The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-21
SYSTEM In CHARITY,
Rector Garrett Proposes Prac-
teal Methods.
WORK TO THOSE WHO NEED IT.
ordination of Congregational Minister
Talks on the Christmas Festival
Church News Notes.

tliaut, xfil.o
And though bestow al my goods to feed the
poor, aud though give my body to be burned
aud nave not charity, Ii proiteth me nothing
The sermon touched upon many points con-
cerains the practical work OF charity and
urgea the necessity OF organizad aud systematic
eff Mr.. Garrett promised his remarks bv
saying that ifthere was ever time when q man
will feel whols-souied, when all heart, are
opened. and even the most selfish are softened.
tits at Christmas. When the sunday school
children OF st. Marks voted unanimously To
bring gifts To the church for the poor instead of
taking them away for themselves they showed
they appreciated the blessing that comes in
greater measure 10 those who give than 70 those
who receive The poor nre we'll remembered on
Christ's natal day. for it would be barren OH
servance that failed to include "good will
towards men,.
Thus the approach of Christmas suggested TO
the mind OF the speaker the whole subIect of
Christian benevolence. He thought IL worth
while TO treat this subject in such compre-
hensye manner az TO indicate not only the
obligation for benevolence, but also its objects
and Limitations. He took the position that 10
simply bestow goods to feed and clothe the poor
may after al, in the words of the Apostle,
"proft nothing" When Paul writes OF aims
giving without charity ii 10 evident he wished
10 express the idea that true benevolenee must
be directed by love, and this love must b. I'M
derstood as containing reason and knowledge
pO4fbsu our TWO WAYS OF GxarciS-
Ing beneyoieuce towards the poor. One wav
the relief Of present necessities, and the other
the prevention of poverty by going &c the root
OF Its causes He proceeded 70 show how In
both OF these methods, what Confucius called
"a rational and constant Affection" may be ap-
piled.
The relief OF the destitute Is duty that rests
upon the whole community, he urged. The
needy must be helped. A burning shame IL ia II
men, women and children in any place cry in
vain for bread Even where the worthincss of
the suppliant Is doubtful better to take no
chances of neglect. And yet, indscrminate
aIms-giving is not the best form of aid II
shows siten desire on the part of the giver to
avoid trouble and to escape thought. IL is easier
Tor man to hand over quarter than to be
bothered with investigating Promiscuous
Charities are frequently pernioious in results
They may promote deceit, bcgsary, and indi-
rcetly, poverty. 1t ia said that there are profess
sional beggars in New York that make SO to SIS
aday, and some have amsssed good-sixed for
tunes. Again, under the haphazard way OF
aims-giving relief Is often not only duplicated
but quadrupled. In his own experience, Mr.
Garrett had found persons to be reesving help
rauduently from various sources, and in sew
eral instances have had deposits in banks. Ger
tainly aims giving Of this kind 10 without char
tty and profteth nothing.
1t is said that this unrestricted benevolence Is
sanctioned by the example aud teachings of
Christ Mr. CARROTS reply was that in
this respect Chrsts words are wrongly inter-
preted Wherever Christ commanded an entire
surrender OF goods II was in some special case,
some peculiar exigency. And even the most
urgent counsel towards b.neYolence is not to ba
taken as excluding prudence and wisdom, for
these belong to real charity.
For this and other reasons advanced he
thought the relief of the poor ought to be sys-
tematic The best method he knew of is tina.
which prevails in nearly every city in the land
under the general name of Associated Char
tiles" This means sort OF clearing house for
all aid givon the destitute-a central Office with
paid officer who keeps a complete record OF all
who are assisted and by whom relieved 1t
means stopping OF all street begging or house to-
house mendicaney. No one associated in this
system will give off-hand TO beggars. Every
case of want will be remanded 10 the main
Office. there investigated, and, If worthy, re-
lisved through the proper source No re-
ligious differences hinder this work.
Roman Catholic. Jew. Protestant, inf
del, all unite on the basia of = common hu,
mani:y. The sole object is TO act as q commun-
ity in giving relief as efficiently and economic
ally as possible. He believed this system is
needed in Seattle, and he wished this sermon
might strike the keynote towards some general
movement in this direction He thought that
at present the work of charity is too unevenly
divided: the burden falls on too few shoulders.
With the growth of the city there is q demand
More important than the relief OF poverty he
placed the prevention of its causes. Here, he
Said 10 scope for a beneyolence that, in the
words of Chalmers sis not merely a feeling but
principle. not a dream of rapture for the
fancy 70 indulge in, but business for the hand
&c execute" The system of associated charities
pays quite as much attention TO the prevention
OF poverty 10 the cure. BY seeking out,
studying, analyzing and recording o large
number of cases the causes Of poverty
are understood and then measures for
checking further growth are instituted In
report made by the Buffalo society, which is one
OF the best In the country, out of liE families
including 5S,Sss persons, the causes OF poverty
were ascertained as follows:
Lack OF employment 263 cases, sickness in 326
no male supper; in 37S, intemperance in ia,
physical defects ll3, insufficient earnings in ST.
accidents in IS, imprisonment of bread winner
In u.s. shiitlessness in &c, and insanity In 10.
Putting aside the causes not comfortable by
man. nearly every case of poverty, he said, may
be traced TO one OF several distinct sources. In
the first place there is idlenesS This may be
either voluntary or compulsory. In either case
the remedy is work. Men who want work
should be given it. II there is any one blot on
our boosted civilization darker than almost all
others 1t is 10 see man anxious for any kind OF
employment and yet unable TO find IT, he said.
stlil such instances are not uncommon The
project Of work camp now agitated In Sc
sule he thought was the right thing and ought
70 be sustained. ON this point he said
Let us give every man q chance TO earn his
dinner for that is better than a free meal.
know that the London woodcutters resent tho
ea!yation Army's plan for 1.-THE submerged
tenth, complaining that General BOOTHS wood
camp reduces wages This is difficulty. how
ever, that can be regulated. IL 10 not So serious
a. the greater problem OF no work at all Tor =
large body OF men. Capitalists who create in-
dus,Fes are doing q erander service than that
o. trecwiii gifts If much of the money
boarded ia banks or tied up in government
bonds we're applied TO making employment on
the basis of fair return il would bless and
brighten many homes now ciouded with care:
The best way 10 help the poor man IL - aid
BIN in helping himself We are not inclined
client man. and vet IL j. said that there are 5000
families drawing their support from industries
represented by this same hnsncier. Mr.. Gould
hlmself had pointed out that II all the fuhds
spent In ma ntainiug people without WORK were
eoent in creating work for them IL would yIeld
Infinitely better results The tendency is To con
sue charity 10 temporary relief, instead OF eSeT
ching broader charity n curing the causes OF
poverty. Again. IL men can work, but won't
work, they should be compelled 20. Compulsory
employment Is - necessary Tor human ADVANCE
Heht as compulsory education.
Mr.. Garrett found another cause Of poverty In
ignorance. This evil, he said, is traced To the
training or rather the neglect OF training, o. the
young He found = remedy for this not only in
the public schools, as ordinarily conducted,
but in industrial schools, including cook
Ing aud sewing for the girls and manua,
Training for the boys He believed that one o.
the surest solutions Of the social problem uast
&c In that direction. Already the manual tra!n-
ing schools are producing excellent results.
young man with a good trade stands better
chance in life today than one of the vast multi