The Portland daily press., 1883-12-17
Modern Charity.

Such was the topic of Mr.. James P. Bakers
lecture delivered at the First Parish church
last evening before the Portland Benevolent
Society. There was an excellent congregation
in attendance. DR.. Hill oficiated assisted by
Rev. Mr.. Dalton.
The speaker commenced by saying that if he
were asked what was the most important work
a human soul could undertake in its short life
on this planet he should reply ''doing what is
possible to benefit humanity" He gave many
quotations from Scripture to show this is the
essential spirit of Christianity Many people
have been led to believe the giving of aims in
discriminatory to tue poor was charity, but the
world was fast finding out its error, and ascer
tanning that true charity meant 'aiding peo-
pie to aid themselves" or giving them work
which will enable them to sustain themselves
thus making the true office of charity the
preventing the need of charity.
The speaker referred to the terrible condi-
ton of pauperism in Europe, where beggary
has reached its utmost limits in most repulsiye
forms, and showed it was one of the most dan
gereus evils threatening society. Dean STAN
ley at a meeting in London went so far as to
say he was convinced it were better that eyery
charitable organization should be abolished
than that they should continue to be managed
as in the past for they had innocently fostered
greater evils than they had accomplished good.
In 1874 commissioner in the State of New
York who visited thirteen jails traced back
six generations to one pair of paupers, or 1900
criminal descendants. The late Col. ] r.
Thompson said that in this city there was one
case of a family who had been paupers for
several generations. In the New York case.
besides the pauperism entailed, there was
loss financially to the state of over a million
and quarter dollars besides the handing
down of idiocy and disease From such people
food and clothing should be withheld until
they work for them. If the people have any
germ of self respect left the giving of work
would warm it to life and they would soon
seek better and more remunerative employ
ment as it offered itself to them. Authorities
were quoted by the speaker to show how
steady labor in early life, tended to virtuous
habits.
The children of paupers should not be lost
sight of. They should be taken care of, taught
to labor in the air, which will improve their
many many light trades are taught these
children, such as the manufacture of toys, la
beliug of boxes, etc. The institutions where
these children should be taken care of would
not cost the State 1.-THE of what it would
to have them grow up like their progenitors
They should be removed from the evil infiu-
ences of their parents by whom they are slowly
both physically and mentally. We
need effective laws in every State to allow
children to be taken from parents and guar
dams unfit to rear them and proof of such
unfitness should be sending children on the
streets to beg, or driving them out in inclem-
ent weather, unprovided with proper clothing,
or the fact that parents or guardians were con-
frmed drunkards.
Authorities were quoted to show that manv
thought alms-giving, to any except the sick or
disabled, was positively wrong. Miss Octavia
Hill, celebrated for her charitable work, saws
the old forms in which charity expressed it's elf
are fast passing away. How shall we provide
for the poor? Shall We give up our doles of
soup, and loan of blankets, tighten our |
purse-strings, indulge our elegant tastes and |
float down the stream of Time in happy salts |
faction that the poor cannot be bettered by our |
gifts, and must learn self-help? Have the old |
words, bear ye one another's burdens to |
pass away with the day of coal tickets?
Miss Hill suggests that we provide better |
homes for the poor; better systems for saving; |
by sympathy and advice making them friends |
and removing obstacles lying in their way.
Mr.. Baxter then showed how, what is now
known as the Associated Charities, had taken |
q great stride towards reformation in aims
giving. By the book OF information really
needy people were afforded work, impostors
were found to be such, indiscriminate giving
Of money prevented, and the true spirit of |
modern charity put in practice; that of aiding
5he deserving to aid themselves. By the Asso-
dated Charities sympathy can be afforded where
t can be properly given, instruction provided,
children cared for, and society benefited. A
made up only OF the extreme
y rich and extremely poor stands in great dan
ger. CommuDistic ideas are apt to spring up
md flourish. The men who hold the wealth
If the community should use it to benefit the
community; should promote industrial enter
,rises and fairly remunerate their employees;
while the rights OF property should be carefully
SO should the rights of humanity
10 upheld with equal force
The speaker then made glowing plea for
hat large class of people known as those who
have seen better days" The once wealthy
merchant and his descendants; the woman Of
dueation, reared III affluence and refinement.
FOR these the Portland BenevoleIH Society
vas formed. sketch of the society and its
mCtTS from IT'S Incorporation WAS presented,
md in conclusion the speaker said: az appeal
Q you earnestly, upon the threshold of long,
,itiless winter, to give your liberal support to
ne Portland Benevolent Society. All you put
nto Its treasury will be applied and wisely APP
lied, TO the relief OF those who are worthy of
elief, and in accordance with the intelligent
emsnds OF modern charity Says the Persian
aadi, whatsoever looketh for assistance In the
ay of adversely let him exercise humanity in
be day of prosperity"
The usual amount was taken up.