New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-13

q JoriiOr Wishing to simplify aud shorten as much as
possible, shall spare extracts and quotations, and
have recourse either ~ books or reports Inc G0spe
alone experience and facts, viii guide me whe en-
oeavOr Ia throw light upon toe subject
INDIVIDUAL EFFORT AND A MECHANICAL SYSTEM
l. Nothing is striking than the place assigned by
the Gospel 10 the Individual Faith Is individual,
version isindvidua the Good Shepherd called hrs own
sheep by their name. Every man individually IL re-
sponsble before God. Every man has individual duties
to fulfn consequently organization whatsoever, no
system for promoting obedience saneuleation or sd
vation supply the place OF individual effort now
this applies 10 the exercise Of charity as we'll as 70 every
other manifestation OF Christian life. The nuuDer o
offices instituted by the Apostles was very lmteu1ust
what Is necessary for the maintenance OF 0gp, 'o9
aims in the name Of the Church With this iDdspensa,
bic exception, Apostles maintain the Fundamental
Pure religion and indebted before God ana inc fatned
is this" writes James, to vint the atheress ana
widows their affection, and 30 keep himself uspotied
from the world" When the Savior ~ describing the last
judgment in terms inexpresslby solemn these are inc
words he addresses 10 the elect 81 naked and ye
clothed me; was sick and ye visited me was IN IN
prison and We came unto me-" He does not say, fe
gave money association which had undertaken "
clothe and visit" ~
II. grant that no one says these very words, NO
one thinks Of giving Christians permit OF exf,npton s
new kind of charity the Romish Church by no means
intended to do away with individual oeneyoence hev,
erheess, the very existence of corporations for inc
carving out OF special objects naturally places
those objects almost exclusively In the, hands OF
those whose special business Is 10 e,t aTe tnr
the accomplishment Of the duty than you or l. And Cd
serve tins inst as the Gospel pr3es w me Spae
exercise OF charity, so the Romish Church starting from
general principle which annihilaes The Individual mn
uiates or destroys the individual manifestations
of charity. The invention Of charitable associations IS
Every one knows that the system which places tho
priest between God and the SOUL leaves no room iOr
For candid inquiry after truth II the Romsh Church
undertakes TO rule over mems conscepces ahu 70 prom
likewise undertake TO perform all the duties of obed
ence for them The development OF charitable corpora
lions fold Ia necessary consequence Oh her sys
TEN. She has some specially appointed TOT PRAYER,
others for the maintenance OF pure doctrine, ogts iot
the guidance of cOnscences she could NOT 90 WltnOut
special men for almsgiVing. Besides, tnese Special
agents are convenient ana we are gd 70 gno OF
seeking and the trouble of coming to decision. Let
me be Told what ought to believe, and what ought TO
do Let my duties toward the sick and the poor be full
filled by Others,D such as shall set my conscience
rs not mine. Religious charitable associations viii
act for me just as they pray for me. VIII give the
handed me- recite tho formulas drawn up Tor me- ana
submit 10 the penances imposed on me; Here are my
dollars. Now leave me alone. IL Wouu NC uihc"' !"
be a Christian at an easier cost.
CHARITY BETWEEN MAN AND MAN.
III Such are, gentlemen the two tendencies which
have inantagonsm for 1900 years-indlyidua effort
on the one hand mechanical system the other. To
condne myself TO the question under consideration,
come TO this conclusion proportion the mechanism
Of good works foreign to the spirit OF the apostolic
churches is 1t developed from century to century IN
faith in Christ lost amid outward forms, as lhe az
fereut ways OF merting Heaven are multiplied as WOI
ship OF God In spirit ana In truLh becomes matsrIeu,
as the immediate intercourse Of the soul with Goa Is
prevented and the way unto the Hottest closed ana as
the priesthood with It's spiritual guidance rises III power
and importance Charity becomes mere alinsgVlng anu
even this aSglvng Is tue business Oh tne OK %
the corporations That is 10 say that direct
between and man is at an end, quite as Inuch as
direct dealings with God. Now scripture brings man
into contact with man. the poor WIN te lcu INC sIA
with the healthy. If such contact be done away wth
the only satisfactory solution Of the social question Is
done away with at the same time. ii am sultih&
aud see around me nothing but oharlta9le9
assSts tho duties Of their voca.
