The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-04-25
NUMBER IA.
AT OUR GATES.

seen in the daily papers the story of
workingman named Sillars, an indus.
| triOus. sober fellow, with a wife and
child dependent on him, who, losing his
position in the Cellonite works at Ar
lington, went to Connecticut in search
of work. He wandered through the
state for two or three weeks with no
success, and at last, penniless and starv-
ing, was driven to beg cup of coffee
| from farmers wife. The woman re-
| fused it and caused his arrest. He was
tried, convicted of having begged for
| food, and sentenced to a months i'm
prisonment and fine of $50. This man,
he it understood, was gentle and civil in
manner quietly telling his piteous story.
Sillars escaped from Jail and returned
home, but was reclaimed by the State
of Connecticut and hailed back to serve
out his full term.
His wife and child, being homeless
and without food, were cared for by
some kindly neighbCrs, almost as poor
| as themselves.
My readers will probably recall an
other incident which occurred in New
York city few years ago, which bears
the same significance as this story. A
woman driven from her home by a
drunken husband with starving child
| in her arms walked, one bitter winters
night, from one great charitable institu-
ton to another and was rejected by all,
| because she had not the requisite papers
of admission, The law fobade her to beg
at any private house. She sat down al
last on the steps of a church, and there,
while the well-meaning wOrshlpers pas
sed in to their prayers, the baby froZe to
death.
Now, what do those incidents tell us
of the condition and temper of the Christ
ian people who throw a starving man in
to prisiOD because he asks for food, and
who allow a baby to freeze to death
rather than break the red-tape regula-
tions of asylums!
Not that they are wanting in pity for
the poor, or are unwilling to help them.
Never, since the world began, was the
feeling of brotherhood which Christ
taught as strong in it as 1t is now.
But it shows its strength by united et-
fort, rather than by individual action.
The Lady Bountiful no longer Goles out
flannels, soup and good counsel to men
and women (every one of whom she
knows), or feels herself responsible for
their clothes, stomachs and morality.
She belongs to a Guild or an Association
for the Suppression of Mendlcancy and
trusts to its machinery to do this gracious
work for her,
| know all the arguments IN favor OF
these organizations, and acknowledge
their force. The country, we are told,ls
oVerrun with tramps and professional
begzars. 1t is not the duty of the indus
trious Christian to encourage them by
indiscriminate alms-giving. Give your
money to the Board of Charities, or the
Society for the Suppression of Beggarv,
and their agents will take care that it
reaches only the worthy poor, etc, etc,
This is all true enough and the organ.
lied machinery is fit and useful. unless
it happens to fall into the hands OF
mercenary, tricky men, as it sometimes
does.
But its purpose, be it remembered, is
the protection of well-to.do people from
impostors, rather than the helps of the
poor. In the eyes of the Society for the
. Suppression of Mendcancy, or of the
law makers of Connecticut, every man
who asks for food is scoundTal and d
fraud until he proves himselves other
=, wise.
9 You, a Christian, give your money tc
a the agents of this Society, and heuce-
I forth wash your hands Of all care of your
2 needy brother. The agents will visit
him, question him, and relieve Tim, II
+. they see fit. He will not dare to ask
+ you personally for help and sympathy
\ This work of protection done by the
q organizations is doubtless good, admir-
}. able work.
Q But it is not the work which Christ
O exacted from you and me, and which he
!, never intended we should hand over to
: apy agent or visitor. The damages done
s by these organizations to Christianity Is
that they offer to relieve us of that duty
Y and soon make us willing to shlrk 1t.
Il No Christian can throw the saving OF
his soul or the saving of hi brother
q soul on to board, or a committee. AND
{: how can his own soul grow stronger OF
5 higher, or how can he lift his brother
1 out of the mire If he does not come into
j direct, helpful contact with him! 1t is
! the first duty laid down for us by the
i. Elder Brother of us all. We must visit
( feed help the sick, the poor, the prison
o er, IN person, not by agents, giving tC
+ the work whatever intelligence, zeal and
o tenderness is in us. No plausible argu-
ment of political economists can free u;
from this obligation. 1t is childish pre-
iudice to find a tramp in every man oui
of work, or a criminal in every wretch
that is starving. The poor to whom We
owe help still are with us always.
The course of conduct which Christ
prescribed for us in this matter is tht
wisest, even in the light OF policy. Il
the woman, Ia professed Chrstian) tC
whom Sillars came, friendess and starv
v ing, had given him food, listened to hii
! story and used her influence to find hin
/ work. she would have helped whole
family back to usefulness and respecta
= blity ana have elevated her own nature
n When she caused his arrest as crimina
"a she made paupers of his wife and child
The State of Connecticut also expended
nearly 800 upon the case. which Will b'
paid by the industrious taxpayer.
But it is not the economic bearing o.
the case that | wish to urge upon my
' readers. especially on the woman a
whose gates stands the hungry wretch
t the possible tramp. 1t is the fact tina
they, individually, owe care and help L
him, be he honest or thief. No mid
dleman, in the shape of agent or society
can pay that debt for them.
God gives them this opportunity tC
stretch out helping hand to their broth
er. The more of fraud or crimina
he is the more he needs it. Some day
hereafter he will hold reckoning will
them to know how they have used tina
g opportunity.