the supply of mercy is far from equal to 'the demand of misery' in Newington; and Charity Organisation is remote from the realisation of the idea of those who founded this Society, and from what it is even yet hoped that it may gradually and ultimately become.

A Charity Organisation Committee was originally intended to be conposed of representatives of the various charitable agencics at work in the district. It was thought that they might thus learn each what the other was doing, and, by co-operation and mutual assistance, more effectively combat some of the evils which are rife in large towns. How absolutely the Newington Committee falls short of this ideal is shown by the statement that but one ecclesiastical parish and two lay agencies are actively represented upon it.

This failure is due to a variety of reasons. People engaged in charitable work seem as yet to be hardly conscious of the almost overwhelming difficulties of their task. Full of pity for the suffering of the individual, they endeavour to assuage distress without sufficient regard to the causes by which it is produced, and to the manner in which, by their action, those causes may be affected. The individual case of distress is not isolated, and, in the opinion of the Committee, as experience shows, cannot wisely be treated in isolation. Heed must be paid, not only to the immediate suffering and to its causes, but also to the general tendency of our action, as well as to its influence upon the future of those whom we are trying to help, and of those by whom they are surrounded. The wisest thinkers and writers upon this subject-people of acknowledged reputation-insist that almsgiving is a most difficult art. It is depressing to think that when we are striving to discharge one of man's noblest duties, we are likely to be doing harm rather than good. But young and old charitable workers seem to fail to realise this danger, and to believe that, in dealing with the poor, good intentions and a purse of money are a sufficient equipment. They appear to neglect the teaching of the past, and to think that they have nothing to learn from the failures of others and from the experience which, if they would but avail themselves of it, is ready accumulated to their hands. It seems almost incredible, but it is a fact, that people do not yet recognise the need of full information about the circumstances and antecedents of those whom they wish to help. The records which the Committee have stored during their existence of twelve years relate to upwards of 10,000 cases, and they are at the service of all persons legitimately interested in them. No one but the Committee seems ever to care to consult them, although the poor in Newington and Walworth are a fluctuating body, and the few who work among them come and go.

Among other causes of the failure of the Committee is the imperfect manner in which they apply their principles and do their work. No one is more conscious of this imperfection than the Committee themselves. As last year, so again now, they plead their anxiety for self-improvement. As those who live and work in the district are still unable to give them their personal help, and to combine to form the largest element in the Charity Organisation Committee, they urge once more their crying need of men and women of leisure and common sense who live beyond the Committee's boundaries. Most thinking people, whatever their creed, are insulted by the suggestion that they reject (or do not accept) the ethical teaching of Christianity. But there was no duty upon which the Founder of Christianity laid more stress than upon the duty of each member of the Christian Commonwealth to do as much good as possible to every other member. The enthusiasm of humanity was to be their supreme law. The sorrows of each were to be a burden upon all. Yet in this district the mass of poor is vast and dense; charitable workers are very few; whilst within half an hour's distance-at Kensington, Wimbledon, and elsewhere-live numerous ladies and others who must have ample leisure for personally helping those whose lot has been cast upon lines much less fortunate than their own. The Committee assert that here, in Newington and Walworth, much misery and evil might be prevented, removed,

or diminished, if their staff of active workers were less inadequate to the demands which they strive to meet. Without much more personal work but little of real good can be accomplished. At the same time, in begging for such work, the Committee are sadly conscious of their inability to reach the ears and hearts of those whose aid they are anxious to secure.

In conclusion, there are three points upon which the Committee wish to

comment:

1. It will be observed that their working expenses are large, and have increased. Such expenditure is fully in accordance with the Society's principles, and is unavoidable. It might, however, be made productive of larger and more abiding and satisfactory results if more persons would give the Committee their volunteer help, and if more of those already working in the district saw their way to joining the Committee; or, if this is for the present impossible, would, by reference or otherwise, make a freer use of whatever advantages the Committee have at disposal.

