The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-09
M'GRATH TELLS OF THE ASSOCIATED
 CHARITIES WORK  Object of Successful Charity Not to Give Lavishly
 and Sentimentally
ULTIMATE RESULT MUST
 ALWAYS BE IN VIEW
Says the Organization Stands Ready to Further Any Project for the Bettering of the
 Community

with the advent of cold weather said MT. McGrath, land the consequent in- crease in the number of demands made
 upon the society for assistance, the d. rectors thought best to let the public understand better the work and aims of
 the Associated Charities
 "The Associated Charities of Birming- ham is an organization composed of, and
 established by, some of the leading busi-
 ness men of the city.
 "The advisabiity of establishing such
 an institution was readily recognized by these men, for they saw the necessity for efficiency and discrimination in the dis tribution of relief to the unfortunate to
 be as great as the same qualities in any other organization conducted on busi- ness basis.
 The chief object to be attained in ear Ing for the destitute is not to give law ishly and sentimentally; considering only the immediate need, but to have the ulti-
 mate always in view. It is sometimes kind to be cruel The skilled surgeon is apparently harsh in his methods. but he effects a cure that would not have been possible otherwise.
 Need for InvestIgation ITO give without first testing the worth mess of the applicant, Investigating is to take away not only the recipients self respect but the chance of making a help full member of the community. It is the duty of organized charity to act as the surgeon in all cases coming for aid;
 to give temporary relief pending the effort to ascertain the cause ofsdistress
 and to determine the course to pur-
 sue that would effect a permanent cure, and then apply it.
 'The Associated Charities stands ready to further any project for the bet torment of the community, If, first, does the need exist? Second, If it exists, has the establishment of the same received careful consideration iIi all It's phases To determine this latter, consider wheth- CT there Is any organization already do- | ing the proposed work; if so, Is it being
 well and adequately done. Duplication | Of institutions should be avoided. "The Associated Charities has been in existence seven months; it has in that time received ssa appeals for help. These appeals represent 2104 individuals: of whom 73s were under 14 years of age and l 115 homeless men.
 ''Of these homeless men, 20 were resi- | dents of Birmingham, men temporarily 1 out of employment. the balance fioaters, drifting in an aimless fashion from point | to point
 "Jf it Is necessary to make some pro- vision for these 'foaters other than that now existing in the city, the officers and directors of the Associated Charities will gladly confer with any having the estab- lishment of such an institution in mind. and will render such assistance as the finances of their organization will permit 'In addition to temporary relief pro- vided the families and worthy homeless
 men, that the Associated Charities en- eages in multitude of activities touch ing all phases of family life Is demon
 strated by the following:
 '"The causes of distress in 67 per cent of the S63 applications were sickness. ac-
 cident, widowhood. old age and desertion. Of this 33 per cent remaining the lack of
 employment played it's part in q per cent of the cases.
 How Aid Was Given ''In answering these appeals, provisions were supplied employment obtained, school books clothing, shoes. furniture
 and coal furnished, rent paid, medical at tendance secured medicine provided. sev- eral sent to hospitals and in 19 instances the society made the necessary arrange | ments for the burial of the dead. "In carrying on this work, the two dis | trict visitors of the association sA have l transporation: 35 requests for which were granted 49 refused when investigation proved the falsity of the applicants statements.
 Source of Contributions "ro establish and carry on this work | has cost the organization $3452.72. This | whole expense has been borne by few | men. as follows, supplemented by $4O0 re- ceived from the city, paid in monthly in | stallments of $50:
 l Morris Adler, J. c. Beatty. w. s. Brown, K. E. Coliins George c. Crawford. w. W. | Crawford. Hill Ferguson, John Fry. w. | IT Hassinger F. M. Jackson, Otto Marx, Moore & Handley Hardware Company, 70. l R. Ramsey, pr. F. M. Robinson, pr. F 1 l. Tarrant, E. M. Tutwiler, John l.. Yan- cey. Henry Badham, C.. Exum. l.. ". I Clark. w. NJ Cosby. Tennessee Coal Iron and Railroad company, Joseph w Don nelly; A H. Ford, w. F. G. Harding | Robert Jemison. Jr., John l.. Kaul, T. H.
 Motion, John E. Morris, Roberts & Son. | l. J. Smith, George B. Tarrant' w. B Urquhart. Sidney J. Bowie. Thinks Expenditure Justfhed ''These men feel that their expendi- l ture has been justified and that the As | sociated Charities in Birmingham mas | passed the experimental stage. l VITO continue to make prompt and ade- | ouate response to appeals during the next 12 months will require the expendl- | ture of at least $5000 This fund Will be | used for relief work only. "A general appeal, based on what has | been accomplished, win soon be made l to the citizens of Birmingham to assist | in raising the required amount. While 1t | is fully realized by the officers and the | directors that the association is not per- | feet; 1t is felt that there has been G
 steady improvement month by month.
 That this will continue is the hope of | the board Greater progress could have
 been made and other movements touch | nr the welfare of the community in augurated had finances permitted. Va rious activities, coming properly within 1 the scope of organized charity. have been | considered, but tbe lack of means has prevented the cdrrying out of these | plans.
 If those who are philanxhropically l inclined will give their aid in providing lthe funds for the relief work of the society, they will be assisting an enter prise where help others to help them selves is the sole object of the organiza- | tion."