The organized charity scheme, which been discussed 0 very freely in car recently, found material fora on Tharaday afternoon at " highly saccessful meeting which was held in the Chamber of Commerce Rooms. The room was filled with many, incladiog Indies, who have interested themselves in {lthy movement, and throughout the proceedings were marked by enthasiam. Prominent amongst those present were Mre, Wheelock, Miss Janseo, members of the various uationl sociations in the Settlement.
On the motion of Dr. Wilder, Mr. E. ©. Pearce was elected Chairman of dies' Benevolent—8 The alanonie to Seamon; 8t. aery recon Sailors' ud gentlemen, there may be more. Please, however, do not for one moment think that I wich to belittle or minimize the good work that they do, bat with sach s number for a European and American population of inside 12,000, in both Settlements, it would appear that charity is ranning more or lasa riot in our midst, and the-afore requires to be re-organized by concerted action Besides which, ove cannot help admittlog that every mao or women who dispenses charity either in the office or at home, becomes s miniature relief 'I ask how mach of thie sort the mesting. On taking his neat Mr. Pearce said:—Ladies and Gentle-
I accept with great diffidence honour you have reposed in me to is meeting—I way with ifidenos a0 in viewing ey ecrrosadings I see so many more capable of speaking with knowledge ov the abject Wheelock has called as here My position i-, jon, and I comin, Ladies and Gentlemen, the question before the meeting is the advisability or otherwise of establishing an organ tiao of Associated Charities whereby a central office shall be founded, fratly for the inter-communication of Shang-bai's may charitable societicn goveracared for both by private iadividosls and by the religious deoomvations, and to save the overlapping of relief. Secondly, to enable the anfortnpate ones who may be with us or come among us to be directed to There ie I feel sare, on ste of energy. effort and money. owing to the want properly organised centre for the guidance and checking of charity, besides which, there is at present no sysiew for the prevention of over-the circumstances therefore, that Shanghai in these days of rapid communication is quickly caraiog for herself a name as an El Dorado for all that drift of humanity who eat, drink aod sleep well, bat tremble at the sight of work. We mast therefore check ourselves in an overflow of generosity. Charity, I grant you, ladies and gentlemen, is one of God's greatest virtues, but if carried to excess, only does more harm than good. Moderation io all thiuga! it behoves Shanghai therefore to stady carefully ber present "modus operandi" in the distribution of charity.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.