USA > Indiana > Marion County > Indianapolis > History of Indianapolis and Marion County, Indiana > Part 67
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Indianapolis Lodge, No. 465. Present officers : W. H. Orpwood, N. G .; Louis Smith, Sec. Contrib- uting members, seventy-seven.
Corinthian Lodge, No. 474. Present officers : J. T. Williams, N. G .; L. W. MeDaniels, See. Con- tributing members, seventy-three.
Meridian Lodge, No. 480. Present officers : Thomas A. Black, N. G .; J. T. Armstead, Sec. Contributing members, one hundred and forty-nine.
Centennial Lodge, No. 520. Present officers : Thomas Rodebaugh, N. G .; J. A. Pritchard, See. Contributing members, seventy-four.
Mozart Lodge, No. 531. Present officers: M. Kleebaner, N. G .; F. Boettiker, See. Contributing members, ninety-seven.
SUBORDINATE ENCAMPMENTS .- The Metropoli- tan, No. 5, was instituted July 20, 1846, with the following past officers : Jacob P. Chapman, C. P .; Edwin Hedderly, H. P .; George B. Warren, S. W .; W. B. Preston, J. W .; Benjamin B. Taylor, S .; A. C. Christfield, Treas. ; John H. Taylor, Sent. Pres- ent officers : S. W. Wales, C. P .; Charles B. Foster, S. Contributing members, one hundred and seventy- two.
Marion, No. 35, was instituted March 24, 1853, with the following past officers: Obed Foote, C. P .; Joseph K. English, H. P .; Anthony Defrees, S .; Daniel Yandes, Jr., S. W .; William C. Lupton, J. W. ; George G. Holman, Treas. ; John M. Kemper, Sent. It had ninety members in 1870. Since that
it has been in some way eliminated, as it no longer appears in the official list of eneampments and there is a gap between Nos. 34 and 36.
Teutonia, No. 57 (German), was established Aug. 1, 1858, with thirty-two members and the following officers : George F. Meyer, C. P .; Charles Conlon, H. P. ; John P. Stumph, S. W .; Charles Bals, J.W. ; F. Tapking, S .; Alexander Metzger, Treas. Pres- ent officers: W. A. Schoppe, C. P .; Henry Kuerst, S. Contributing members, one hundred and twelve.
Ariel, No. 144, Chief Patriarch not designated ; Omer Rodibaugh, S .; contributing members, nine- teen.
Indianapolis Degree Camp, No. I, H. McCoy, Com. ; C. D. Hoyle, O. of the G .; Frank MeQuiddy, Sec. ; Theodore P. Haughey, Treas.
Ilarmonia and Olive Branch Rebekah Degree Lodges meet, the first on the second Thursday, the other on the second Saturday in each month.
COLORED ODD-FELLOWS have a Grand Lodge (Mr. Paran, G. M.) and three subordinate lodges in the eity, with one female affiliated society called Household of Ruth, Lodge 34, and a P. G. M. Council. They all meet in No. 82} East Washing- ton Street.
Lincoln Union Lodge, No. 1486, Edward Proctor, Sec.
Gerritt Smith Lodge, No. 1707, Samuel Herron, See.
O. P. Morton Lodge, No. 1987, William Christie, See.
ODD-FELLOWS' MUTUAL AID ASSOCIATION .- This society was organized Nov. 21, 1872, with a board of twelve directors, of which William Wallace was presideut ; Leonidas Sexton, vice-president ; J. W. McQuiddy, secretary ; and Theodore P. Haughey, treasurer. The following is the present board of directors and offieers : William Wallace, president ; Thomas Underwood, vice-president; John W. Me- Quiddy, secretary ; Theodore P. Haughey, treasurer ; W. E. Jeffries, medical examiner. Directors : Wil- liam Wallace, P. G .; Thomas Underwood, P. G. M .; John W. MeQuiddy, P. G. M .; Theodore P. Haughey, G. Treas .; Platt J. Wise, P. G. M .; William H. DeWolf, P. G. M .; James B. Kimball,
375
ORDERS, SOCIETIES, AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.
