New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-07
ORGANIZED CHARITY.
A MEETING AT THE UNION LEAGUE CLUB.

SPEECHES BY JOSEPH H. CHoATE, GEORGE WILLIAM
CURTIS AND OTHERS,
The Charity Organization Society held meeting
last night in the hall of the Union League Club.
The interest taken in the work Of the society was
well attested by the extent and character Of the
audience, which completely filed the hall. On the
platform besides the speakers were DR.. S. o. Van
derpoel, Henry f. Pellew, Frederick N. Goddard,
Commissioner Wales, and many prominent members
Of the society,"
Parke Goodwin who presided. said that the object
of the meeting not to ask for money, but simply
to brlng into more prominent note, and to commend
to the understanding and sympathies of the people
Of New-YOrk, the methods of the society. II was
desired to show how the society provided the chart
tably- dsposed with an organization through which
they could put their money where it would do the
most good" and feel assured that they were not
being cheated, and checking instead Of increas
ing the evils Of pauperism.
Joseph Ii. Choate then spoke the benefits of
the society to the community in part as follows:
It seems to to be of immense benefit to the COM
as In this society. who are willing to devote
pbc talent n. q Interest. s fs to 1sf
classes of the community and thus help to
solve that terrible problem which rested 80 heavily
civilization began. This great city of probably pre-
sents in exaggerated degree than any other the
It. That uniform condition Of prosperity among the peo
pie which the great French traveller and critic who was
exists We are here City Of the very rich and believe
It follows necessarily from that OF the very poor do
twenty ffty millions OF dollars without leaving in
his train many and hundreds OF felowbengs who
are worse of because Of his exaggerated wealth. Jap
II is not the owners OF tha wealth who are to be relied
upon to down TO the bottom OF society and hunt up
those who have been impoverished By their great for
tunes Yet these great fortunes undoubtedly do weigh
heavily the lower OF society. The
mionnares we can ponto the greater the increase or
one way another. As understand II, the object Of
tu' society Is TO see to that 10 far as IL
attention association There no lack of charitable
disposition In this city AT the time there IL no lack
OF applicants for relief. Under the old system we
find tnat the same appcant-as long as you hold out to
him the proposition that charity Is fund on which he
has right to draw for his existence-draws indis
criminaely from every fund and presents himself
the various forms OF misery zach charitable society
In turn according TO Ia specially $50 tho same sufferer has
been found to have buried halt dozen wives in year.
and In the same period 10 have brought into the world as
many children.
This society proposes strike the root of the evil By
being willing to give itself up 10 the examination OF the
subject by organizing In different parts OF the city so
to embrace tine whole population OF tho CITY, by send
ing out visitors who shall investigate every case Or real
pretended suffering IL proposes to Register every case
that i investigated 40 that, by anu by, you VIII Hu th
every family That needs or pretends to heed rehel WI"
The result will he that charity will be enabled to reach
It's ann, and fraud aud deception wu D9 uhmasHel
Statistics that In every twenty OF the
Nhoe pCpdl1Hoh OK t1o ny nHhl,c bnnntY
Tue records show that only oneiourh OF the applicants
for relief present that entitled to Immediate re-
lief, ana much smaller prOporupn-uny ~ per Gent
that entitled TO continuous relief lApplauseI
Judge Charles p. DAILY spoke on the Necessity OF
Co-0pcration." saying that no did not believe in
institutional charities, and favored system by
which people could be reached in their own homes
and made self helping; letter was read from the
Rev. r. Hebcr Newton, describing the benefits of
lafrtg.n
bodies; tine Rev. Joseph u. Ryance spoke on
" Benefits to the Poor" the Row. Theodore Williams
described the work of the Associated Charities III
Boston IL similar but older organization.
SPEECH or GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS.
George William Curtis was then introduced.
Fr, he read letter from Assistant Bishop Potter,
who il was expected would be present in which he
dwct on the evils of ms-giving' Mr. Curtis said;
H. IA the poet tell, In the spring the young mans
s5n,{,ms add the DAYS darken and the 10y rigors
OF winter are closo In u.s. the generous and
Of clarity. You win SEQ no more touch,
ing spestacle in tho few days that viii
follow than the faces OF the poor young Children whose
opy C1ristmas viii be the great shop windows and the
gay groups laden with Christmas gifts; young children
no .rIn 10 De deprived both Of youth and Of childhood,
who arc born In privauon and even nurturei
IN crime. Now this emotion Is the natural hl,1i
and strays OF humanity. But the instinct OF the
person who suffers from the ptfous spectacle Is instantly
II
Is Al once to put your hand IN your pocket aud
10 give money remove the painful Object; to Tree
yonTself In the street from q disagreeabe thought
10 save yourself from sense Of Responsibility. Ana
when Won have done this you very likely TO Sooihe
Yourself tho compaceut assurance that having given
nancy YOU have now discharged a great Chris
Han duty and the dvcT Is then free to bcsiow
"A stll further crown OF righteousness upon
the act hy rcgrcttlng profoundly that system OF organ
ed OF scientific charity II ktdduay doing away Win
When Won live unknowngy 10 the bcggar the street,
or the 6cggaI the door, yon have relieved nobody
Sou have simply laid heavier burdens upon
snrety Give ten cents the first beggT you meet
and IN nlnrty-une out OF every hundred the dme
gues down his throat the nearest grosshop IL IL an
outrage It wrong Just H. that degree you nave III
rr.btd poyety have established hereditary paupeI'
| tam you have wasted money. ~, ,,.,- ~, 4,
md, rstnnd the nature OF the objection 10 what Is
called organized charity. IL r. regarded AZ Ahd Oi
magic which steals drop OF pity from the near
md freezes into the dry spiriess doe OF mechanical
living I'm A word that OrsaLiLed charity Is an effort To
feed he starving with icces. This T. not true Tue OO
ect of this society stand between you ana your Own
iynorauce wEile your heart T. allowed 10 nave E own
way Love L. the essence OF ohhrty ha' uocs lonS
.ur.f IL requires shall be blessing ano
not II curse. Applause