Evening star., 1908-01-10
As TO PRACTICAL CHARITY
NEW METHODS IN PHILAN-
THRoPFC WORK DISCUSSED.
Views of Mrs. John NJ. Glenn and
Rev. John Van Schaick-Ap-
peals for Aid.

New Methods and the Old Spirit in
Philanthropic Work was the subject dis
cussed at a meeting yesterday at the resi-
dence of Mrs. William ]. Boar4man. 1901
p street. Mrs. John NJ. Glenn of Balti-
more ard Rev. John Van Schaick. pastor
of the Church of Our Father. were speak
ers. Mrs Glenn is the wife of John NJ.
Glenn, secretary director Of the Sage
foundation. Before her marriage she was
general secretary of the Charity Organi-
zation Society of Baltimore. She and her
husband have both been active members
of the board of managers of that organi-
cation. In introducing her Cuno H,
Rudolph. who presided, said he knew of
no other woman in America who is better
worker and as a volunteer, to discuss
practical charity.
Three Urgent Needs.
Three urgent needs were presented by
Mrs. Glenn. First of all il is important
and difficult. she said. to educate the gen.
eral public to understand that real charity
means more than gifts of food and fuel.
Until the community appreciates the inn
portance of helping people to help them
selves. by securing employment, raising
standards of living. stimulating ambitions
and restoring those who are sick and
otherwise incapacitated, it will be impos
sible for the organized charities TO do the
work which needs to be done
The second need. the speaker pointed
out, is due to the financial disturbances
throughout the country which has threat
ened nine-tenths of the Associated Chari-
ties in various cities with the danger of
having their work sacrificed seriously or
ruined for lack of funds. The Baltimore
society, accordingtto Mrs. Glenn. held a
special meeting last Monday TO discuss
means by which it might prevent its
workers from being borne to the ground
by the weight of the extra needs occa-
stoned by financial difficulties.
Instead of reducing contributions at this
time Mrs. Glenn said that every citizen
ought to make extra sacrifices to prevent
the destruction of the organized charity
work which is necessary at all times and
doubly necessary in this season of unu-
sual need
1.-The third urgent need Mrs. Glenn
contended, lis for volunteers. men and
women. who will give an hour or more
weekly in some form of personal service
to distressed families"
Personal Inspection of the Work.
Rev. Mr.. Van Schaick told how he had
personally inspected the work of the AS
sociated Charities. making many visits
with its various agents and attending the
conference meetings. where the treatment
of its cases is planned. He said that in
stead of supporting able-bodie people the
association has been the chief means of
reducing pauperism in Washington, COM
pelling people to earn their living by
honest toll. and reducing the large amount
Of relief which was formerly given ou,
here each winter. He spoke of the neces-
sity for the work of the paid agents
whose salaries he compared with the
compensation of clergymen, teachers and
physicians. He quoted Father Joseph /.
Mcguire, speaking feelingly of the loss
which the community has experienced in
his death, and stated that his life empha-
sized the appeal for volunteer workers
with faith in the possibility of reforming
drunkards, improving shiftless homes,
strengthening the courage of distressed
people and building up neglected lives.
In closing the meeting Mr.. Rudolph said
he spoke as chairman of the joint finance
committee recently organized to secure
adequate support for the Associated
Charities, the Citizens Relief Association
and the committee on prevention of con-
sumption. He expressed the hope that
wealthy people will undertake the salary
of one agent. $50 month. He asked all
persons present to carry home the SUBJ
scription blanks which were distributed
and to assist the committee In preventing
the catastrophe which threatens the work
of the three charities mentioneu because
of difficulty in raising funds this season.