P. G. M .; John F. Wildman, D. G. M .; Nathaniel P. Richmond, P. G. M. ; Samuel B. Halley, P. G. F. ; Edward S. Porter, G. H. P .; John F. Wallick, P. G. P. This association, like that of the Masons, divides the members into four classes, those from twenty-one to thirty years of age constituting the first class ; from thirty-one to forty, the second class ; from forty-one to fifty, the third class ; from fifty-one to fifty-five, the fourth class. On the death of a mem- ber each of the other members, within fifteen days, pays to the secretary or his duly authorized agent assessments, as follows : Members of the first class, one dollar; of the second class, one dollar and five cents ; of the third class, one dollar and twenty-five cents ; of the fourth class, one dollar and eighty cents. The report for the year ending Nov. 1, 1883, shows that 2625 certificates are "in foree," of which 390 are in the first class, 1015 in the second class, 859 in the third class, and 394 in the fourth class. The total amount of benefits paid from the organiza- tion of the association is $776,071.82. Whole number of deaths in the two divisions since organiza- tion is 379. The following summary shows the operation of the aid system as clearly as anything that can be put in equal space. The cost to each member in the first division for the year for $2500 has been as follows : First class, $31, or $12.40 per $1000 ; second class, $32.55, or $13.02 per $1000; third class, $28.75, or $15.50 per $1000; fourth class, $55.80, or $22.32 per $1000.
The cost for eleven years for a member who has paid every assessment for an average benefit of $2386 has been,-
Whole Cost.
Per Year.
Per $1000
per Year.
First class. $256.70
$23.33
$9.74
Second class ..
270.45.
24,59 10.30
Third class.
325.45.
29.57 12.38
Fourth class. 495.20
45,01 18.86
Receipts, both divisions, $115,679.79; expendi- tures other than death losses, $11,464.33.
Knights of Pythias .- The most numerous and respectable seeret order, after the Masons and Odd- Fellows, is the Knights of Pythias, an outgrowth of the period sinee the war. The first lodge was organized in Washington City in February, 1864, by J. H. Rathbone. A few other lodges followed
at once, and in less than a month the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia was organized. This was rapid growth, but the deeay was equally rapid. In about two years all the lodges were dead but the second one formed in Washington. It became the nucleus of future aceretions, and in another year the order began its second growth. A lodge was estab- lished in Philadelphia, and was followed in other quarters, till on the 11th of August, 1868, the re- juvenated order felt able to organize a Supreme Lodge of the World at Washington. In the session of 1869, at Richmond, Va., seven States and the District of Columbia were represented; in 1870, in New York, seven more States, including Indiana, were represented; at the third session, in Philadel- phia, twenty-two States in all were represented. It has overspread to Europe and South America and all round the world.
The order was brought to Indiana by Charles P. Carty, who organized the first lodge in Indianapolis -Marion Lodge, No. 1-on July 12, 1869. In three months there were three lodges here and three in Fort Wayne, and these organized the Grand Lodge on the 20th of October, 1869. The first Grand Lodge officers were Charles P. Carty, V. G. P., Indianapolis ; John Caven, G. C., Indianapolis ; John L. Brown, V. G. C., Fort Wayne; George H. Swain, G. R. and C. S., Indianapolis ; George F. Meyer, G. B., Indianapolis ; John B. Ryan, G. G., Indianapolis; William A. Root, G. I. S., Indianapolis; Charles Johns, G. O. S., Indianapolis. On the 1st of May, 1871, there were nine lodges in good work- ing order, with an aggregate membership of seven hundred in the State. In this city there are eight lodges, all meeting at the hall northwest corner of Market and Pennsylvania Streets. The general relief committee meets there the first Saturday of every month. The annual convocations meet the fourth Tuesday in January. The present grand officers are James T. Darnell, P. G. C .; E. G. Herr, G. C .; R. A. Carran, G. P .; W. L. Dunlap, G. M. of E .; D. B. Shideler, G. K. of R: and S.
MARION LODGE, No. 1 .- Officers: W. T. Sem- ple, C. C .; Theodore Buehter, K. of R. and S.
OLIVE BRANCH LODGE, No. 2 .- Officers : Wil-
376
HISTORY OF INDIANAPOLIS AND MARION COUNTY.
liam H. Orpwood, C. C .; John T. Francis, K. of R. and S.
KOERNER LODOE, NO. 6 .- Officers : Philip Graffe, C. C .; Charles Dahlman, K. of R. and S.
STAR LODGE, No. 7 .- Officers : H. C. Neweomb, Jr., C. C .; Frank Blanchard, K. of R. and S.
EXCELSIOR LODGE, No. 25 .- Officers : Lewis Feller, C. C .; Henry B. Stotte, K. of R. and S.
INDIANAPOLIS LODGE, No. 56 .- Officers : J. M. Ryder, C. C .; J. A. Preston, K. of R. and S.
