The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-08 00:00:00

_ -

POOR MAN'S GUARDIAN
SOCIETY.
It !gives us great pleasure to find that the Poor Man's
Guardian Society is making rapid progress in public favour.
We believe we were among the first to bestow a *lord of en-
couragement on those benevolent gentlemen who originated -
the idea of establishing such a society. We did not fora
moment doubt the ultimate success of their philantbropic.-------
efforts, but we must own that we did not anticipate tit' rlpkit,-,[SAi:
progress which they have already made. But in their case, ~,
we are only furnish;a with one more proof, in addition to the
multitude with which history abounds, of what energy and --
perseverance, under the guidance of intelligent minds, are
capable of achieving.

Ameng the various benevolent institutions which are the
glory of this metropolis, Ire know of none which has stronger
claims on the support of the friends of humanity than the
Poor Man's Guardian Society. Its great object is to rescue
the poor from the fangs of the oppressor, and to protect them
from the insults of insolent officials, to whom their neces-
sities csmpel them to apply for relief. Hard, indeed, is the
fate of the poor ; and as if their destiny were not hard enough
of itself, it must needs be aggravated by gratuitous outrages
on their feelings. They are treated as if they were criminals.
There is no disguising the fact, that proverty is regarded by
many as a great enormity. The fashionable felon, or well-
dressed seducer of his neighbour's wife, is treated with con-
sideration and indulgence, compared with the man whose
misfortune is to be dependent on the charity of others. The
latter is often treated as if the ordinary susceptibilities of
human nature were incompatible with poverty. Even the very
brute creation frequently receive more consideration and kind-
ness than many persons made in the image of their Maker,
but who have the misfortune to be sunk in the depths of
poverty.
The natural tendency of the insults and oppression to
which the poor are so often subject, is to irritate their minds
and lessen their self-respect. Hence, they become lost to
society and to themselves; whereas, were they treated snore
respectfully and kindly, theftwould be encouraged to make
efforts for emerging from their poverty, and raising them-
selves in the social scale. It is the high and holy object of
the Poor Man's Guardian Society to foster feelings like these.
The benevolent individuals who have set it on foot, are re-
solved, as far as in them lies, to protect the poor from needless
oppprronessidonan, and
heartlessndtoshie officials.ldthemf theAnomd in both graibtuih resptousin:ctols ence
ofthe
Society has already accomplished a great amount of good.
The society will operate most beneficially in an indirect man-
ner. The very existence of such a Society will be felt by
many as a perpetual rebuke, and will lead them to regard the
poor within their immediate sphere, with, at least, the sem-
blance of respect.
tlproductiveeln a en
o Poor
f eorfervent
nenot Man'sph inconsiderablenGanhrrdoipayn,
gaSonoodcdi
. untiringe t
Air.
a s
perseverance Cochrane,a lr
e ad y a
beis
a righteous cause__a gentleman, moreover, to whom this
Society we believe, mainly
owesatittsheexmiseteneticne—g
ißnlrTh. Coceobhranaid,se.
stated on Wednesday evening
road, that the first effort oifebthonee'Swlizt?
tables
sin
workhouses, the wretched inmates, in
had been to reform
ttahlcoarseness of their fare, are constantly ex-
ouse. In. nearly all
toahfLo dietary
tan tryo metropolitan
Y, when he says, that
posed to the heartless insults of the officials in these places.
'We entirely concur with Mr. Wakle
the feelings of unkindness, and the hard-heartedness of the
officials in workhouses, are a disgrace to a Christian and
civilised country.
We repeat that we know of no more excellent institu-
tion than the Poor Man's Guardian Society. Its objects are
defined as well as benevolent—intelligible as well as philan-
thropic. It goes direct to its great object. Its funds will
not be diverted from their legitimate purpose. They will be
brought to bear alone in favour of the poor. We trust, that
before many month have elspsed, we shall see similar so-
cieties in every parish where they are needed, not only in
the metropolrs, but throughout the country.—M"orning Ad-
, vertiser.