THE FUNDS OF CHARITABLE SOCIETIES AND INSTITUTIONS.
[To SIR EDITOR or THZ " SPECTATOR.") SIR,—Some days ago a letter appeared in the Press headed "Diverted Charity." The writer referred to the diminution of income of one old-established charity since the beginning of the war. We are requested on behalf of a very large number of the principal Metropolitan charities to draw the attention of the public to the serious danger which menaces, not one or two, but practically all the old Charitable Societies and Institutions, if their funds are allowed to suffer through the generous response made to the ever-increasing number of appeals in connexion with the war. Many of these appeals are necessary to meet abnormal conditions, for dealing with which the country bad no special equipment, and the response to these cannot be too generous. Some, on the other hand, must undoubtedly lead to overlapping and waste of energy, and careful discrimination is called for on the part of the subscribing public. We particularly desire to urge that special needs call for special efforts and not merely for the transfer of gifts from one channel to another. Contributions made to Emergency Funds at the expense of Institutions which are permanent should be looked upon with the same suspicion as the large employer who dismisses his workmen while signing a substantial cheque for charity.
The following extract taken from the Report of a Society which for thirty years has done admirable work describes the situation of many others besides itself : " With succeeding weeks the strain has increased and our income has fallen to the extent of some hundreds of pounds." It is possible that in the multiplication of new activities two facts connected with existing Societies are overlooked—first, the volume of special war relief work which they have themselves under- taken; second, the increased demands which, as a consequence of the war, are now being made upon their ordinary channels of assistance. We submit that the country has needed these Societies in the past, needs them more than ever at the present time, and will still need them when " crises " are over, and the normal life of the nation resumed. We ask that, in spite of the innumerable claims upon the generosity of the public at the present time, the last economy effected may be in subscrip- tions to charities established before the war began.—We are, Chairman of Council of Child Welfare (representing 65 Charities and Societies).. F. MORRIS, Chairman of Administrative Committee, Charity Organization Society.
R. MELTILL BEACHCROFT, Chairman, FREDERICK HUTH JACKSON, Social Welfare Association for London.
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