilling almshouse.
| with Its offlcialism and the frigidity
that goes with official administration,
hc said, 1--WE have In our Organization
tho kindly grasp of the hsnd, the
sympathetic glance OF the eye, the
friendly ear. quick to hear the call
OF individual woe, and prompt to APP
/ Ia, 4. f,,I - nj, III "