ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14283, 4 August 1908, Page 8

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY

There was a Rood attendance—principally ■ ladies—at the twenty-third annual meeting r y in cent dot Paul Society in St. : Joseph s Schoolroom last evening. Father Coffey (the society's administrator) presided and called on Mr E. W. Spain, to read the annual report (already published) and balance sheet. In formally moving their adoption Slather Coffey stated that the St. Vincent de Paul , Socicty had now been in existence here for ' a very considerable number of years, and ' its work had always been done in a quiet ' and unostentatious manner; indeed, a great many peoplo in Dunediu hardly knew of ! the existence of such a society. For years it was composed entirely of 'the ladies of ! tho congregation, but far the last coupJe ; of ytare they had started a men's Society ■ in connection with the work. As a matter ' of fact, the original society of St, Vincent ' de Paul was composed entirely of men, • and that was still the case in most places. However, it hfld boon found in Dunodiii that the women were more active than the moil, and hatter fitted to oarry on the i society's work in the interests of the poor. That work had been very extensive. There was first of all the work in connection with children—seeing that they were well brought ' up and placed in prdper "homes. Then there was the work in bonnection wit.li the mothers and fathers in those homes where ! poverty reigned. Another extensive branch j of the work was that*amoiigst fallen girls, 1 who wore taken away by members of the society from their bad surroundings and placed in homes, where they, would bo ' looked after and given a chance to redeem ' .themselves. The work of the society was as extensive as charity itself, and he 1 had ' nothing but praise for tho women who ' were engaged in it; Tho position of presi-. ' dent was a very difficult one, and could be J successfully filled only by a womaii of very strong oliaractor and a very tender heart. ! He had discovered on looking up a report that last year tho societies of St. Vincent ■ do Paul in Australasia had distributed no ' less than £10,000 in charity. In Sydney ' alone the members maintained a home for boys with over 100 inmates. The Govern- > mont subsidy of £300 a year to the homo ■ had recently been withdrawn, but still the : members had managed to carry it on and ' pay expenses. In connection with their < 'Church it was often said that the laity i had hardly anything to do except to sup- 1 port' the clergy. Here, however, was a 60eiety carried on entirely by the laity, 1 and they had shown by the wnv they had i administered it that they were quite capable ' of such work. They had received every assistance from ' the other charitable ] organisations in Dtinedin, and he was only < too pleased to return their most sincero ] thanks to the members of these various ' organisations for their- kind help. Ho < wished to refer specially to the assistance ' given by the police, who had always shown < their appreciation of the society's work, f In conclusion, he apologised for the absence ' of Mrs Johnston Brown, of Mr .T. B. Dalian, and of Sub-inspector Norwood, who wrote : expressing his full appreciation of the ' society's work and his sympathy with it. ' pi- Hastings, in seconding the motion, said that the fact that its works of charity 1 were done quietly and without parade re- 1 fleeted increased credit on the institution. ■ It appeared to him, from what he had seen ; professionally, that it would be a very good : thing if. the St. .Vincent Society' could 3 institute in connection with its work a branch devoted to taking care of women who had gone astray. He would # |ike to see erected something in the nature of a rescue home, devoted, according to the society's custom, to people irrespective of crc<xl.

Tho report and balance sheet were unanimously adopted. • ■ Tho election of officers, for tho ensuing year was then proceeded with, and resulted as follows:—President, Mrs Jackson: vicepresident, Mm Mqwat; secretary and trea-i surer, Miss Ptirtort; wardrobe keeper, Mrs-' Swanson.