The Ladies' Charitable Union

At the 9th ammiü meeting of the Ladie' Charitable Union, held March 1, 1877, the following oflicers wre elacted for the entuing year : President - Mrs. C. G. Clark. Vide-President- Mrs. R. A. Beal. Secrotary- Mrs. E. Steel. Treasurer- Mas. M. E. Morwick. Tlie Board oí Managers, elecUU from the four churches, ar as follows : Baptist -Mrs. Dr. Hilton, Mra. S. Crossman, Mrs. V. Chapiu, Miss H. Spaldiug. Congregational- Mrs. D. S. Wood, Mr. M. E. Morwick, Mis. H. L. Hubball, Mrs. M B' Gilbert. Presbyteriau- Mrs. L. Sackett, Mra. M. Gslston, Mrs. C. Q. Olark, Mrs. E. R. Lang. Methodist- Mrs. E. Steelo, Mrs. B. Day, Mrs. R. A. Beal, Mrs. C. T. Wilmot. Tho reports of the Secretary and Treasurer are appended, and will sufficiently detail the workings of the Uuion for the year. SEOEJJTABY'8 KEPOBT. To the Oflioera aud Members of the Ladies' Charitable Union : Ladios - With auother now year comes another fitting opportuuity to "prospect" the field of labor before us, and survey the aipects of that " promised land " which still lies little ia the distunce. As with Application, who, ia h8 toilsome jouruey up the hill of icieuce, sees Alpi risiug on Alps, so we discover ever and anon that the time and the good that we so ardeutly and so believingly pursue, is onward still, is still beyond. But as diligent workers in the cause of buinanity, we know that it is according to the law of progresa, that, however numeroua and difficult may be the obstacles in our pathway, the good and the truo lie in the pathway we are purauing ; and we can from this iusure the oourse of duty, no matter what trials beset us, no matter how tedious the ascent, nor how prolongad may be the journey. Aud we kuovr uot in the proiecutiou of our benevolunt enterprise, how long we must toil, or how hard we miut labor, nor what number nor forcé oí obstacles must be orercome before our poor can be redeemed from the misery of abject poTerty. But we belUre that in the direction of our labora, at som point in the future histry of our society, will be found that desiderátum which we all pray and labor, - the succussf ui amehoration of the poor in our midst. We had hoped daring the past yeax to have had our arrangementa so perfected that wc could have " helped th poor to holp themselves," after the manner of the Helping Hand Society of New York. This association has been the model of similar societies in other cities, and one bsaring the same same and doing similar work has been organized in Detroit. The plan purtued is to giv poor vromen out of employ ment a chance to labor and to devote the proceeds of their labot te their owu and their children's physical comiort. The society to furnish material for making up garment, credit each laborer with th number of hours she works, and allow her the garmenta at establihd rates as fait as earned. As regards food and other necessaries for the sick poor, we would undoubtedly haTe to proceed according to our preaent plan. The greatest obstacle to our adopting this plan is the want of a suitable room. The Uominon Council hare Terjr kiudly allowed us the use of their room for our monthly meetings, but it is not adaptad to our purpose tor the weekly meetings we desir to establish, as ■ it ha no room or closet that can be used to de. posit donations of olothing or other artieleíIt would be well to take this need of the associatíon into consideration añil aot accordingly. Our committees, in cariug for the poor, have made and receivd 230 aalls, and have diatributed 200 very good partly worn garnientf, alio a considerable number of hats, capa, shoes, bed-clothiug, comíortables, blankett, c., ylued at $180. Also, 6 pairs of now shoes and 80 yards of new cloth. A larga amount oi provisión have been donated, as woll as many delicacies for the sick, for which w tender our thanks to the generous donors. The amount paid out for groceries, provisions, fuel and rent will be fouod in your Treaaurer's report. We have also been enabled, by the kiud douations of several ladies of this society, to secure the balance due ($70) on the ufe interest ia the " Oíd Ladies' Home." The oíd lady placed there by your generosity is well aud happy, and very giateful for tho Messing of a comfortable home during the remaiuder of her life. There was also received frora the proceeds of the Found Social ?lo worth of groceries and provisious. To all who have in any way aided uu in making the homes of poverty brighter during the past winter we ask God's blessing to rest upon them, and as a little band of workeri gathered together to-day, we offer Him the mcense of loviug, grateful hearts for the mercie8 of the past year, and implore His guiding care for th year to come During the past winter on whom we hare aided for many years has passed into rest. We have also, in the providencs of God, been callad upon to mourn the loss of one of our memben. Mrs. L. C. Bisdon has been removed from the sufferings of earth into th preseuce of Hiin who hath said, " Inaimuch as ye did it unto one of the least of these ye did it unto Me." In conclusión, we can hardly refram from believiug that the time is not far distant when matters connected with a systematic oourse of benevolence will be better underatoood. How long is a questioo. depeuding solely upon a primary one ? How soon can w get the public mind generally interested in the investigation of this subject '{ It is tru we have succeeded in enlisting the syinpatnies oí many in our commumty who are uow active workars. But thera are atill many intelligent and genero people who have not yet given an houi'a thought to tbis subject - really oue of the most important of all Bubjects, not purely Bpintual, that could occupy their minds. And as the succes of this cause, which ia so dear to our hunrts, depends upon the sympathy of th public, Ut each of us determine to be active ia our work, and iu the meantime learu to " labor and to wait." Dr. H. J. Hii.ton, Secretary. March 1, 1877. tbeasueee'b rkpobt. M. E. Mortrick, Trasurer. In account with Lodies' Charitable Union. Receipta and ex penditures for oue year, onding March 1. Io77. EEOEIPTS. Membership fees, ... 30 00 Private donations, - - 14 00 Thauksgiviug collection, - - 62 00 Total, - - - $106 00 Amount expended for poor, - 113 00 Excess of expenditures over rceipta, 7 00 Balance on hand March 2, J876, 41 29 " 1, 1877, 34 64