The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-01
THE BUREAU OF CHARITIES.
Comments Of Religious Organs.


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Comments Of Religious Organs.
Salaried charity which tends to make the ad.
mipistration of popular benevoence an avocatlon
TO be followed for livelihood, OF field OF enter
prise in which to build up an estate by commits
sions and perquIsites arising from the generous
sympathy OF the charitable for the distressed is
attracting the attention and remark OF those VINO
study the true interests OF the poor and OF the COM
munity church ana State. an Episcopal journal,
edited by Rev. John Cotton Smith, In Its last issue
says
We cannot speak too strongly OF the Importance
OF the plan proposed by the Committee Of Nine, at
whose instance public meeting has been recently
held Several years since we polnted OUT Tue im-
mense waste OF charitable contributions In conse-
quence OF the absence oil Intelligent and systematic
cooperation among our numerous benevolent as
s0ciatlons. What was then great evl mas become
still greater now. A vast mass OF idleness and
imposture has fastened Itself upon Us and we are
threatened with permanent mendicancy Ike that
| which nests the cities of the Old W 0rld. We are
satisfied That Dr. Hall did not exaggerate the evll
men in this city, who might easily obtain work at
reduced wages put VINO prefer to I'VE upon
charity; 80 Long as there - mere senumen n
ter oil ITS recipients, so long as there are numerous
societies, occupying the same field without any
knowledge OF each others operations, just 80 long
this mass OF imposture and mendlcancy viii con-
| tinue and increase. The true method has been
adopted in Boston, where the Bureau OF Charities
has systematized the whole benevolent work OF
this city. We trust that the committee who have
taken the matter in hand here, will be so sustained
| by public sentiment that they will be able to
! complish the same result
| Similar views to those OF the low church organ
will be found IN the subjoined article from the
Jeactsh Messenger for this week.
AT meeting held at the Cooper Institute on
| Monday the action or the Bureau OF Charities was
approved, and the committee continued.
We are glad to learn from the proceedings and
! especially from the remarks Of Rev. DR.. Hail and
other speakers, that the abuses heretofore preva-
lent in the Christian charities Of New York are to
the sSten Of shs DECEPTION and Sspcr
practised by the officials OF 80 many Chris
an charities u az on ae Mrw a
character. 1t is at least gratifying that somebody
has mustered the requisite courage to speak the
II the eminent Presbyterian clergyman who
characteristic of our city would embrace an
early opportunity OF acquainting himself with
in acquiring more enlarged views on the sub
ject. 1t was little absurd to ask Mr.. Selig.
man to act on the com%iIteemif he be selected
the existence OF israellte citizens was ignored in
the addresses We are glad, however, that the
Bureau Of Charities Will continue in operation, and
| hope the Christian clergymen engaged in the work
with not be too proud to learn how the Jews, who
widow, the orphan and the destitute centuries be.
lore Christianity was founded are noby initiated
snS cSTsan CHARITY in our cy and AI aenreWs
are among the liberal and intelligent supporters
Of non-Jewish institutions, while our hospital has
The true system OF CHRISTIAN charity is in part
understood by this Bureau. The detection Of I'm
action OF the Bureau has prevented new and need
less charities from being founded; for 3l5 societies
midst, and the immigration OF hordes OF indolent
and thriftless persons from the country was an
evil to be dreaded and now happily ayerted
work, discover and check all abuses in the adj
mnistratiOn OF Christian charity IN New York.
The Hebrews will warmly applaud their EFFORTS
and will aid them with their liberal contributions
no less than by the stimulus OF their own example
ora well conducted and economical system Of re-
lief, including not alone the detection OF the un-
worthy but the seeking out and substantial as
sistance OF the modest, deserving and suffering
poor.
A Presbyterian oracle, the Evangelist discusses
the subject in a similar vein, limiting that there
are in our midst some "Organized charities''
which 1t believes mot needed and not useful" and
stigmatizes as "mere eeches on the charity of q
generous public" 1t says:-
meeting of very unusual interest and import
ance was held at the cooper Institute on MONDAY
afternoon, to hear the report OF the Bureau of
| Charities. 1t was remarkable meeting not so
IL those the Wno u tue o9n
largely composed Of business men. Bankers
and merchants left t6eiS counting houses
clergymen and the representatives of different
institutions of charity, met to consider matter
III,
the welfare OF our whole city. Mr.. Stewart Brown
was chosen chairman, and Mr. Theodore Roosevelt
read the report The object Of this Bureau, which
has been quietly at work for some months, is to
bring the charities OF the city into such relation to
each other that they shall know what each other
Is doing, and sha not be working at cross pur-
| poses, or halr q dozen be aiming at the same
thing
tions IN the city, great and small the vast majority
no doubt honestly organized and faithfully admin
istered, and doing most necessary and useful
work. But some there are which are not needed
charity of q generous public. 1t would be vast
public good to all these institutions inquired
into to the end that the false charities may be ex-
posed and the true ones may receive that hearty
support which Is their due.
But not only do the charities need to be inquired
into, but the objects of charity. At present pro
iessional beggars drift from one place to another,
living on all, and thus driving away the honest and
brought out at the meeting on Monday, in brief re
marks by MI Roose welt. DIR. Hall and Father Nc
Glynn members OF the committee 1--WE are glad tt
see Pro testant pastor and Catholic priest co
whole city,, and by DR.. Crosby and Judge DaiJ
and others. The result OF the report was
rousng vote Of thanks to the committee for wha
il mad done, and unanimous request that 1t con
in these Acknowledgements as we feel that the
pubic of this city owes debt Of gratitude TO these
men, who have so patiently and faithfully pursued
what seemed thanklesS task. Ali OF the com
mittee have done well but IL will not seem invid
iOus to the others II we add that the success thu
far Is largely due to the good Judgment, clea
head and strong will Of DIR. Hall, and to the ndefat
igabe activity and organizing skill OF the Score
Jary, our friend, Professor Charles A. Joy, o
Columbia College,
THE POOR OF NEWARK.