The photographic news

• Bandzählung: 12.1868
• Erscheinungsdatum: 1868
• Sprache: Englisch
• Signatur: F 135
• Vorlage: Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst Leipzig
• Digitalisat: Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst Leipzig
• Digitalisat: SLUB Dresden
• Rechtehinweis: Public Domain Mark 1.0
• URN: urn:nbn:de:bsz:14-db-id1780948042-186800009
• PURL: http://digital.slub-dresden.de/id1780948042-18680000
• OAI: oai:de:slub-dresden:db:id-1780948042-18680000
• Sammlungen: LDP: Historische Bestände der Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst Leipzig
• Sammlungen: Fotografie
• Strukturtyp: Band

• Digitalisat: SLUB Dresden
• Strukturtyp: Ausgabe

506 THE PHOTOGRAPHIC NEWS. [October 23, 1868. The question as to the proper class of persons to be ad mitted to the benefits of such an organization, although really a detail for subsequent decision, stands sufficiently in front of the question to merit some consideration at the outset, as it might materially determine the character of the organization. If a benefit society proper, upon an economic basis, be established, the wider and more catholic the qualifications of the members the better, for a benefit society works most perfectly when it consists of large num ber's. The averages upon which the distribution of relief must be calculated work out more perfectly over a wide spread area than they possibly can within any limited range. If, on the other hand, a benevolent fund be contemplated, it becomes important that relief designed for photographers should bo preserved for them, and not poached upon by the quasi-claims of hangers-on of the profession. It is not necessary, at present, to define the qualifications which should entitle the possessor to inclusion in the benefits of any contemplated fund ; but it may be worth while to bear in mind certain broad distinctions, such as we have hinted at, in any steps which may be taken in the matter. In the meantime, as we have said, every one seems to be satisfied that it is desirable that something should be done. Indeed, ever since we first broached the idea, four years ago, this proposition has received general assent. But the im portant question, Who will undertake the practical initia tion of the matter ? remains still unanswered. Our imme diate purpose in writing now is to place before photographers a very important offer which has been made. We have- received a letter from a gentleman, whose handwriting we know—although no name is appended to his letter—as that of an amateur of high standing, offering, if a satis factory committee be formed within six months, to con tribute fifty pounds towards the formation of a fund. We print his letter without further preface, and shall then add one or two observations to correct certain misconceptions it contains:— “Tub Photographic Provident Fund. “ To the Editor of the Photographic News. “ Dear Sir,—I see by the various journals numerous letters respecting the late Goddard Fund, and also that there is an idea to create a new one to assist photographers generally. Some of these letters imply great blame with those who had the management of the former fund. I think it was a great error of the trustees to withhold the money from Mr. Goddard, seeing it was asked for in his name. No doubt they thought it would be for the best to make the money received the commencement of a fund for more general purposes, and so it has gone on until now. “ At the present time much good might be done by starting a Provident Society Fund, to be composed of those who may some day or other require help, and also those who arc well off, and able, from their means, to assist those most deserving. The great end of such a fund should be to give assistance only to those who, when in health and earning good wages, had tried to make a saving against accident and misfortune as far as laid in their power, and those who had been overtaken by accident without having had that opportunity. It is very much the fashion for charitable institutions to give to all who ask, or to those who can put the most pressure on the subscribers, instead of making more enquiries as to the cases being deserving or not. These do much more harm than good, and serve as an encouragement to the improvident. “ Supposing these views meet the approval of many who are willing to help, and a fund is started, no doubt the balance remaining of the Goddard Fund would be handed over to the committee, and a start made in the right direc tion. If some one would act as secretary, to receive the sub scriptions, the journals would most likely publish a full account of all done during each year, and every subscriber would know how the money was distributed. “ If these ideas can be carried out ip the course of the next six months, and a committee appointed to my satisfac tion, I will commence with a donation of fifty pounds to the fund.—I remain, dear sir, yours truly, “ October 12th, 1868.” “ Gum Gallic Amateur, Here is a noble offer, coupled with the simplest and most reasonable conditions. It will surely not be suffered to lapse without some effort to make it available. Wo may add that we have in our possession various other promises of liberal subscriptions, payable when such a fund shall bo formed. The errors or misunderstanding to which we alluded have reference to the Goddard Fund. It is no part of our duty to anticipate the report of the gentlemen under whose direction the fund has been administered ; but as an agent through whom part—the larger part of that, indeed, sent through the journals—of the money was forwarded to the treasurer, and having so acquired a quasi-trusteeship, and, of course, a perfect knowledge of the facts, it would bo unfair in us to print the above letter without correcting the misconcep tions it contains. There are two points to mention :— First. The fund was raised to relieve Mr. Goddard from a state of extreme indigence bordering on starvation, and the trustees, with a much fuller knowledge of the circumstances than we can here detail, administered the fund as they believe best secured the purpose for which the money was asked; and from the commencement of the subscription to the time of his death Mr. Goddard was provided for, and was in the receipt of relief from the fund averaging three or four times the amount of his previous income, derived from precarious charity. If the committee had agreed to part with the sum raised, instead of resolving to invest it in an annuity, they had reason to believe that, although it would have relieved them of immediate trouble and responsibility, they would have failed in securing the end for which they had appealed to the public. This is simply a question of judgment, in which the trustees, with a more minute know ledge of facts than would be easy to make public here, took the course involving the greater trouble, in order to keep faith with the contributors to the fund. Second. The notion that the trustees have, or ever had, any intention of employing the Goddard Fund as the nucleus of a general fund is altogether an error. Wo know that statements to the effect that such an intention existed have been industriously circulated ; such statements are pure fabrications, without a shadow of foundation in fact. When Mr. Goddard died, the end for which the money had been contributed had been achieved, and the balance of the money, after paying the liabilities and funeral expenses of Mr. Goddard, the trustees at once felt belonged, not to them, to dispose of as they chose, but to the subscribers, by whom it had been entrurted to them for a specific purpose ; and they resolved to return the balance to the subscribers, dividing it in the ratio of the contributions. This would have been done at once, but certain claimants arose, alleging that the money had been bequeathed to them by Mr. Goddard. Although the claimants for money supposed to have belonged to Mr. Goddard at his death had left him to indigence in his life, it would have saved the trustees some trouble to have handed over the balance at once ; but the view entertained by the trustees of the ownership of the money being confirmed by legal advice, they had no alter native but to restore the balance pro rata to the sub scribers. As we have said, this would have been effected without delay, but those concerned in Mr. Goddard’s wil having signified their intention to contest the owner ship of the money at law, the trustees were instructed that no steps should be taken to redistribute the money until the lapse of a sufficient period of time. This done, it was necessary to collect as perfect a list as possible of subscribers, with their addresses, a work of no little time and labour, already, so far as wo believe, nearly accomplished. Every subscriber to the fund sufficiently interested in the matter to make enquiry, has received full information oft 111 -' facts, and in every instance has expressed unqualified