ton my heart will not be touched. L shall
OF 6dse aFan Of Conceive Say but
shall not be less inclined to look on them as
means either of taxes voluntary cOntIbutonsas the
workers OF well-regulated engine which coldy and
systematically distributes its aims, the monotonous
drone OF which can easily distinguish put wnlcn Is
destitute OF heart that beats ana feels H. on .G CON
stored to by the Gospel everything changes at once
/ feel the pressure Of friendly hand my suffering
awakens sympathy in the heart of another, see the
cOuntenance of my helper ana love respohus 10 loVe IN
my bosom. Thus is mutual affection created ana
thus by degrees disappears the poison OF those social
questions which threaten our old world ana winch the
new world will do well to take into consideration The
weghty subject OF practical charity would carry me too
far. therefore merely point out its importance Two
facts however stand out prominently: First, the pre-
dominance OF individual activity secondly the limits
within which this activity should be comprised. Beyond
psh It's mission. Our individual charity becomes not
only inefficient. but hurtful when we scatter our help
right and left instead OF conhnng ourselves 10 the ial
lies we know with whose wants and circumstances we
are familiar and with whom We can maintain an inter
change Of sympathles COmlnOnlluee charity, aims
given at the door, donations requested and forwarded
by letter are quite injurious 10 the interests OF real
In several swiss towns Offices for Relief and Refer
ence-the universal adoption OF which cannot be too
Geneva, under the direction OF NJ Edward Fatio is TO
men devoted, enlightened, aud charitable IN the true
sense of the word, receive and carefully examine mass
uuesiseters which before they undertook the OcG
palled the inhabitants OF our tOwns ulOe as ey were
vey OK the requests the party whom they may be ad
dressed dispatches them TO the office, whittier lie ike
wise sends the petitioner. when the latter calls Tor an
answer rather when he 10 receive the help he
has extracted from the donors WEAKNESS from his idle
ness nay, from his very seshess. anxious as he is To
pe Ilu VI ho So fnn tVbich = i'm nossession 81
all the requests, and Is perfectly well acquainted with
all the circumstances sometimes gives positive refusal
when professional beggars dlers or Yaga1onds .ie con
cerned. At others It strongly seconds the petitioner
especially when family In distress needs helping
hand for shorter longer PERIOD when child is TO
be apprenced back % his native land, while at
the time the Office places at the employers disposal
both experience and It's goodwill 10 help him In find
ing a suitable situation. and in watching over the pro-
tege We add that the chief endeayor OF the once
provide work for the INDECENT ana by that means
10 draw them up out OF that mry slough which bears
the OF mendicity. 1t would take long TO tell the
evil these offices have prevented the base impOsures
they have unmasked, the moral purefactOn cleansed
the deep misery relieved. the efficient help given. the
real bonds Of union cemened between rich and poor
through this means, the undisputed good they have
done dong this hour But one thing is neces
sary Is that both sides the same and
the same energy should be displayed If the Office meets
with ideness and hesitation. and its activity is dis.
by continual inconsistencies the receiver OF
letters instead OF sending them 10 the Office and watch
ing the progress of the affair." give their ams without re-
Fiction TO repent OF them at their lesure-one day be-
cause importunate begGar wear1es them with ms
solicitations. theInex they are seized with NJ
Of nliudged, msapped sensibiythe ohce, IN spite OF
all It's exertiOns will he impeded IN ia movements snd
the result Of It's labor will be compromised We feel
persuaded that the founders OF the Office Tor relief
accomplished an excellent work and render untold
service the poor and TO society at large Having seen
these good Gospel daily laborers, who so courageOusy
bear the heat and burden OF the day, sometimes give
way both under the fagues OF their task and under
the Inconsistencies, may add, the blinded msappre-
hensiOn and the very blame OF those who should
encourage them by every means in their power-We
desire here u bear SOLEMN testimony 70 their devoted