The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-07
CATHOLICS END WORK:
MEETING BIG SUCCESS
Conference Declared to Be One of Most Helpful Ever
Mountaineering Subjects Considered
On Final Nav


On Fin
After four days OF inlportan. and
well attended sessions the national
conference of the Society OF st. Vincent
de Paul concluded It's work yesterday
afternoon and adjourned, most OF the
delegates and speakers registering for
the National Conference OF Charities and
Correction, which assembled last night
for series OF meetings that will con.
tinue through the next week. Tho
final session OF the ST. Vincent dc
ton OF several papers. an Informal dis
cussion OF the work of tho organization
and the passage OF number OF reso-
lutich:.
HomeIcas Mcit
The first subject or the morning.
"Homes for Homeless Men" was dis
Washington. who touched briefly on
the main points OF his paper, which
will be printed and distributed later.
Mr. Downey showed a wide knowledge
of the subject, discussing homes for
mon from the viewpoint of prison gate
work, homes for outcasts, old men.
seamen and other classes. He drew a
pa thetic picture OF the man. convicted
as vagrant and sentenced to tho
chain gang. whose only offense was
his lack of employment Such man,
lie said, was released after serving his
time. was turned loose without cent
and without a friend. to scuffle as
best he could. having either to beg or
steal his first meal out OF jail, in i'm
minent danger all the time OF being
again arrested. The speaker closed
with an account of home in Wash.
ington which has given shelter to 5000
homeless men without any charge.
"Who Is Ny Neighbour" was dis
cussed by DR.. William ]. Kirby. OF the
Catholic University of America. who
laid much stress on the element OF
personal service IN dealing with all
ferns OF charity.
Wants Permanent Exhibit.
THE Utility of Catholic Charities
Exhibits" was the topic of a paper
presented by Brother Francis O'Neill,
OF the Dominican House OF Studies.
Catholic University Of America. The
illustrated paper the stereopticon
lecture and the exhibit were in turn
considered as effective means of pre-
senting to tho eye that which Is also
being taught to the ear by the medium
VI uc oPedhsT uIScu ii per
manent exhibit OF Catholic charities in
larger cities.
Mr.. Daniel Mccain. OF Evanston. ILL.,.
spoke on Meetings OF Our Society,""
urging the Importance of prayer. and
also of the privacy OF all discussions
in regard to the poor, holding Of the
list OF those benefited as confidential.
Tho topic. Distribution OF Catholic
Literature in the Homes Of the Poor
was presented by the Rev. DIR. William
j. White. of Brooklyn, who discussed
at length the part that both newspa-
pers and general literature play in life.
Quoting and indorsing statement Of
Cardinal Manning to the effect that
after the voice Of the Universal
Church, no voice Is so powerful as the
voice Of the press.
The speaker urged the free 'distri-
button OF pamphlets and of Catholic
stories that appeal TO the imieination
of children.
The Conference In the University
was considered by Mr.. Edward ]. Crum-
ney, Of Georgetown University. who
pointed out the Importance OF associat-
OF charity, especially OF connecting the
educated classes with the movement.
He continued: I've find great portion
of the misery OF the poor is accounted
for through Ignorance. They fall into
distress and cannot see their way out
Of It, Their one idea is TO hold ont
their hands for an aims in supplica :
ton. which system generally proves
demoralizing. They need. besides mas
Education. intelligence, a knowledge
Of law and science. all can be SO pros
ftably placed at the disposal OF the
poor We can see. too. how In best
Helping them, we can best help OUR
selves"
Drink the Cause.
Mr.. Dunn, of Springfield, Mass, the
senior member of the conference, told
OF the work Of his society during a
period OF thirty-flve years, stating that
It was his experience that drink was
tho cause OF 90 per cent. Of all the
poverty which had come under his OBJ
servation.
President Mulry spoke briefly on the
Importance of sustaining the institu-
tions. Notwithstanding the emphasis
placed on the placing out system"
which Is proving SO successful, but
which, he stated, by no means lessons
tho Importance or necessity Of the in
stitution for certain classes OF chl-
dren.
Or. d. C. Potter, Of New York. was
as the man In charge Of tho
financial department. OF the public
charitable institutions OF New York
City. president Mulry said that while
Dr.. Potter was not Catholic, lie had
4 better knowledge OF some Catholic
and their work than many
Vincentians
Opening his address DR.. Potter de-
clared 1t was true that catholics did
not talk enough and In Some cases
did not know enough about tho insti-
8tutions they We're operating "Yol
have so many institutions In this
country that you pass them by as a
matter OF course" he said. Continu-
ing he gave an Interesting account Of
the work Of the New York Pounds
Ing Hospital, an institution which aid
ed last year 4,4s3 children, which does
not receive a child over two years Of
age and which does pot retain one
over five years.
Work for New York.
There are crlppled children; those
OF weak mind. children wl.o arc un-