Evening star., 1923-12-13
CHARITIES BOARD
REAFF|RMS POLICY
Use and Abuse of Christmas
BenevoIence Discussed
at Meeting.

The general subject discussed by
the board of managers of the Asso-
ciated Charities at it's meeting yes
.terday afternoon was Christmas
benevolence. Its use and abuse. The
board approved the presentation of
the. fourteen Christmas opportunities
to the public of Washington, with
holding the names and addresses of
the families for whom the appeal is
made. as has been the custom. This
opportunity appeal will be presented
through the press.
In order to make it's position clear
regarding the giving of names and
addresses of families in confidential
rotations to the society as its clients,
the board adopted a memorandum set
ting forth it's general policy. This
statement reatfirms the position out
lined in the letter of appeal issued by
the finance committee at the beginning
of the present fiscal year and ad-
dressed to the society's contributors.
This letter referred to the figures
given i'll the years brief report and
the fact that these but family pic
tured the real work of homes restored
w
contributors had so important a part
TO really know the truth one
would have to go into the byways of
the city side by side with our family
workcrs-genuine social healers."- the
letter continued. Yet we may not
ask the families under our care to
open their doors to the 5,2s8 different
contributors who made this work
possible. 1t is this element of privacy
which you and we claim for our own
homes that handicaps our appeal. We
may not exhibit to the public gaze
the mothers and children who need
us To do so would be to betray their
confidence and prevent our future
usefulneSs."
The application of this general pol
icy 10 the Christian benevolence of
the society IS apparent. Our work
with families has always been conf
Dental Newspaper men know how
many times we have refused to give
them names and addresses because we
said our people must be protected and
every one must know that when they
come to US their identity would not
be disclosed. Whenever at Christmas
time we have been asked to give out
names Of families to clubs AMI class
es. etc. for Christmas treats, and have
yielded to the temptation to take
chance. we have been conscious that,
In measure, we had betrayed conf
dence.
For True Christmas Spirit.
we believe in the true Christmas
spirit, which is generous and un-
selfish. We believe that those who
have of this worlds goods should
share with those who have not. bat
we believed that the poor should
be treated with the same considerg-
ticn with which we treat our friends.
of whatever station in life. The
pleasure of the receiver should be
the first consideration. rather than
that OF the giver.
I'VE believe. moreover. that we can
help people. to have a real home
Christmas much better if the public
will give US money rather than
things. We want to help people to
have the joy Of planning and making
their own Christmas rather than hav-
ing something handed TO them ready
made.
Let no one think we are trying to
take the heart out of charity. The
as well as thought into ii. We would
simply make a practical application
of the golden rule by putting our
selves in the place. of those whom we
are trying to help.
This year, as far as we have spe
cial money to spend for Christmas.
our visitors are giving it to the mothers
in order that they may have the joy
of buying simple and useful presents
for their own children. and also try
children to do the same thing for
their mothers or, where there are
such, invalid fathers.
Assistance for the Asking.
eve believe that families willing
to accept publicity by making per-
sonal appeal to the different organi-
cations which play Santa Clauz in the
city will be abundantly cared for by
the generous outpourfng of Christ
mas giving in the form Of food or
dinners. We ourselves will be glad
to be the almoner of such dinners If
those who give them are willing that
we should see that In some quiet, in
conspicuous way the gift gets to a
family who would not gratefully ac-
cept it with any publicity"
Upon the recommendation of its
executive committee the board of man
ayers, following the request from
the Council of Social Agencies. con-
sidered the question of legislation for
the prevention of venereal disease
George NJ Kober pointed out that
the District stands alone among the
states of the Union in failing to
provide suitable legislation on this
question. The board unanimously
approved giving its full support to
by the Council of Social Agencies.
Present at the meeting were Dwieht
Clark, Judge William H. De Lacy.
John Joy Edison. Franklin H. Ellis,
William J. Flather, jr.; Arthur Hell
len. Col. Archibald Hopkins. e. Lee
Jones, DIR. George, NJ kober, Miss
Helen Nicolay and Miss Florence p.
Spofford.
Tigers in captivity consume from
fourteen to sixteen pounds of beef