The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-08
BOGUS CHARITIES.
Sentiments or tho Religious Press ON tho
Exposure OF Charitable Frauds.

Sentiments or tho Religious Press ON tho
Exposure OF Charitable Frauds.
This weeks issue of the New York Observer, one
OF the leading Presbyterian papers OF the United
states, denOunces In no stinted terms the frauds
which have been perpetrated upon Christianity.
upon creduous donors and upon the deserving
poor aiike under the false pretence OF charity In
Its secular department 1t thus conn ents upon tho
newly established Bureau OF Charities:-
We gave last week brief account or the meet.
Ing AZ the cooper Institute, called to hear the
reau OF Charities. We now publish their report
IN lull, and IN doing 80 take occasion to say that
they have already rendered service alike TO all
ada service Tor which the whole community is
placed under great o6gaton to the gentlemen VINO
nope that they viii go on with the work. There is
no greater restraint upon the charitable cOntribu-
tions OF those who have means to give than the
fact that there are so many unworthy reciplents
50 many who obtain help by fraud when they do
not need 1t. Numbers or persons would be indi,ced
to give hundreds OF dollars In charity where they
now give tens. II they could be assured that what
they give would be a and
this bureau has undertaken. Is sitting out the
Guar from among the charitable institutions, and
slIng out the fraudulent recipients OF charity It
Ia u noble and phlanthrOpic work, work which
must be done not only tor the relief OF the deserv:
ing poor, but as fundamental TO the polltcaL moral
anu religious welfare OF soclety.
In It's religious department 1t speaks OF socalled
Christian societies which are simply swindling
conspiracies. 1t says:-
Some disappointnssnt was felt when the great
meeting to consider the city CHARITIES separated
ing was held thai those charitable societies which
are imposing on the community would be exposed:
FACTS haye been mSv swnSnS
conspracles Their names should be mentioned
by authority, With the evidence OF their aupncty,
that they may be avoided, If their managers can.
not be brought TO justice. The bureau has taken
legal counsel as to the safest and surest mode OF
making these exposures, and IN due time we SHAH
II the report Of preliminary operations Mr..
Ro6aeyeit said Some societies have been
pockets Of those VINO asked fof Il in the name q
There are difficulties in the way OF making such
exposures. We nave had some expensive ex.
perlence In the line OF fidelity TO the public, and
that experience has led to some caution. We may
have good reason to believe that the "New
York Sabbath Mission school Agency" Is q hcti'
s only 81 REV sae r1smas ana seess
very d1cut for US to prove the tact If we state it,
and whether we could or not, we could not stand
act Ta Tor Se Inc swnder should bring an
haps thousands, OF dollars In expenses, even ii we
escaped conviction.
now formed for consolidating the action OF city
charities owes 1t to the pubic to be faithful as
spOnsible institutions all those whose management
is liable to suspicion. The care OF the poor, the
support OF various objects 0fChrsttan benev Olence
are enough for the AGILITY OF the people without
the additional burden OF these bogus charities,
whose managers are the most despicabie Of ali the
swinders not yet in the Penitentiary.
We have the history Of some OF them, and It
would crafty our sense OF justice to put their
record In the columns OF the New York Observer.
Men who make thriving trade Of charity and
religion, while the omissions" they pretend rep
resent are simply fictitious, are similarly scourged
In the following paragraph from the Examiner ard
chronicle, the prominent Baptist paper
New York has great reason to be proud OF her
religious charities. There is probably not city Ia
the world where more Is contributed for the cause
OF suffering humanity than in our city. The rich
ana hen 10 viii Sohtfi6dtS nothing Is support
the institutions OF religion will give literally to
benev0lence which mingles charity and food with
tracts and sermons. Tue attention or the benevO-
lent has been called recently TO the great waste
OF funds these voluntary neutrality-suspicious.
that have no church at their back and RESPONSE
BILE board to control expenditures. 1t Is well
known that there are men IN the city who have
made for years i comfortable living for themselves
and families out OF contributions made Tor mission
work, while the missions themselves have no
place among the registered charities OF the city.
PROMINENT liberal Christian men have warned the
public recently, through the columns OF the secu-
lar press, against parties who by personal soicIta
ton and Dy circular are soliciting funds for So
called missionary work that Is clearly bogus.
Prominent ministers OF the city have held meet
lngs Tor the purpose OF erecting barrier to thls
gross fraud and imposition. The attention OF the
Legislature has been called to the subject, and il
Is probable that all the charities OF New York,
State, county, denominattonal and personal, will
have thorough overhauling.