The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-12-08
CORRESPONDING
Letter from Philadelphia.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. I'd, ]

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. I'd, 1880.
1LesSrs. EditorS,-Still they come, 4. e.,
the Councils. This time it is the confer
ence of
The Philadelphia Society for organis-
ing Charity.
This is a society which, without any par
ade, has grown up in this city, and en-
listed the means and attention of many
Of the best men and women amongst us
Thomas Hughes made an address before
the society in relation to the practical
workings of the London organisation with
which he is connected, and this was fol-
owed by a conference held in Association
Hall, on which occasion papers were read
and addresses made by eminent citizens
of Philadelphia and elsewhere. I believe
that this society is well worthy the study
of those who are interested in every city
in the condition of the poor, and that it
marks the dawn of better day in the
relation between society and its poor
Much has been said about charity They
have carved her image in marble, they
have stamped her in gorgeously colored
glass, they have placed on her brow the
wreath of an immortal amaranth. Poesy
music has chanted her praise All
this is well. 1t is all next to the best
thing, and that best thing is to incorpo-
rate charity in society, in the daily life of
us all. Charity has been incorporated
in the Church Catholic and Protestant
ever since Christ said "The poor ye have
always with you" Charity has been en-
bodied for ages in special societies and
sporadic efforts, but for the first time in
human history has charity taken posses
sion of society, organised it and entered
upon the great work of alleviating by the
common resources of all the miseries of
the few. 1t is auspicious for the future
of our land to see such an agency put in
operation in the great centres of popula-
tion and influence. 1t augurs well for
bringing the rich and the poor more close
ly together and it will do more to break
down the sense of distinction, to heal
rancors, to cure communism and political
heresy than all influences combined
This new agency took its rise in the city
OF London-the seat of the world most
colossal riches and most abysmal power
ty. Some years ago it became absolutely
evident to thoughtful Londoners that
Indiscreet Almsgiving was the Chief
Alder and Abettor of Beggary,
and that the charitable public were the
best patrons Of vagabonds, instead of the
relievers Of real distress. When the
people of London became convinced of
this fact, they originated society for the
relief and repression of beggary. A
special police force was told, at the in
stance of the society, to arrest all the able
bodied beggars they could find, and they
did so at the rate of forty a day and it
soon put stop to begging in the streets.
Before that the London streets were in
tested with beggars like Rome and Naples,
but those days are passed, and now you
hardly ever meet any of the shivering
people who have not tasted food for q
week, and are suffering from all the ills
that can aflict humanity. That society
was started In the city of London in 1869,
and was followed up by the organization
OF committees all over England The
organization embodied the slow growth
of popular feeling and the soundest con
clusions that could be arrived at in deal
ing with the poor. It was applied in a
country in which beggary and profess
slonal pauperism had reached colossal
proportions, and in the presence Of which
society itself was aghast. 1t was GER
talnly a good field in which any organi-
satlon might test itself. And what was
the result2 Not only was beggary driven
from the streets and roads Of England
but that hydra-headed monster. profess
slonal pauperism, which has been the
torment Of Parliament for centuries, was
paralysed. In 1870 there were no less
than one million and odd paupers re-
turned throughout England, and in 1874,
Notwithstanding the increase in the pop