SCHILLER LODGE, No. 61 .- Officers : William J. Rosebrock, C. C .; John Ploeger, K. of R. and S.
CAPITAL CITY LODGE, No. 97 .- Officers : Dr. Earp, C. C .; John J. Langdon, K. of R. and S.
Knights of Honor .- The Grand Lodge meets annually on the last Tuesday in February, hall northwest corner of Market and Pennsylvania Streets. William D. Bynum, G. D .; James W. Jacob, G. R.
WHEATLEY LODGE, No. 8 .- Officers : George Bruniek, D .; Charles Kerner, R.
INDIANAPOLIS LODGE, No. 9 .- Officers : Titus Atland, D. ; Thomas H. Clapp, R.
VICTORIA LODGE, No. 22 .- Officers: G. M. Alexander, D .; J. W. Hosman, R.
EUREKA LODGE, No. 24 .- Officers: J. K. Rob- son, D .; J. B. Nickerson, R.
SCHILLER LODGE, No. 40 .- Officers : Theodore Wagner, D .; Fred. Weiffenpach, R.
WASHIINGTON LODGE, No. 114 .- Officers : Claude M. Ryan, D .; Joseph Dovy, R.
MARION LODOE, NO. 601.
GARFIELD LODGE, No. 2583 .- Officers : C. T. Stone, D .; William H. Fulton, R.
GERMANIA LODGE, No. 2634 .- Officers : Wil- liam John, D .; Albert J. Groenwaldt, R.
Women are members and officers of one of the divisions called the Degree of Perfection, of which there are two lodges, Hope, No. 6, and Martha Lodge. Of the latter Elizabeth Hert is P., and Peter Lehr, R.
Druids .- The Grand Grove of Indiana was established in Indianapolis in 1860, and the order has three groves here, Chapter, No. 3, and Ger- mania Circle, No. 2. The groves are Octavian,
No. 3, Humboldt, No. 8, Mozart, No. 13, and Washington Supreme Arch Chapter, No. 3.
Red Men .- The first of the tribes of this order organized here was the Pocahontas, Oct. 3, 1869, with forty-eight members. This division of the Red Men to which it belongs is called the "Inde- pendent Order," or " United Order." The other is called the "Improved Order," and has three tribes here which have a hall in the Griffith Block, No. 36} West Washington Street.
THE PALMETTO TRIBE, No. 17 .- Adam Kalb, S. ; Ferdinand Ronser, C. of R. Instituted May 2, 1870. Works in German.
THE RED CLOUD TRIBE, No. 18 .- J. S. Coffman, S .; Henry Albertsmeyer, C. of R. Instituted Aug. 10, 1870. Works in English.
THIE MINNEWA TRIBE, No. 38 .- Robert Smith, S .; George F. David, C. of R.
Royal Arcanum .- The Grand Council meets an- nually on the first Wednesday in March in the hall, Bates' Block, North Pennsylvania Street ; C. B. Mil- ler, G. R. ; Frank W. Olin, G. See. The subordi- nate councils are
INDIANA COUNCIL, No. 128 .- Hall, corner of Fort Wayne Avenue and St. Mary Street ; Thomas H. Clapp, R .; C. W. Overman, Sec.
INDIANAPOLIS COUNCIL, No. 328 .- Hall in Bates' Bloek ; W. H. Hobbs, R .; Charles M. Coats, Sec.
HOOSIER COUNCIL, NO. 394 .- Hall, corner of Illinois and Seventh Street; A. A. Helfer, R .; A. J. Van Deinse, See.
MARION COUNCIL, No. 399 .- Hall, Bates' Block ; W. R. Miller, R .; Charles G. Irwin, Sec.
0. of C. F. (Chosen Friends) .- THE SUPREME COUNCIL meets first Tuesday in September ; A. Alcon, S. C .; T. B. Linn, S. R. Hall, 172} East Wash- ington Street. The GRAND COUNCIL meets the third Tuesday in February, Nos. 16 and 18 Hub- bard's Block ; Dr. C. S. Pixley, G. C .; C. Bradford, G. R.
ALPHA COUNCIL, No. 1 .- Hall of Chosen Friends, Bates' Block ; A. Rosengarten, C. C .; Mrs. H. C. Page, See.
DELTA COUNCIL, NO. 2 .- Hall, Bates' Block ; Levi Roberts, C. C .; John McElwee, Sec.
377
ORDERS, SOCIETIES, AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.
