New-York tribune., 1891-12-27
rUAPITY dND BUSINESS,

A divorce of charity and business is unlawful
By divine decree they were united centuries
ago. and whom God hath joined together let no
man put asunder When Christ enjoined upon
all the law, Glove thy neighbor as thyself" he
did not add, "except in hiring hands or making
business contracts But the world has labored
on through all these centuries trying to get hap
piness, while confning charity TO Christmas Day.
Sundays and occasional gifts to benevolent and
religious institutions. Exceptions there are ;
grand and noble exceptions men and women
who devote their lives TO the work of uplifting
others; men and women who hold the wealth
they have or are enabled by business to secure
not for their own qualification, but as Stewards
for the Infinite Giver. 1t is Il blessed thing Tor
the world that there are so many Of them, whose
charity is not pent up nor confined. But the
fact to which attention needs most TO be called
is that the great majority of men and women
still treat Charity and Business as if they had
never been lawfully united.
Appeal to nine business men out of ten in be-
half of greater consideration for worlSingmen on
clerks or Others in their employ, and how many
of them will fail to reply: That is not business
| got my labor where | can get it best and cheap
est. as | must in order to succeed in my business
| make such regulations as are required, in COM
petition with others in the same work or trade, in
order to attain success. 1t would never do to
conduct business enterprise as if it were hos
pital OF benevolent institution. Charity has its
place. | will do my part, in gifts to hundreds
of benevolent and humane organizations, and
in private aid to those who are known TO me
TO deserve assistance. But no man can mix
charity and business with success"
So if the appeal be made to the women OF the
world, If they are asked to refuse the cheap
goods that are known to be prepared only by
grinding tho poor and degrading the characters
and destroying the lives of employees, how many
will answer: 81 cannot set these things right
| must buy where can buy cheapest. That is
my business, and | should be unfaithful to my
husband or children if should spend for thing
twice what it costs because | think the poor
sewing girls are not paid enough. If / should
refuse to enter a store where the shOp-giIl are
overworked, what success should | have in the
business of shopping? Ii ! should show greater
consideration of servants in my employ than
others show. giving them better wages or allow
ing them different rules or treatment, it would
be waste of the money intrllsted to me for the
business of providing for the household / must
attend to my business as a matter of business, and
then help the poor wherever ! can, as matter
Of charity"
These are simple and obvious answers, and
embo1y the law of life as it is for millions OF
people, who mean to do their duty and who
think they do enough for charity But is
that the Golden Rulep Did the Infinite Law
giver call upon lis to ove our neighbors when
not engaged in busines5 with them? Would the
woud be worse off if men and women, in every
relation and act of life should exercise the same