2. Objection is taken to the number of questions put to those who apply to the Committee, and to the extent to which the antecedents of such applicants are investigated. The Committee admit that this part of their work is unpleasant, but they believe that for the present it is a necessary evil. The separation between classes is distinct. Employers live at a distance from their workpeople, and necessarily know but little of them. People of means and leisure have other concerns, and more immediate interests, than to make friends of and systematically to try to know the poor. District visitors and charitable workers are few; while district visitors and charitable workers of trained judgment and experience are yet fewer. Thus, then, without an investigation, more or less searching, into any given case, it is impossible to know whether, and if so, in what way, charitable aid can be most effectively rendered.

3. It is said that the Charity Organisation Society are harsh in their judgments; that they do not make allowance for the difficulties of the poor; that to the fallen they refuse another chance; that they reject the weak. To meet these objections in detail would take too long. The Committe can only assure those who entertain them that such objections are for the most part baseless, as attendance at a few of their meetings would undoubtedly prove. If personal and pecuniary aid were more freely forthcoming, the Committee would gladly strive to assist some of the many applicants whom at present they are constrained to refuse. Such, for example, are pension cases, and cases to which money, without the continuous care and sympathy of a wise friend, can do no real good. It must also be remembered that, in the interests of the poor, it is sometimes just and expedient to reject applications which feeling prompts the kindly disposed hastily to attempt to relieve.

Bankers-CENTRAL BANK OF LONDON, TOOLEY STREET BRANCH.
Agent-GEORGE ROBJENT.

Office-39 ST. JAMES'S ROAD, BERMONDSEY, S. E.

* Almoners for Society for Relief of Distress.

† Almoner St. Vincent de Paul

REPORT.

THE St. Olave's Committtee have to present to subscribers and the public their Annual Balance Sheet and Report for 1883-4.

The principles which they are endeavouring to apply in organising and distributing Charity have been lately set out in the annexed leaflet.

Before entering into any details as to the Society's action as regards Relief, it appears desirable to say a few words with regard to the General Expenses.' No criticism is so commonly made against the Charity Organisation Society as this: that it spends too much on office expenses, and too little on direct relief. It must, in reply, be distinctly stated that so long as the Society acts up to its name these expenses are inevitable; for they are incurred in keeping up the machinery necessary for enquiries and correspondence: that is in finding out

who are fitting objects for charity and bringing them, when found, into contact with the Institutions or individuals who can relieve their wants.

The fact that during the past twelve months a surplus on the General Fund has been handed over to the Relief Fund may serve to show that the General Expenses of the St. Olave's Committee have been regulated with a strict regard to economy.

The number of cases on the books during the past twelve months has been 683 as against 1,166 and 958 in the two preceding years. Of these cases 392 were assisted in various ways by the Committee. A sum of £489 was spent on the cases relieved, exclusive of £64 advanced in loans. The repayments on the general loan account, have amounted to £24 48. 6d., a sum less than those received in former years. The Society's agents have been instructed to call for payments in future at regular and more frequent intervals.

The Committee cannot consider the gradual diminution in the number of applications as altogether satisfactory. It is, no doubt, in part due to the facts that the year under review has not been a severe one, and that a number of undeserving persons are deterred from applying by the enquiries which they find to be inevitable. But the falling off is also certainly, in part, attributable to the loss of one of their Honorary Secretaries and to the want of sufficient local and general support.

With regard to income, the Committee are still largely dependent on grants from the Centra! Office and subscriptions from outside: and the majority of members, as in past years, come from a distance. They would be glad to receive more support, both in work and money, from residents and owners of property within the district. To the private individuals who have given them the means to meet some of their heavier cases they offer their best thanks. Such donations meet the wish of many charitable persons to devote their gifts to some particular object rather than a general fund, and are at the same time of lasting benefit to the recipients. The Committee desire particularly to recommend this form of co-operation with their work, and they will be very glad to add to the list of names of those who are willing to have special cases brought before them for aid.