VENUS COUNCIL, No. 7 .- Hall, 13} East Wash- ington Street ; M. H. Daniels, C. C .; Barry Self, See.
CRESCENT COUNCIL, No. 8 .- Hall, corner of Ver- mont and Mississippi Streets ; Frank B. Taylor, C. C .; G. E. Tiffany, Sec.
MARION COUNCIL, No. 16 .- Hall of Red Men, 36} West Washington Street ; George F. David, C. C .; Ernest B. Cole, Sec.
TRUE FRIEND COUNCIL, No. 23 .- Hall, Bates' Block ; G. B. Manlove, C. C .; C. L. Hinton, Sec.
EUREKA COUNCIL, No. 25 .- Hall, Bates' Block ; George Lutz, C. C .; J. S. Roberts, Sec.
U. O. H .- SUPREME LODGE meets first Wednes- day in October; George W. Powell, Sup. Prest. ; Ernest Duden, Sup. Sec .; A. L. Blue, Sup. Treas. GRAND LODGE meets third Tuesday in May ; Thomas E. Boyd, G. Prest. ; Ernest Duden, G. Sec .; Samuel B. Corbaley, G. Treas .; Mrs. Althouse, G. Cbapl. The subordinate lodges are :
ENTERPRISE LODGE, No. 1 .- Hall, Griffith's Block ; John W. Howe, Prest. ; J. F. Feshler, Rec. Sec.
CAPITAL CITY LODGE, NO. 2 .- Hall, Mankedick's, end of Virginia Avenue ; James D. Caylor, Prest. ; Eliza Champe, Rec. Sec.
WASHINGTON LODGE, No. 13 .- Hall, Vermont and Mississippi Streets; R. A. Pearce, Prest. ; W. A. Brackin, Rec. Sec.
HOPE LODGE, No. 14 .- Hall, corner of Fort Wayne Avenue and St. Mary Street; Peter P. Hereth, Prest. ; Janies S. Smith, Ree. Sec.
INDIANAPOLIS LODGE, No. 15 .- Hall, Boston Block ; Charles O. Harris, Prest. ; George F. Ridge, Rec. Sec.
Ancient Order of Hibernians .- Officers of the county, James H. Deery, C. D .; William Broderick, Jr., C. S .; John H. Meany, C. T.
DIVISION No. 1 .- Hall, Parnell Hall, MeCarty and Maple Streets ; William Broderick, Jr., Prest.
DIVISION No. 2 .- Peter Carson, Prest. ; John H. Meany, F. S .; E. F. Hart, R. S.
DIVISION No. 3 .- Andrew Lee, Prest .; William Brennan, F. S .; Dennis Sullivan, Treas.
American Order United Workingmen .- Hall, 25
Griffith's Block. Grand Lodge meets biennially on the third Thursday in February. . There are five sub- ordinate lodges here :
UNION LODGE, No. 6 .- John T. Francis, Fin.
EAGLE LODGE, No. 10 .- John M. Bohmie, M. W .; G. W. Hill, Fin.
CAPITAL LODGE, No. 19 .- C. H. Miller, Rec. ; John Bessel, Fin. 1
PROSPECT LODGE, No. 45 .- Joseph Dynes, M. W .; J. R. Childers, Fin. ; F. G. Brown, Rec.
CRESCENT LODGE, No. 72 .- C. F. Miller, Fin.
A. R. A. GERMAN LODGE, No. 3 .- John Ben- ninger, W. M .; Henry Riechmeyer, Sec.
R. P. O. E. INDIANAPOLIS LODGE, No. 13 .- John H. Martin, E. R .; S. C. Henton', See. ; James V. Cook, Treas.
D. O. H. FREYA LODGE, No. 63 .- George Hol- ler, O. B .; August Emerich, Sec.
SCHILLER LODGE, No. 381 .- Frank Noelle, O. B. ; Silas Thompson, Cor. Sec.
D. R. K .- St. Bonifacius' Support Union and St. Joseph's Support Union are both purely German and Catholic charitable associations, holding their meetings at St. Mary's School.
G. A. R. (Grand Army of the Republic) .- South- east corner of Tennessee and Market Streets. Com- mander, James R. Carnahan, Adjt .- Gen. of Indiana ; Ben. D. House, A. A. G .; G. H. Shover, A. Q. M. G. There are two posts here, George H. Thomas and George H. Chapman. The colored members have a post partially organized.
