New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-26
CHURCH AND POOR.

! tion that class is rapidly growing up that will.
! sooner or later demand National Legislation.
In the first place. We are entering that season
when the common hardships Of poverty are agra
waited by cold and when necessarily, otherwise,
there Is an increase Of the numbers of the needy in
tho cities.
And secondly, it is the season when especially.
though not exclusively, in towns and cities, Chris
tan people address themselves 70 the work OF ntl
gnting suffering from cold and hunger, and when 1t
il important that an outlay Of money and Of effort
should be directed 10 do the greatest amount OF
good with the least incidental evil.
Pity sympathy practical compassion all men con-
meet with our Christianity. II is tribute paid to It.
even by those who TOO much disregard it, And Chris
tanity it will be farther admitted, intensely prac-
ticoI influencing in the degree which II ~ re-
ccved politics. trade and society, and affecting such
great questions as education treatment of criminals
and paupersm.
But from these general and admitted principles,
loose differences are occasionally drawn that have
all the iii influences of falaces. and to which atten-
ton needs to be turned, not in dogmatc way or
az though every must see the points auhe, Dul
because it is better mon should think upon them
variously. even mistakenly, than ignore them alto
gcther.
Is it not mistake that the poor arc a fixed and
permanent class -lldL inc CHll ltii VI t' p'' ~
to be poor and the parents of third generation of
dependent persons, and on indefinitely In point
of fact SOME are constantly going down, and
Christianity has place and duty toward them IN
pointing out thc OF mcndClty IN luxury, vice.
waste Over-haste TO accumulate, Incidence ana
folly. Some, on the other hand, are going mp. and
Christianity has a vocation towards them ~ warn
ing against the danger of growing comfort and "un-
blessed urospcrity.p But when the Great 1eachcr
said. "Ghe poor We have always with YOU
He not only did not mean The cane poor.
but He did not speak Of the permanence ot the class
at all but Of his brief ojourl and the little OPP
portunty there was to do Him special service while
to the moor Ills disciples could render the service as
often as they would. Ii a rebnke to false and
hypocritical Leneyolencc ANY efforts IN behalf of
the poor should be based on these facts. We must
not 20 back to days Of spiritual and evil despotism
when the poor, il was assumed, 70 be poor al
ways, and the rich and powerful were to
open an account with Heaven b. bsneiac-
tious toward them from tie living. bat
more frequently. from the dying hand
Is il not a mistake 20 suppose the church hound 70
deal with all the poverty! By the 'chllcH Of
course do not mean tie denominaton-tuls or tn't
but the part of the community that shows lis b.
lief IN Christianity by organizing, maintaining and
attending Christian places of worship Bona-ide'
members, thrown into dependence, have a claim on
their churches for aid CON fort aud needed support
This appears rise ont Of thcnaturt Of the case and
to have been recognized ia the primitive church
by the appointment of deaCDus. But there Is no
evidence that church is responsible Tor the care ~
all the poor IN and around the district Ia winch iis
members live This ia not ,aj ing that ana individual
Christian is 81 liberty TO pass bya starving fellow
creature, because he is uota feli9w-mcmber. One
s.fff f.fft Ia To- MN
pose who excuses himself bv this plea. Bat what
an individual viii do is one thing; what the commu-
nIty called the church sae5, is 70 do, Is another
Two questions here arise: WHAT will the non
church people do They choose TO remain a., mere
citizens aud the state must rake care Of them.
Hence the need, at 40 distant time, OF uniform lc-
gal provision on tie suhect-unlorin. for without
that element the most g'nar state viii haze tn
greatest burdens OF pauper-in
And what " 1t may be said, "will churches DO
that have a dispr0portjouatc share 81 poor" The
more capable and faithful to their trust churches
are. IN, fewer poor they will commonly have; ana
local burdens must be dilij,ed over the body
which is one. as is done in other departments.
l. not mistake 10 suppose the church bound 10
orsanize general poor-rcef plans' The church ha7
no function of thls kind. Everything has. like man.
its "cLcf end" This is not the church5 chIcf end |
the chief end Of a man, or m institution She can !
move to charity guide in its exercise, and modify !
the evils Of dependence by the .pirt she IN |
PRODUCES into a community; and for her |
own charge she can provide Nv hef own AZ |
pointed officers; hut for me seHgiHl poor we
General q immunity is responsible. Take her Mln-
l,trs They must say, OF old: - II Is not reason /
HAT we leave the word of God aud serve tables '-
il is not the thing; It IS MOI Mt II Is nor oar canR
nur chief end. II Wonld interfere with our chief |
end And If il b. said that thc church may arrange
and mauage burial societies" savings banks cic
tire reply l. that they are better ana more u''u
when created and fosteTed IN lie ordinary ways oi
trade; and the church would InlullblY be-
come a loser il she set herself to orSMize |
banks, railroad companies ana DINER AGENCIES ns
cause they were greatly %ahteu. me sPtl'uNl
would lose by union with the temporal, ana lAe
temporal would he managed IN sccond-rate way
One may appeal To- tine general effect, direct ana re-
fex. which minister, notice in their kindly money
iendlug-aud pecuuiary obligations TO religious
bodies, as 10 ministers, are but rarely irlt 20, I'D
purely business transactions: What the mIiydual
minister or member may do y one thhB-WhaJ the
church. as such, should dO. II another
And T. there not loose thinking on the subject OF
rich Christians-as ii they We're wrong IN belng
Tichi Is there NOT "A certain undciin s0ciaiism
in solution in the average kindly mind, a. II CIrS-
tian rich men erred Ia being rich, and as II they
should give away till they had come To the common
level, ar, at least, much nearer II than theN are
What basis Is there for this! Rich men are tOld ot
the dangers temptations and abuses OF wealth, but
where are they told that 10 hold one Of the blessings
Of the Old Testament a SIN under the New VINO
does know that there are many enterprises luii
of good TO men, and closely linked with high civil
i2ation. which are only carried out ordinarily
by large wealth in single hands y IL may Ice
said indeed that combination couid eHcct these
Combination makes corporation-whlch Is 700
often sOullSs and cOnScenCelrS,-and, III tht Hdllrr
of lifting mp men, i, slnguary helpless, because des-
titute of those sympathetic powers which play so
important part in all moral movements. Ii would
not necessarily be the wisest thing for the rich 10
come down to the common level or to keep AZ IT,
Much is SAID and written ~ 70 what Chrsuanii