Sacramento daily record-union., 1881-06-21
TIE ORGANIZATION OF CHARITY.
For some time past there has been in


to be apprehended from blind acquiescence
in all the stories of those who solicit
charity are serious beyond question, and it
is capable of statistical proof that among
these evils is the encouragement OF pro-
fessed mendicancy. But it is questionable
whether the philosophers and economists
who have warned the world against indis-
criminate aims giving have not done quite
as much harm as they prevented, by in
culcating caution which too often results
in the elimination of all humane feelings
for the unfortunate. The recent report
of the London Society for the Suppression
OF Mendicity contains some statements in
this relation which are very suggestive.
The tendency Of which we speak, to
restrict all aims giving to organizations,
has proceeded quite as rapidly in
England as with us, and it has in fact
gone so far as to alarm those who study
the question carefully. Thus we find
Lord Shaftesbury, the President of the
London Society referred to above, stating
that unless some determined action is
taken the Charity Organization Society
will, in very few years, have the distri.
button Of all the religious and charitable
funds of the country. And this, he said,
sis measure which must be resisted
with all their power aud strength, for if
sit were passed it would stop the flow of
"private charity, and chill peoples
"hearts. Undoubtedly that is some
thing very much to be apprehended, and
there are plenty of indications that it is a
state of feeling easily established. A
short time ago a very distressing case of
misery and destitution was revealed in
Philadelphia. The sufferer was woman.
she was wretched, ruined creature,
but she needed aid, and she would have
starved to death had she not found COM
panion in shame and squalor more friendly
than the charitable organizations Of that
wealthy city.
In too many of the American charitable
organizations the machinery is made to
absorb disproportionate amount of the
receipts We do not know how this is in
the English societies. Bat it is common
experience in the United States that we'll
to-do people nowadays subscribe few dol
lars year to some of these associations,
and think that a sufficient justification for
buttoning up their pockets all the rest of
the time Their hearts are chilled, in fact,
as Lord Shaftesbury put it, and the flow
of private charity is stopped And while
it may be admitted that organized charity
prevents some waste of money upon unde-
serving objects, there can be no doubt that
it also deprives some of the most deserving
people from relief, because those who have
had experience of the manner in which
charity is dispensed by associations seldom
care to repeat the experiment of applying
to them. Then, again, it must be realized
that no charity affords the donor any real
good unless it is administered personally.
It is impossible to derive any psychical
benefit from an automatic arrangement.
If charity is looked upon simply as tax,
which has to be paid like other taxes, it
will no more expand the hearts of the
donors than paying city, county or State
taxes does. It is only by going among
the poor, by learning their real condition,
by becoming familiar with their troubles,
difficulties, Affections, that the truth can
be known, and that good can be done.
Organized charity is machine charity.
It is necessarily divested OF every attribute
OF humanity. There is no tenderness
about it. It Gala for no gratitude. 1t is
clearly impossible to be grateful to an as
sociation. Il is bestowed and received in
mechanical, frigid, repellant way. It
does not bring men and women closer to-
gether. 1t does not serve to keep alive
the remembrance that all belong to the
same family. 1t does not create any
bonds of sympathy or affection between
the rich and the poor. All that can be
said for it is that it tends to check fraud,
and even then it may seriously be doubted
whether the good done is anything like
50 much as IS usually pretended. There
are some old-fashioned people who con-
tinue TO think that it is better to run the
risk Of being deceived now and then by
impostors than to acquire the habit o.
turning cold shoulder to every applicant
and it might be rash to assert that theil
views were wrong. But it is quite certain
that there is large class of deserving YET
unfortunate people, who are often in great
need OF help, but are too proud and sensi
tive to appeal to any charitable organiza
ton. To the sympathetic inquiries o.
private charity such people would respond,
but they cannot bring themselves tC
cringe before the Indifferent and perhap;
arrogant or capricious steward of come
wealthy organization. aud so they suffer in
silence
As for the impostOrs, they viii alway;
make their way, no matter what obstacles
are put in their path. Their efrontery
and callOusness ARE generally quite match
for the precautions adopted against them.
But the extinction of private charity, ever
if it brought with it the destruction oi
imposture, would be far too dearly pur.
chased. There is already too strong dispo
sition to evade the duty OF private charity
under all circumstances, and it is not safe
to encourage it by making the evasion
easier. Our rich men have not thus fal
shown an extraordinary willingness tt
experiment in philanthropic enterprises
and it is pity that any tendencies in tha
direction which they may have should b,
checked or blunted. 1t is bad and dan
gerous thing to chill peoples hearts, ant
if organized charity has that effect it il
doing far more harm than good.
TERRIBLY TlREsoME.
The contest at Albany is becoming very
tedious and wearisome. There appears t,
! L. ~ v~oe,,eok ~ Lraat. -. j.