South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-11-23

To the Editor of The News-Times:
Dear Sir:-There Is in your city an
organization doing charitable work
that perhaps only the few who know
have heard of it. This charitable Or
ganiZation is old in years. 1t first was
organized by three good women, all
mothers. Each had son sick with
typhoid fever and near unto death.
These noble mothers went 10 Father
Sorin, then the president of Notre
Dame university, and their father
confessOr, and told him their deep
sorrow. They made a VOW to God
that if He would spare their boys to
them they would devote all their spare
time TO the poor, sick and needy and
to held those unfOrtunates down and
out TO lead a better life. Their prayers
were answered. Their boys are living
today. though these noble mothers
are sleeping in Cedar Grove cemetery.
From the efforts of these women to-
day the order has over 5000 mem
bers. The Hand Maids of the Blessed
Virgin have done more TO help the
poor sick of this city than any other
charitable organization. They have
never come before the public before
for this reason. Their motto is: Let
not the left hand know what the right
hand doeth. They have never at any
time asked one cent from any business
not in the order. Each member de-
MES themselves some little pleasure
each month and drops the cost in the
mite box of the order. The city is
divided into four districts. Each dis
trict has their officers and mite box.
There are y officers. Each officer
can only serve one year The chap
lain, physicians and nurse are always
retained by the order and no officer
receives any salary for her time or
services. The physicians, three in
number. give their services free TO all
poor sick. also their nurse gives her
services in all cases free Of charge
to the order or the poor sick. In this
way every cent is given to the poor
sick, the needy and the uplttt OF hui
mainly All creeds, all natiOnalities,
all are given the same tender care
and help. There is no color line in
the order The most degraded are
made happy and are greeted by all as
ono of the order and are led to better
and nobler lives. To the needy are
given food. clothing and fuel and their
rents paid. No questions are asked
by those sent to help them. To the
sick. flowers. books and fruits. eggs.
milk and all that may be required for
them. The Glee club of the order
renders songs and music TO the SICK
and the helpless. Each district each
elk will care for their patients and
dependents until the cold weather
coming on so soon. The order has
had over SEQ calls for help and is able
TO help all that call on them. The
nurse, one OF this city's most popular
and we'll known nurses deVotes all her
time that she can 10 her patients. she
works in a local factory in order 10
help those dependent upon her and
make her living. Every evening hnds
her duty bound and all those Tor
there are many that she has helped
out OF a bed Of pain and suffering ana
many whom she has led 10 better
life. All speak with grateful hearts
and with tear bedimmed eyes OF the
love and mercy OF this noble little
nurse. During the hours the nurse
is of duty each patient Is tenderly
cared for by some good woman OF the
order so that at no time are the sick
or helpless neglected. The homeless
are given homes until they can obtain
work and help themselves. The most
OF the work OF finding the poor and