Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-07-02

relied as volunteer visitors. They were
nsosfis wealthy people. and y anse1 u -
sss,o.sa O. resiete ez-~s q distress y Zee
they foansi thea They we're allowed 81
ID n. bet IL ~s~ sssaa foansi tkal this
ean tlesess DESTROYED their inliuence Tor
g.<d With tno-e hs,sa thes sisited
This nssshod IL reIisf became ~ e..
tzblashssi tat they could Bs.t change Il
without sesers esitscisua frOlA saa.v of
fhe sisif0rs Nho had Eas,r~ uoSey than
discfelioa. aud Mho had Dos 81 learned
tie i~ssoa Il - eiern charity that
giving j. not neaos<arily Chart, So
thes abolished the entire system and
dismissed the I'D visitors They are
noa waiting d few keAFs ftr fhe old sdss
g. die ouI. wien The, p.otsre o. feor-
CANINE their foree III ,olaateer friendl.
visitors N the rlshk rsssssn-
B.,ssos's EApesisrsoe.
Boston has sup visitors, and the work
81 that s~sclets l. i model from which
al others may takd their ilaes.
They are devoted. earnest and enthu-
siasiic. Their motto Is mot aims. tut
friend" They believe the gift ~ ones
seif Is the greatest charity We can DC.
stow upon the po<lf. Go among them
aud encourage them with so1d advice;
rec how they live, sAisgest in a friendly
way how they can improve their sur
roundings. encourages them Ia tee pfosi'
dent and industries. plant IN the minds
~ the young a icsir. 10 get an educa-
ton aud amount 10 something, 60 la
the spirit ~ the golden rule, aud | as
sure YOU the benefit from such action on
your part " III not al b. On one side
They are our broihers, they are part
IL our society. they are American eiii-
zens and aid in milking and cxecuting
our laws We are tied Ia them IN a
hundred ways We 40 not appreciate. III
they become slosebly. contract diseases.
and the coniagion spreads aud carries
away one 81 OUT own family. We can
then zee that we should have tried Ia
improve their condition. even IL only for
self-diefense. Each visitor should be- as
signed Ia bat on. family or possibly two.
which should be visited frequently, but
i'm mere casual way. for il design il
disclosed they at once assume "a stcfcn-
-iyc attitude from which IL il difficult
10 dislodgc them.
The greatest cate should be taken in
selecting visilorsl aud especially In
selecting those WHO are a. direct them.
Frequently those from whom You expect
the leasi ACCOMPLISH the most They
may he difiident. but may have urge
sympaihies, capable ~ winning the con.
fdenee 81 the poor. which IL the first
step Ia success. At another time ! vail
he glad to give in detail the best methods
for securing visitors aud IL directing
them 80 as Ia make their work most
fruitful. We should IN this make haste
slowly Make our selections with the
greatest care and property instruct and
start them that they may not become
discouraged.
Original German Plan.
The visiting plan originated In Fiber
field, Germany. where II is made com
pulsory 10y draft. the same az jury duty
here. The city is divided into eighteen
parts. and these again into 2ei sections
There are eighteen supervisors and 30
unpaid visitors. This system IL thor
ough. but being official in character does
not have the element II friendship in IL.
and il is found that pauperism does not
diminish aud applicants do not seem To
return to self support. We have copied
this ~ stem except these Objectionable
features, and the results have been ex-
tremely gratifying. With il the per
sonal Improvement az the applicant and
his family is the prime object. while re
lief is secondary and temporary only.
In conclusion / will say that never
have | been thrown in contact with such
practical self devotion as at that con
gress.
Most delegates had all they wanted II
this worI.fs goods but did not consider
that all that is valuable in life. or even
the most important. They look upon
wealth a. valuable only To the extent II
may extend our influence for good. and
afford US time 10 deTote To- benefiiing
our fellow men aud improving the con
dition of those lees fortunate than are
we. or enable us To secure an education
which will clear our vision and broaden
orr sympathies. that we may the better
see the innumerahle opportunities on
every side 10y which We can straighicn
the path II our brethren and draw aside
the curtains of their homes and let in a
little. not only 81 natures sunshine. but
the sunshine Of our own unselfish e!evo.
tion. that the lot II the wife and chii
dren may be easier and their labors
frightened 10y that most cheering % all
things pure human sympathy.
Money Defined.
What is money! Throw a dollar at
the poor. and when IL falls az their feet
il gives a cold. cruel ring which seems
10 mock their condition aud make them
as hardened as the coin itself while a
=, mpathetic look or a kind and cncour
aging word will melt its way to the
heart. causing better aspirations and
noblcr ambitions. which may have
slumbcred for years. IL instantly revive.
and II nurturcd 10y continuous FREUD
ship may result In blessing them. you
and the entire world.
These are gifts which We all have aud
can heriow. They cannot be- checked
out ~ the hank 10 the order ~ poor
family IA "A distant ward and sent by
mail, only Ia excite the cupldity II the
recipient
They must lie delivered in person.
and handed over. not a. gift. bot as
In settlement ~ "A debt.
hat We are entering an age when the
entire world will recognize the truth IL
these new views Of charity. the adoption
81 which viii greatly shorten the dts
lance between the wealthy and the poor.
and when We wall all more fully
recognize that "" are our brothers
keeper. cannot doubt.
We cannot, perhaps, all achieve SUD
den fame ty some act ~ teruiEm and