Evening star., 1924-11-30
WORK OF CATHOLIC
q CHARITIES CITED
.eE
Director 0'Grady Reports
More Than 900 Entire Fam
lilies Benefited in Year.


More than 500 entire families have
benefited during the past year
through the active aid of the Catholic
Charities of Washington. and was
not through the doing out of aims,
but through service of the truest
kind" which is the supreme aim of
that organization. according TO the
annual report of DR.. John OIGrady,
director.
Development Of keen insight which
goes to the heart of the situation, to
marshal the resources of the church
and the community toward the allevi-
alton of distress, and not to turn
back until the source of the trouble
is removed, is the kind OF service that
DIR. O'Grady says his corps of special
workers and the 40 or more volun-
teers who operate under the super
vision of the Catholic Charities are
giving
Motor Corps in Service.
A motor corps, also operated by
volunteers, lends 20 machines toward
the handling of emergency cases.
Although, of course, the principal
Washington, the laborers of the
charities include aid to transients
stranded in the District. and out-of-
town investigation and relief. More
than 100 families were so looked
after during the year.
DR.. OGrady's assistants are called
upon to deal with every variety Of So
cial necessity. ranging from poverty
stricken starvation to mere tempera-
mental incompatibility of husband
and wife. How fully these RESPONSE
bilities were met by the charities Is
made clear in the pages of the re-
port. 1t was necessary for them to
hnd work for more than 500 unem-
ployed. Homes were found for above
half a hundred shelterlesS, and the
relief of unsettled and turbulent
family conditions was required in
cases numbering over 1900. Burial
was provided In three cases.
Good Homes the Requisite.
The vigilance of the charities is
especially keen where the welfare of
Washingtons destitute children comes
under Its eyes. Even after homes
have been found and the children
placed, regular visits are made, and
schooling, medical care and religious
training are made certain. The con-
ditions are called to the attention of
the reader of the report, and an ap-
peal is made for help to solve the
problem Of securing good homes.
1t also is pointed out that the
charities has made it necessary for
them to reject 33 out of every 100
applications to take children, because
the applicants cannot furnish homes
that meet these standards.
The results of the investigations
made by the charities show that occu
pational difficulties have been the
greatest causes In creating depend
ency. OF such instances the charities
tiva
the report shows. have brought ex-
eelient results where unsatisfactory
living conditions or improper environ
ment are principally to blame for in
temperance. incorrigibility. non-sup-
port and kindred social ills.
Specific Instances Cited.
Specific instances cited show almost
unbelievable conditions existing
The situation of the poor, in some
eases, is so shocking that there is
no need to mention criminal,ty, vice.
or disease to arouse the reader. One
Gaze Is related where, in a flapidated
Fainshackie hancoop, father, mother
and ave children were trying to ex-
ist. While such conditions are not
common. yet they are not SO unusual
as to surprise tho charity worker who
tional patience and resource for their
solution.
1ll-health of body or fnfirmity of
mind has been found to lie at the
roots OF social or economic failure in
some 435 cases. These were taken
care of by proper examination and
diagnosis, and, where necessary, med
1cai or psychiatric attention was sup
piled or Institutional care obtained.
Children, where possible, are placed
In country homes. Forty-one little
ones were received into rural dis
tricts through the efforts of the Cath
Ollie Charities during the year.
Legal Aid Found Necessary.
While perhaps legal advice may
seem to the uninitiated to have little
connection with ordinary charitable
relief work, the charities have found
that in some matters the two cannot
be divorced. Sometimes it is essen
status, guardianships, sdoptions and
Juvenile Court work that the serv-
ices Of lawyers be obtained. Where
this is SO, the charities hnd no diff
Guilty In securing volunteer legal aid
for worthy causes. 1t reports 46
cases where such help was rendered.
In addition. member of DR..
OGrady's staff, trained in handling
Juvenile delinquents, is always sta
toned at the Juvenile Court. In CO.
operation with the District probation
officer, much youthful wrongdoing is
there prevented by wise counsel and
careful supervision.
Relief work, however, is only one
of the main activities. Anticipatofy
measures through the Big Brothers,
Big Sisters, and the parochial
branches of the Boy Scouts have had
great effect in clearing the city of
boys gangs, and many forms of petty
wrongdoing. These three organiZa-
the charities in providing innocent
outlets for youthful energy.
hoy Scout Movement Stressed.
Special emphasis Is laid In the re-
port upon the Boy Scout movement.
The ideals of the scouts are highly
lauded. Scouting" says the report,
brings high-minded boys together
under the leadership of high minded
men," In furtherance of this aim. in
May, 1928, the charities selected a
member of the stan, experienced in
work among boys, to devote his en-
tire time to the organization and de-
yelopment of parochial scout troops.
The success of this experiment is
read in a remarkable advance In in
terest among boys, In the scouting
movement.
Only parochial troops existed
before 1923. To this number Is
active troops have been added, and
the ranks of the first-ciass scouts
have been increased well over 400
per cent. As has been the experience
In every other city, the growth of
fhe Roy Scouts has resulted in a