The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-28

the matter up before them, and
while nothing practical was either talked
about or done, it was yet quite evident that
there was decided feeling that the organized
charity association was not fully satisfactory
to everybody. We are informed that one
Methodist church has answered the
proposition to form Methodist benevolent
society in the negative, while being perfectly
willing to unite with the other Christian de-
nominations of the city in such an undenomi-
national organization.
AS an impartial observer, and watching with
interest its practical operation, we are con-
strained to believe that the feeling of INSULT
cheney entertained by so many against the
Organized Charity" organization springs
largely from misconception of the purpose
and scope of its work. 1t is not pleasant to
many minds to see that out of every dollar
contributed, ostensibly for charity, sixty cents
go for something else than relief. But If il
were remembered that organized charity is
not charity in the sense of immediate relief
of want and suffering, the feeling would be
modified, if not entirely removed. "Organ-
lied charity" seems to us to be, in the main,
an adjunct of the police and sanitary agencies
of the city, and the money given toit should
no more be regarded as donation for the spe-
cial cause of charity as that word is under
stood in the sense of giving food to the hungry
and clothing to the naked, than should be the
taxes paid for the support Of the police or for
the maintenance of the Board of Health. So
far as we have observed, the principal work of
organized charity" and upon which most of
the money and effort are expended, is that of
extirpating professional and street begging,
and the accumulation of an immense
mass of information, which, properly
used, is valuable for differentiating
the worthy from the unworthy POOR. It
also does great deal in aiding people out Of
employment With what is better for them
and the community than would be victuals
and clothing. Something of relief is done,
of course; but it is not by any means the
great work of the society 'Organized"
charity is an organization of the head and of
the hands, and naturally and necessarily
there is not an overplus of heart in it, and
that proportion Of heart lessons from year to
year by law as unalterable as that of the
Modes and Persians
"Organized charity" is not charitable or
ganization in the sense in which Christian peo-
pie would use the word, and in so far as
they expect it to do the work Of Christian
charity, they will be and must be disappointed
Organized charity" is not Christian; it is not
distinctively religious; it is plain practical,
business affair, and should be so treated and
regarded Business men give their money to
it, and reap the benefit. Their testimonials
read that their Offices and stores are free from
the intrusions of beggars, and they pay for
this immunity and freedom from annoyance
just as they pay for immunity from petty
stealing, or from any other unpleasant acct
dent or incident. But the giving of money
for this purpose ought not to be confused with
the Christian idea Of charity. Indeed, its
tendency is not to stimulate but to deaden
that kind of charity which must needs come
into personal contact with poverty and suffer
ing, and give individual aid and relief, not
''organized," if the Christian virtue Of charity
is to be developed and magnifed or the Chris
tian duty of charity is to be discharged.
| It seems to us that the miscon-
ception just at this point is what
has led to the criticisms end the frictions re-
speeding organized charity" In its proper
field, properly understood, properly and in
diligently supported, not clothed with gar
ments that do not belong to it, not metamor-
phosed into something that it is not by a
possible misnomer, organized charity" has
done, and will continue to do, great and
| much-needed work. But there is vast field
outside of the one it covers for the exercise of
that Christian charity, which doth not vaunt
itself and which never faileth.
-.
SOME CITY FEATURES.
Indianapolis is city. If anybody dares to