The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-20
DR.. TALMAGE ON THE PRESENT
DISTRESS.

DR.. Talmage devOtes some attention in mis- paper
this week to the condition OF the suffering poor
and the means used to relieve them He does not
agree with DR.. John Hail. OF this CITY, in his speech
at the Produce Exchange meeting In his lear that
panic may be created on the subject OF destitu-
ton. He would not consider 1t "a public caam-
ity II the channels OF relief should be enlarged"
and says the means Of obtaining correct iniorma-
ton in regard to the restitution is within reach Of
every gentleman In single days experience
among the wretcned tenement houses OF our city.
'NOr does 1t help the matter" adds DR.. Talmage,
"t0 be told that che Commissioners OF Charities
and Correction provide ut the rate OF nearly
81 250, 900 year, and that the Commissioners OF
Emigration provide at the rate OF 100000
q year, Just now we have moro to do
by these and other charitable associations-are
still without food fre clothing even shelter.
thousands are to-day in destltutlon IN our city
whom no single arm OF our charities ever reaches
that from our emigrant ships hundreds are weekly
thrown upon the cltyS charity without means OF
support; that even from Backwell's Island GRIM
inals are daily discharged and without any means
OF support or any measures beng taken Tor their
relle, With the thousands upon thousands
pressing upon our 'Cnarlties' and Emf
tremely limited and inadequate and what
is true OF these societies IS especially true Of the
aid extended by churches, which generally Is OF q
very limited character, not extending beyond
temporary relief to save from immediate starvation
needed, more Christian work is needed There is
little danger OF 'panlc' in the line OF giving too
much. but there Is great danger that money Will
be wlthhed-where otherwise iC would be gladly
and neeiy given-Lhrough mlsapprehenslOn Of the
pressing necessity which cries out for relief Let
us not be mlsied into beheI that all ls well with
the poor; that they are receiving all possible and
necessary relief Very lar is THIS from being SO. In
fessed Christianity let help De extended freely.
lavlshly, instantlyl'
Collecttons In tho Churches Called For
In another editorial article DR.. Talmage makes
an urgent appeal to the several churches OF the
city to extend relief to the suffering. at Is fact
susceptible Of pI 0of" he says, shat where the
shadow OF many q church sptre falls, 1t covers
squalid wretchedness where the pulse Of life but
faintly beats and the name but feebly glimmers
from the socket II any one doubts the existence
OF starvation to-day; If any would see the
wrerched In their miserable pens sitting up all night
In chairs for want Of any bedding, or would see
the sick and helpless waiting Tor the great change
for which they so long, all this can be readily
witnessed by following some OF the missionaries
OF our charitable associations as they
pursue their routine OF labor through
Churches are doing good work through their se u.
eral benevolent organizations, yet we fear the
work Of the vast majority OF our churches is very
limited, and We happen to know that the Catholic
churches are moving In the matter scarcely At all
Nor are our churches alone delinquent.
as efficient as they should be, and notably is this
the case with city Bureau or Charities and Cor
rectlOn, who we understand, are in the habit OF
giving promises OF relief instead oil relief ITSELF
The cruelty OF such prOceeding-the double cruelty
OF making promise to the ear Of the destitute
only to break 1t to the hope-needs no comment.
II can only come from the heartless. We do not
know what particular ofcials guilty-would
that we dld-we only know that it is done, daily
done, and that the iniquity lies at the door Of the
commissioners.
.'The relief OF the poor now Is to.day's problem.
What the poor seem to be suffering from IS want
OF systematic, united action in their behalf. The
various agencies are dong good IN their way, but
1t Is small way at the best; besides pauper has
to run through the circumlOcut0n ONCE before he
can get relief, and then very likely 1t comes too
late. II an applicant Is not Of such q nationality
does not attend such church, or belongs to
trade uniOn or Is not acquainted with some
patron OF the American Poor Mans Relief Anti
Starvation Association, he Is CURLY dismissed ana
informed that MS case does not come within the
province OF the association Now suppose instead
OF this state or things the ministers OF our several
city churches should take the matter In hand;
tematic, united EFFORT; suppose they should,
furthermore, on some Sunday take up collec-
tions in all their churches Tor this purposes sup
pose committees should be formed who should
visit every house in the city where want exists
and vctuallng houses should be established at ac-
cessible pOnts-whO can estimate the good that
some ministers should neglect the pulpit even a
little and the skeleton sermon on the relation OF
science and Christianity be laid aside; the con-
gregatIon might mss treat, but would not good
be the ultimate result? There Is q very hign duty
resting upon our churches, upon our citizens upon
every one to do all in his power Tor the relief or
the suffering poor this duty is not met as 1t might
be. not met as II should be while thousands are
without food or warmth, or clothing, or even Shell
ter-and this with so much wealth everywhere
about us and the necessaries OF lie within reach.
This Is not Christianity. Ii Is q counterfeit and q
very poor article OF It's Kind"