Good Templars .- Hall, southeast corner of Me- ridian and Washington Streets. GRAND LODGE. AD- nual meeting third Tuesday in October. Eli Miller, G. W. C. T .; Rev. W. W. Snyder, G. W. C .; Mrs. S. C. Jackson, G. W. V. T .; M. E. Shiel, G. W. S .; Isaac Underwood, G. W. T.
MONITOR LODGE, No. 1, meets Monday evening. NORTHI STAR, No. 4, meets Saturday cvening.
General Temperance Ribbon Association .- John W. Copner, Prest .; D. B. Ross, Sec.
Hebrew Societies .- (I. O. B. B.) ABRAHAM LODGE, No. 58. Hall, 27} South Delaware Street .- Solomon Mossler, Prest. ; J. M. King, Sec.
ESTHER LODGE, No. 323, same hall .- D. S. Ben-
378
HISTORY OF INDIANAPOLIS AND MARION COUNTY.
son, Prest. ; Benjamin Frey, Sec. O. R. S. B., same hall. INDIANAPOLIS LODGE, No. 149 .- M. Emden, Prest. ; Ed. Ducas, Sec.
TREE OF LIFE MUTUAL BENEFIT SOCIETY .- Isador Deitch, Prest. ; M. Solomon, Sec.
O. I. H. SUPREME SITTING. Biennial meeting fourth Tuesday in March .- Emi Kennedy, S. J. ; C. H. Horton, S. A .; M. C. Davis, S. C.
LOCAL BRANCHI, No. 1 .- F. H. Pillet, C. J .; J. Gaffga, Accountant.
LOCAL BRANCH, No. 117 .- D. W. Cosler, C. J .; C. L. Hinton, Accountant.
Knights of Labor .- This is the most recent and one of the most extensive orders in the city. Its name indicates its character as a sort of working- men's order, irrespective of differences of trades and occupations. The minor or local bodies are called " Assemblies," and in some women are admitted to membership, with a probability of the formation of ""Assemblies" wholly of women. Female Knights of Labor will be a rather incongruous name, but not more so than Knights of Temperance or knights of some other cause as ill fitted with such designa- tions. The fancy for mediaval names and distinctions could be changed with an improvement of taste to others of a later date and more apt significance. A knight and a workingman are as nearly antipodal as any two conditions of mortal life can be, or could when there were such existences.
The Elks .- This is a recent organization and rather a restricted, not to say select, one in Indianapolis, seemingly composed of artistic or æsthetie elements derived from the stage and the fine arts. The benev- olent characteristic no doubt is asserted in its organi- zation, but its primary purpose seems to be convivial and entitle itself to the name of good fellows. The significance of the name they have adopted is prob- ably the secret of the order.
twelve years ago. The Sons of Herman is another that was in prosperous condition a dozen years ago, and is now dead or idle. An unusually large propor- tion of these minor secret orders are of German origin and membership. The meeting-place of all the State organizations and larger combinations of all of them is Indianapolis.
It may be worth noting in this connection that the central location of this city, and its ready accessibility by rail, have for thirty years made it a frequent meeting-place of national assemblages as well as those State and local gatherings which naturally gravitate to the State capital. The first of these probably was the national Woman's Rights meeting, held in Masonic Hall in 1855, referred to in the general history. The first of full national, or even wider, in- terest was the Methodist General Conference which met here May 1, 1856, in the hall of the House in the old State-House. May 18, 1859, the General As- sembly of the Old School Presbyterian Church of the United States met here in the Third Church building, corner of Illinois and Ohio Streets. Among the distinguished clergymen in attendance were Dr. Alexander, of Princeton ; Dr. MeMaster, of New Albany, Ind .; Dr. Thornwell, of South Carolina ; Dr. Palmer, of New Orleans ; Dr. N. L. Rice, of Lexington, Ky .; Dr. Breckenridge, of Kentucky. The National Christian Missionary Society has been here. The National Scientific Association met here one year in the old State-House, when the celebrated botanist, Asa Gray, was here, and Dr. T. Sterry Hunt. Besides these, the National Pharmaceutical Association has met here, the National Bee-Keepers' Association, the National Poultry Breeders' Associ- ation, the National Wool-Growers' Association, the National Short-Horn Association, the National Swine Breeders' Association, railroad associations, and conventions innumerable ; political conventions of all degrees except a national nominating conven- tion ; temperance and reform conventions, business conventions, all kinds of public assemblages, repre- senting all interests, from setting telegraph-poles to saving souls. No city in the Union is more familiar with the annoyance or satisfaction, as it happens, of
Among these minor orders there are of course not a few lodges and organizations that amount to little more than a name. Besides these there are some that have come and gone, or at least make no demonstra- tion of existence, which were once active societies. Among these are the Heptasophs, or Seven Wise Men, who had two lodges or conelaves here ten or ) crowds of strangers on some special engagement of
379
ORDERS, SOCIETIES, AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.
interest or duty. This pre-eminence is likely to grow instead of decline as the city's traveling facilities in- erease, and with them increase the means of comfort- able accommodation of visitors.
