The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-03-11
AEEouANr sENgvoLsNcE.
Consideration of Some OF the Phases OF Or
ganized Charity.

Consideration OF Some OF the Phases OF Or
ganizod Charity.
Every once in while there IL
wordy war; any amount of i'll feeling
and any quantity of public scandal
about benevolent societies of various
sorts. Well-measing and kind-heartcd
people are dragged into it, some OF
them coming out with battered reputa-
tions and very sore hearts, while others,
elated by what is often dshonorably
won victory, are more arrogant and in.
solent than ever.
1t is a very serious question in the
minds Of many persons whether there
| should be any so-called monopoly in the
dispensing of charity. Benevolent peo.
pie choose their own ways and their
own subjects for this kind of work.
While there are without doubt, many
frauds and impostors who fatten upon
the goodwill of the generous, il is Il
matter that would bear discussion,
whether the insolent and arrogant au
tocrat who believes in no benevolcnce
but his own is not, in fact, quite as
much of an impostor when he mas
queradcs under the name of charity
as those whom he so roundly berates.
There are in existence some so-cnl,c
charity associations whose charity
is colder than the arctic regions These
people, under benevolent designation,
are nothing more or less than agents OF
an inquisition of the most unjust and
| impertinent sort. They dispense no
| charity whatever themselves, but pry
| and question, cross-question and brow.
| beat out of the unfortunate all of their
| private affairs, and then, if so be that
the case seems to appeal to their idea Of
need they may condescend to recon-
mend the unfortunatcs to somebody or
some organization that may or may moi
relieve them. 1t knows nothing what
ever of the claims of honest, sensitive
or independent poverty.
| The applicant must crawl, metaphor
| ically grovel, at their feet und submit
TO all of the cross-eXamining that curl
Gus and prying souls can devise. Fail
ing to do this or protesting III any way
against answering inquiries about mat.
ters that are really none of their busi-
ness, and on subjects that it is n gross
insult even to broach, and that form Of
arrogant assurance that they call dig
nifty forthwith takes umbrage, and the
applicant is not only refused aid, but is
blacklisted, so to speak, and finds it i'm.
possible to obtain assistance from quar-
ters where otherwise help would imme.
diately be forthcoming.
1t takes vast deal of wisdom to in
telligently and delicately mind other
peoples business and act as inquisitor
general for some of these outrageouslv
toploftical associations. Human nature
is radically weak and imperfect, and
! these eminently human clements come
out to their worst advantage when useG
in the fashion just mentioned. And
the worst of all these so-called charities
is, that they not only will not recogniz'
any charitable association that does not
come under their wing, but any inde-
pendent one that processes its ability
and determination to stand out and be
separate from this centralized tyranny
is the object of untold abuse. Its
methods are criticised, its honor ques-
toned, and, failing to prove anything,
there is that silent and significant ele-
waiting of the eyebrows and Struggling
of the shoulders whenever this rival
concern is mentioned, which is without
exception, the most damnable form Of
slander.
1t needs no prophet, neither the son
of a prophet, to decide that charity
whose only aim and object is to make
inquisitorial inquiries, and afterward
leave the needy applicant to starve or
freeze while some deliberations are talk
ing place, is no charity at alL-N. S.
Stowell, in N. Y. Ledger.