Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-05-27
CHARITY.
n PRACTICAL SERMON ON rKS oREAr'
EST OF VIRTUES
The World Crews Better-charity Abused
Silent saifsrers-The Pagan ana
Christian Contrssted-Ths
Truest Charity.
For the pIspaich.I

aFsi,h, hope. and ehsrsy-T5,,naess three; os'
the greatest Of those IL charity"
Faith is divine gift, and though q
great blessing, II is not vouchs2fed to all.
There are beings TO whom either through
constitutional peculIaries or early IN
Guences faith never comes TO shed
abroad DER their lives its heavenly
brightness.
Hone is the heritage Of oil il "springs
eternal in the human breast" Prince
and peasant, poet and .srtisan, look for
ward 10 the something better beyond.
Alas for the soul whose daystar OF hope
il shrouaed 10y the blackness of despair
But there is tender, plying angel
lowering DER this sin-s;ricken world
ready 10 throw her snowy mantel over
the shortcomings of tho children OF
men. The name Of this angelis Charity.
Charity belongs to all, of high or low
degree, but many fail TO claim their own.
TgE WORLD GROWS BETTER
In spite Of all that may be said or
sung of the good times OF Aud Lang
Syne and the evils of the present day,
this old world OF ours is steadily growing
better, day by day and year by year, and
the force which works most nightly IN
that direction is Christian charity.
Throughout the length and breadth OF
our beloved land there are asylums for
the deaf. the dumb, the blind, the IN
sane homes for the aged and iniirm
homes for neWsbOys; homes for fallen
women. who are led to respect them
salyes and afterwards TO be respected;
homes for foundlings; flower missions
and fruit missions, by which these boun-
ties arc distributed among homes where
snch things arc scarcely dreamed OF and
10 many quito unknown; excursions for
poor, little half.staryed city children, who
are carried miles on the wonderful trains
out into Goods country" many of them
seeing for the first time real trees and
actually gathering flowers OF their very
own. A little waif, last summer, who
was carried out on one OF these excur-
sions. looking up into the soft blue sky
and then down to tho green carpet
studded with flowers into which her feet
sank, asked timidly: ':Is this Heaven
CHARITY ABUSED.
All OF this, aud much moro besides, is
the work OF this beneficent fairy CHAR
~. who knocks gently at the door Of our
hearts. Who viii credit the fact that
che sometimes fails to gain admittance
there
Bnt while this bounteous, GodinspiTed
charity is so wide spreading in its beneti-
cence, there is not one OF the Christian
praces under the Gun which is more often
abused, or which requires more tact,
judgment, time, patience, and strength
in Us administration than that of chart
~. There are charities which really
ennoble tho eiver and benefit the re-
ceiyer: but again there are charities
which degrade the giver and send the
unfortunate receiver a step lower on the
downward path OF vice.
| once knew n minister, pure and
cody man, who told me lie Was sure he
had helped brother man to get "roar-
ang drunk" The man had come to him
with pitiful story Of misery and want
ut home, and in the kindest of impulses
End LATEST Of charities he had given the
nnn a sum Of money. uUon the strength
OF which he rolled il the gutter.
WOMEN AND MEN.
Men generally get the credit Of being
more generous with money than women.
think it is because n man has nothing
hut money TO give His time is so filled
that he often gives money to buy himself
off and keep his conscience from those
uncomfortable twinges with which one
recalls hand outstretched IN vain for
sid. The woman, who does not make
the money but has the stewardship OF 1t,
hesitates about giving away what was
entrusted to her care and besides On
she thinks at all, she is apt to reflect
that there are impostorS, and that 1t Is
safest to look and learn before you give.
ExToRTINO AID.
Every one who has had any experience
in dispensing public or private charities
knows that there are families who, acting
upon the principle that the "world owes
them living" make it the business OF
their lives to "do the town in which
they live. Their children are sent to
Sunday school, and they are instructed
beforehand to tell pitiful and interesting
tales of the suffering at home. AS re-
fult of these stories ladies' have been seen
driving up in carriages, handing in pack
ares of food, clothing, etc. 1t goes on
ibis way until il becomes rather monoto-
ont. the family seek fresh fields and
new denomination. This congregation
fares the same, and after awhile, like
Dick Swiveller, they close all the streets
behind them and so abroad for pastures
new to feed upon. The children become
veritsble little "artful dodgers, and the
family are stepped in idleness, thriftless-
ness, and social degradation.
SILENT SUFFERERS.
II is q well-known fact that the most
needy and deserving persons are those
who suffer in silence and make no sign.
1t is generally mere chance which re-
yeals their true condition to those able
end willing to help them. When case
of real suffering becomes known II Is
wonderful how quick and prompt the
,oor are 10 share with each other, even
10 the last crust. Their offerings which
ere so freely and cheeriully given seem
largely out OF proportion 10 their sctnty
resources. Such deeds of self-sacrtice
deserve 10 be classed with that OF the
widow who gave her mite, and OF whom
the Master said, "She had done what
the could.
charity is well nigh as old as the his
tory Of man, but Iecky, in his "Histo-
~ Of European Morals" draws a very
striking and forcjble contrast between |
the practical working Of the Pagan and |
Christian systems.
PAGAN PRACTICE.
u was the custom for the old Roman |
I'm osrors TO dispense rations Of coru
g. ihe poor. 1t was sometimes given
quarterly. but generally monthly, and |
consisted o, i've modi per head tive
sixths Of bushe). and in the time OF
Julius Caesar 10000 persons were re-
cpienis: but this gratuiious distribu-
fion OF corn was one of the chief de-
momlizing influences of the empire, as
it greatly encouraged idloness. Every
z. L. Z 4. Il