LOCAL DISTRESS FUND

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue LXXXVIII, 10 September 1914, Page 9

LOCAL DISTRESS FUND

ID THE BWTOK. Sir, — In the issue of the Evening Post of the Bth insfc. appeared a letter dealing with a proposed treatment of distress consequent on the war, and this calls for a reply. According to the letter, the proposal is denounced in scathing terms as an attempt to insult the " victims of circumstances" by offering them "doles" in the shape of charity, of the narrow, restricted, modern misapplication of the term. This is far from being the case. Briefly, the facts are these: — A request was made by "three citizens" to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board for help in organising a " National Guild of Service" to relieve distress and prevent overlapping. The guild was in existence, having been born simultaneously with the need of "the Empire ; for did not all the citizens rise with one accord and form it? All that was needed was machinery to direct and control the force in order to make it a powerful, permanent instrument for good. The suggested machinery was classification of service and federation of all existing societies to make for efficiency and economy. An intelligence department was to be the connecting link; for it would procure information that would facilitate the work of all the others. To effect the purpose, the help of the society with tho widest organisation and most expert knowledge was to be sought in order llmfc It might form » fedataUon of

the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was approached. It approved of the suggestion, and, acting on the powers conferred by legislation, set about the task. In order to disassociate this branch entirely from that with which it is ordinarily concerned, it proposed_ to form a joint committee of some of its members and of representatives of kindred bodies, to transact all business connected with this department at the Town Hall, or other central place, and _ to grant, the services of its expert officials to ensure that the "war distress fund" should be applied only to its legitimate purpose. There was never, during the proceedings, a word that could suggest to an unprejudiced mind that there was anything but a genuine desire on the part of all concerned to put into practice the true spirit of charity that prompts loving service to humanity and "blesses him that gives and him that takes." Never, in the history of the world, has there been greater need of that virtue, of which it has been said, "And now abideth' faith, hope, and charity; but the greatest of these is charity." Regretting that I have been obliged to ask you for space at this time, — I am, etc., v PHOEBE MYERS. 9th September.