The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1891-02-06

the cause of that distress They hastene d
to relieve the needy, yet took no steps to
prevent the recurrence of misfortune. Or
ganized charity goes at the root of the mat
ter. IL feeds the hungry, but instead Of
stopping here, its greatest duty is to place
these dependents where they can provide
their own food. Although it clothes the
naked, at the same time il is most import
ant to help him help himself. The apostles
OF modern charity do something more than
distribute aims. It is not enough to relieve
suffering. The only effectual charity is 10
place the needy in positions of independ-
ence. The order of procedure i'm organized
charity Is first temporary aid, second. thor
ough investigation, third, the use of such
means as will lift the needy permanently
out of want. Gifts to common beggars
must cease. Cases of want must be regis
tered so that person who gives may know
what help the destitute need and relieve;
while band of skillful visitors must hunt
out those silent sufferers who rather starve
than ask for help.
The only way to relieve wisely the distress
| which exists is for all charitable agencies
| to follow some definite system and work I'm
connection with some general organization.
To follow the principles set forth i'm the
Hamburg method. First, to create a central
bureau to supervise all work done for the
poor and to bring all charitable agencies
under one management and also to put
stop to indiscriminate aims giving. Second.
to subdivide the city into small districts i'm
eich of which competent citizens should
personally investigate the condition of all
poor. that the exact needs of all might be
known, that the deserving might be dis
covered and that no more relief was given
than was absolutely necessary. Third, to
remove the causes of distress and pauper-
ism by compelling the able bodied to work.
making the homes of the poor more healthy.
by providing work for the unemployed that
they may become self dependent citizens.
There are about seventy American cities
which have organizations modelled after this
general plan which strive to reduce
vagrancy and pauperism and ascertain their
I true causes, to prevent indiscriminate and
duplicate alms-giving, to secure the com
munity from impOsture, to see that all de-
serving cases of destitutiOn are properly
relieved, to make employment the basis of
relief. to elevate the home life, health and
habits of the poor, to prevent children from
growing up as paupers. By system of
registration toiprevent impOstures, by bring
ing about cooperation among all charitable
agencies, by obtaining from existing chari-
ties the precise help needed or by giving
relief when immediate aid is needed, when
all other sources fail, by q system of visiting
which shall substitute friendliness for aims
and inspire thrift, self respect and better
modes of life.
Here in OwOssO the number of people
who are suffering for the bare necessities OF
life are perhaps comparatively few, yet
some there are no doubt and investigation
would probably bring To light many more
than we are aware of and as the town grows
larger the number will increase. The only
charitable organization here known to the
writer is the WOman's Relief Corps, whose
works are chiefly confined to the families OF
soldiers. Should there not be central
bureau at the head, in which should be the
benevolent societies organized for the relief
of distress, representatives of each church
in the town, eX-OtficiO members consisting
of the mayor, health officers, city physician.
supervisors, superintendent of the poor and
county agent? / believe an endeavOr was
made some time since to form an OrganiZa-
ton but a lack of unaminity caused the at
tempt to prove futile. II is said the great
obstacle in the way of every charity Organ-
zation to-day is the unwllingness of private
corporations and churches to submit t.
supervision and direction.
In the words of Mr.. Crooker, of Madison
the care of the destitute is indeed great
problem which requires for its solution the
highest wisdom, the clearest Judgment, the
most unwearied zeal. Nothing but the
exercise of cooperation of the nObcst senti-
ments and the most practical spirit can Sc
cure in the administration of charity any
real benefits for society or any true ameli-
Grafton of the poor. Pauperism is a fal
greater evil than any of us imagine. No
CVSfpnS uo Orponiz1tionS M aSSOpiatiOOS
alone can do the true work of charity. 1t
depends upon those who stand behind it.
and must be accomplished by combination
of heart and head through human hands.
Whatever system we may create and what
ever methods we may adopt, our success
with the problem will depend primarily
upon the extent to which the general public
can be educated to hold correct ideas upon
the subject Of poor relief and upon the
number and fidelity of the workers to whose
hands the interests of charity are commit
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