The Committee are glad to be able to report that they continue to receive assistance from some of the parochial clergy. They would be glad to obtain more support in their work from ministers of all demoninations. They have had, as before, the cordial co-operation of the Trustees of the United Charities of St. Olave and St. John, as will be seen by the Balance Sheet. What they still particularly need, in order to make their action more effective and widespread, is a greater number of members with local knowledge and influence ready to give some part of their time to taking up and following individual cases, and spreading among the poor of the district a knowledge of what the Society can, as well as what it cannot, do for them.

The principal development of the Committee's work during the period covered by their Report has been in the treatment of convalescent cases. Under the system introduced by the Council, they have been able to send eighty-five persons to Homes in the country or at the seaside. The locality in each case has been selected under medical advice, and many of the patients appear to have permanently benefited by their stay. The Committee have also been able to send many delicate children to stay in the country in cottage homes provided by charitable persons. Such change produces generally improvement in health, and is also valuable in opening the children's minds to a new set of ideas, and often in procuring them friendships which make their lives after their return less void of interest and sympathy. The improvement by every means in our power of the rising generation is the most valuable work to which charitable efforts can be directed, and in this-so far as it is possible without giving undue relief to careless or vicious parents-the Committee will use their best efforts.

In assisting emigration the Committee have not been able to do much.

Applicants are frequently unsuitable subjects: in almost every case the sum required is beyond the ordinary resources of the Society. In one or two instances, however, the Committee have supplemented by loans the sums already made up by families towards paying their passage-money.

In a class of cases often difficult to deal with satisfactorily, the Committee have received most valuable help from the Metropolitan Association for Befriending Young Servants, which has held its district meetings in their offices.

Mr. Roscoe, one of the Hon. Secretaries, has, to the great regret of the Committee, retired during the past year. He was indefatigable in his attendance to the affairs of the Society, and it is to his energy that the poor of the district mainly owe the Co-operative Stores which are now being carried on successfully.

The Committee have also to record the loss of their late agent, Mr. Frost, who died recently, after several years of faithful and intelligent service,

PRINCIPLES OF TRUE CHARITY.

1. No work of charity is complete which does not place the persons benefited in self-dependence; therefore all relief given at haphazard, without inquiry, and not as part of a systematic treatment must be abandoned.

2. The individual must be encouraged to do all he can for himself.

3. The social bond must not be weakened; therefore family obligation must be cast on his family.

4. Relief in money is only a small part of efficacious charity; therefore a thorough knowledge is necessary, both of the circumstances of the persons to be benefited, and the means of aiding them.

5. Relief to effect a cure must be adequate in kind and quantity; therefore the individual treatment of individual cases on a definite plan. and with sufficient knowledge is indispensible in beneficial almsgiving. In this treatmeat the assistance of District Visitors is much needed.

APPLICATION OF THESE PRINCIPLES.

The Charity Organisation Society will do all in its power to assist cases of the following nature, and such persons are invited to come to it for assistance:

1. Persons who have been sober and provident, and of good character, and who, overtaken by some calamity, or crippled by some accident, or rendered incapable by some sickness or infirmity, can yet see their way to support themselves and their families if helped to tide over their present difficulties.

2. Widows, who have a prospect of earning their living, and want help to start themselves or their childreu in the world.

3. Parents of good character, whose children want a start in life-e.g., Boys going to sea, or Girls going to service, and wanting an outfit, which the parents are unable to supply.

4. Suitable persons of good character who, wishing to emigrate, have reasonable prospects of earning their livelihood in the colonies, and can themselves get together a fair portion of the required sum.

5. Persons who, through their own fault, have forfeited their position, but can show that they intend to enter upon a better life, and have a reasonable hope that they will be able to retrieve themselves if assisted.

6. Persons requiring a change of air, or to be taken into a convalescent home, to enable them to regain health and strength to support themselves. 7. Persons requiring surgical aid letters, letters of admission to hospitals, homes, &c.

8. Married women requiring to be taken into a maternity home during confinement.

9. Persons of steady character who require a small loan either to start themselves in business, or to tide over a temporary difficulty (but not debtors, merely wanting money to pay back rent and other debts), and who are in a