New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-06-20

u almost starve than exc out their scan
IS meals by the bitter bread of beggary. Sue
Is If aided at all land surely their conditio
u calls urgently for aid). must be sought Of
d and assisted with delicacy and tenderness
r They are not candidates for that cold an
y calculating governmental alms-givin
d which doles out rations as prevent,
c against riots: but rather for that discern
mating Christian charity which minister
= in love. regarding the self-respec: {
g its object. Such furnishes rather th
: means OF self-support than those Of SUI
t port. For this reason the poor Of on
q city. at this time especially, appeal not s
much to the State as to the Church. .
religious society calling itself Christia
which does not regard the care Of tn
poor as one Of its main objects. its highes
duties which does not contain within it
pale an organization devoted exclusively t,
that object-is mockery Of religion and
practicalapostacy more harmful than avow
ed worldliness. For the teachings of Chris
emphatically set forth active beneyolence
as the sole test by which His disciples are
TO be tried. It is not by saying lord
Lord. that men are to gain admission
into the kingdom of heaven: but by feed
ing the hungry. clothing the naked. visit.
ing the sick and the prisoner. That this
fundamental doctrine OF Christianity is
acknowledged theoretically in all the
various Christian sects. and practiced in
many. is not to be questioned; neverthe-
less, it can not be denied that among the
various so-called evangelical churches it
is not given that prominence which it has
IN the gospels: and that even in those
sects which make it main part of the
Christians work, there is something lack.
ing in their charitable organizations, the
absence Of which greatly lessons their
efficiency. For instance. if each church
in the city (there is no scarcity of them)
would organize among its members an
association comprising all such MEMBERS
assigning to each duties suitable to his
ability. means and inclination. with visit.
ing committees. examining committees,
and all the other neediul divisions by
which such labor might be facilitated, the
various churches cooperating so that the
city should be as distin city divided into
eleemosynary districts as it il into fire or
municipal districts. their labors in this
field OF duty would be wonderfully SIM
plitied. If such associations would.
moreover. call in the active aid of the
many benevolently disposed people who
belong TO no church at all. their means
would be largely increased; and if they
should be conducted upon some systematic
plan. not depending for means upon the
spasmodic and expensive method Of fairs.
spelling matches. theatrical exhibitions
and balls. but rather upon regular contri-
buttons from among themselves. and be-
nevolent "worldlings." their power and
influence for good would increase with
every year. In ministering thus to the
material wants Of their fellow beings. they
would doubtless prove better missionaries
of Christianity than by making special
Efforts at ngelization.' They would
It the same time prom ote their own re.
igiouss growth by initiating the conduct
If their Divine Master, who went about
LONG good and never obtruded questions
IT spiritual nature upon men oppressed
~ physical suffering. He first minis
cred to the bodily wants of those who
ell in his way. cured their ills and gave
hem kind words with the material aid
'hich was their first and greatest need.
What wonder that conversion in most
asses speedily followed. i
In work like this the initiative will
aturally be taken by women; they also
i'll do the main part Of the work. receiv-
,g from their male relatives and friends '
ecuniary assistance. and practical sug-
estions of almost equal value. Warm I
earted wives. full Of their benevolent l
rejects, will take into their confidence
eir less impulsive husbands. whose bust o
ass training will be of inestimable adj e
'ntage. Children listening to this table a
TX upon the needs Of the poor and the Il
ans for its relief, will soon understand /
at such labors form part of the daily t
utine of the Christian life, as we'll as n
ayers and attending religious services. el
aey will learn that "testifying for Jesus" l.
cans relieving. for His sake. the wants al
His chosen representatives poor. CT
This feature of Christianity, however. Sc
cordinG its Protestant development, is p
t to be SO exercised as to encourage
endicancy. the curse Of SO many Catho. D,
countries. but rather. as we have said. cl
promote honest independence. by sup. 70
wing. as far as possible. work. instead sa
aims. Many will exclaim, 1--WE are per- II
lily willing to do anything in our power. ru
t do not know how to Sc. about it,. W
lat is. indeed. the main difficulty in all Ia
vel enterprises. The only suggestion ad
have to offer is to take the first step Sc
forming associations for benevolent co
rposes; then ascertain the n0dus oper- SO
Ii of other associations, of similar str
ure. in successful operation. There IN
one church in the city. of whose no. ne
work in this department, We have nm
emily heard glowing accounts. The ree
les have engaged the services of an SUI
and energetic woman. experienced in thi
ways Of the world. and not to be easily :
posed upon. whose duty it is to search est