Charitable Associations .- While secret or spe- cial organizations give due attention to the needs of their own adherents, and occasionally to those who have no such claim upon them, there is still a large balance of want and suffering in a city so largely filled with temporary residents and professional beg- gars as the centre of our railroad system must be, and these must be cared for by the benevolent associa- tions which are rarely lacking in any town of the West, either as unsectarian combinations of all classes of citizens or as appendages of churches. The towo- ship trustee does a great deal of charitable service, as the legal agent of the community, with the revenues placed by law in his hands for that purpose. But legal assistance has to be supplemented by the aid of associ- ations, and in not a few cases some of the most deserv- ing of the necessitous will not apply to the trustee. The following report of the township's charitable work during the first month of the year 1884 will give some idea of the character and extent of the claims on the charity-fund provided by taxation :
Number of applications ..
853
Number of applicants aided.
713
Number of applicants rofused aid. 140
Total
853
EXPENDITURES.
386 grocery orders, at $2. $772.00
84 half-cords wood, average $2.25. 189.00
282 loads of coal, at $2.40 676.80
Transportation 79.45
Burial costs.
80.50
Total
$1797.75
The oldest, most conspicuous, and most effective benevolent association in the history of the city, until within the last few years, was the Indianap- olis Benevolent Society. It is traditionally elaimed to have been organized on Thanksgiving evening, 1835; but this is a suggestion starting in the faet that the annual meetings were held on the evenings of Thanksgiving days, or the following Sundays. The first Thanksgiving day observed by publie order or request was the 28th of November, 1839, on a
proclamation of Governor Wallace. The Benevolent Society was organized four years before. Its work was done by visitors, who were appointed-a man and a woman together-to small, well-defined dis- triets, to visit every resident and proeure contribu- tions of everything that could be made serviceable to the needy. These collections were kept in a depos- itory by some well-known citizen, and given out on direct application, or on the order of some member of the society. It did a great deal of good work, but could not do elose work, and, like its coadjutor association ten years ago, the Ladies' Relief Society, it was often imposed upon.
The .money collected, usually in considerable amounts, was used to pay the bills of grocers on whom orders were given for family supplies to the amount of one dollar and fifty cents a week, ex- cept in cases of sickness or special urgeney. Tran- sient sufferers were relieved by a special committee when their cases were discovered in time. James Blake was president of this old charity from its or- ganization till his death, Nov. 26, 1870; Calvin Fletcher, Sr., was the secretary from the first till his death, May 26, 1866; James M. Ray was treasurer from the first till Mr. Blake's death, when he became president. Occasional organizations of the same character were formed and maintained with this re- liable charity, but none continued long or did much. The Ladies' Relief, just referred to, was the most efficient of these for several years, but went out some . four or five years ago.
THE CHARITY ORGANIZATION .- All the charita- ble associations in the city disconnected with the seeret orders have within the last few years been combined into a perfectly methodized system, each with its special province, and the work so well ar- ranged and so intelligently prosecuted that it is no idle boast to say that Indianapolis has as comprehen- sive and complete a system of private charities as any city in the United States ; the old Benevolent Society is part of it. The Charity Organization, as the combination is called, has a special duty separate from the societies that compose it. An authoritative publication thus defines generally the purpose of each :
380
HISTORY OF INDIANAPOLIS AND MARION COUNTY.
" The special work of each society is this: The Charity Organization Society looks up each case of reported need, brings together a number of men and women to decide how it should be helped. The Bc- nevolent Society gives the special relief decided upon, -rent, food, fuel, loans, work, sends transients to the Friendly Inn; and gives boys work. During the late cold days about fifty each night were lodged. The Flower Mission takes care of the siek poor, sends nurses, and provides suitable food. The Training- School. educates nurses and sends them into private families and among the sick poor. Through the city dispensary, the orphan asylum, and the hospitals we can take care of all cases of need quickly and ad- equately. We think that no one need be in want or suffering a day who will let it be known to these societies. By this means, also, the great waste of charity, when given to the unworthy, is stopped."
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