The record-union., 1894-12-10
WHAT Is UNCHARITkBLE CHARITY +?
Rev. w. H. Baugh Gives His Defni-
ton of 1t.
Real Distress Should be Promptly Re-
iieved, But a Chance to Earn
Something is the Remedy.

At the Fourteenth-str Presbyterian
Church Rev. w. II. Baugh preached an
able sermon yesterday morning, his
theme being "Uncharitable Charity"
The text was from Genesis Ill, 10: "On
the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread
ill thou return unto the ground"
These words, said the speaker, an
nounce in the beginning of the life of the
human family the fundamental law of
individual livelihood and universal pros
perity. Some imagine that work is de-
grading and that it is sort of unneces-
ssry curse" brought on the race by the
1aIl OF the primitive pair, and that had
not Adam Slnned manual labor would
not have been required.
Ihls gratultous theory may answer an
ldlers dream, but does not render US
truthful Interpretation. Adam previous
10 the fall was engaged IN tilling and
keeping the garden, we are told. The
garden in its primitive state yielded fruit
only, but later it brought forth "thorns"
and 'thistles." In the original paradise
the growth of fruit was spontaneous;
afterwar0, with the same soil and Oh the
same ground, the same results were OBJ
tanned through physical labor. The
pJow, the spade, the hoe, the scythe, took
the place OF natural spontaneity. Man
must now enter tue rugged Iields, filled
with wild growthS and poisonous herbs,
where the products OF the earth are tedi-
Gus and uncertain.
Man cannot cultivate the products of
the land by merely waving his hand
over 1t. de cannot get something for
nothing. He must square with nature
and natural laws first. Both land and
prosperity cry out to all saying: You
must pIow, dig, harrow, hoe, grub, irri-
gate, then reap, threSh, garner and use.
The earth Will not yield her increase un-
I'll you take off your coat and roll back
your sleeves. Nature keeps time book
account with us ali and demands long
hours, untlrng energy, patient endur-
ance, persevering skill and practical
economy; then she promises to keep us
from pennlless paupers and humlilating
dependantS upon charity. From these
suggestions / take the cue and speak OF
uncharltable charlty-an apparent para
0oX, yet may not the seeming paradoXI-
cal expression, "uncharitable charity"
contain within its proper meaning at
least partial solution of the ever-pres-
ent yeXatious question of relief for cer-
tain classes OF the poor and INDECENT?
There are all sorts of poor-the bad
poor, the good poor, the unfortunate poor,
the unaVoidably poor, the improvIdenL
poor, the poor immodeSt, braZen and eX-
beg, tease and annoy; the modest poor. to
whom open acknowledgment OF their
true, urgent need seems disgraceful and
aDJectly humiliating; the unworthy poor
Will beg, plead, lie, deceive, demand,
rather than work or DO without; the wor-
thy poor will often, an, forsooth, will
most go hungry, partly and poorly
clothed, suffer want, endure pain, sustain
hardships, rather than beg, ask aims, or
even communicate TO anyone their dire
ful needs. And it is equally a true say
ing that ye have the poor always with
you, and that ye have all sorts of poor
with you.
Likewise, there are all kinds of charity
good charity, bad charity, Indifferent
charity, charity that helps and euriches,
and charity that Weakens and impoyer-
iShes; charity that dignifies, and charity
that debases manhood; charity That help
TO build up men, and charity that tends
TO pauperIZe them.
lie is both wise and happy who is able
TO AVOID connection with any of these
vexing extremes in either direction.
If any OF tie suggestions herewith
made shall prove helpful TO anyone in
striking his attitude toward the question
Of the hour, my purpose will have accom-
liShed itself.
What is uncharitably charity as we un-
derstand it? Is a question which will be
somewhat answered if we consider in de-
tail some of the abuses and impertecLions
OF so-called charity institutions. and. too,
there are many OF such. Charity societies
organized, charity societies unorganized,
charitable organizations incorporated,
charitable organizations unincorpOrated
charity institutions OF State, of county,
of church, and Of unsectarian citizenship
and charity relief Of private effort.
Let us see how the proposition con-
&,.r l.,
strated in the practical work of some of
these various methods employed to trans
late human benevolence into helpful
beneficence. For with the idea of
beneticence there always appears the idea
of open-handed generosity extended to
those in want.
Now, speaking broadly, nearly all the
the following different ways:
First-Relief established and main
tanned by law, i. g., where the money is
secured and appropriated through State
legislation.
Second-There is charitable assistance
furnished by organized societies, includ-
ing particularly all the benevolent mutual
orders.
Third-There is charity aid through the
means OF all sort OF religious bands,
societies, committees, guilds and associ-
ated efforts.
Fourthly-There are different kinds of
public, non-sectarian, non-denomiua-
tional but united citizenship associated
charities.
Fitthly-There is much assistance
brought 10 the poor by private individ-
uals. sporadic, intermittent, this kind
may be, nevertheless IL is assistance. tho
best sort, perhaps, all things considered,
OF all, yet all the plans are imperfect and
most conspicuOusly illustrate how nm
charitable charity may be practiced in all
these various methods, most of which
make II their business, through their di-
rectois, 10 see TO it how systematic and
alscriihlhaHng the charitable work may
be done.
Let us reason together for moment:
is II not true that much OF the tirst named
sort OF benehceuce is decidedly imnrac-
teal. mean the vast number OF State
and county eleemosynary Institutions
aims houses, poor houses, hospitals and
dispensaries
Much uncharita5le charity will be
found right inside the walls OF these pub
lie buildings, which we have been edn-
Gated 10 look upon as temples to the bioh-
est development of civilization. and
standing monuments to the penetratino
power OF The gospel and taught 10 look
upon them as practical apologetics of tho
Christian; temples not to be touched by
the unhoIy hands OF adverse criticism.
Is il not true that much of The institu-
tioual benehcence has some tendencies
even under the very best Official MANAGE.
meut, 10 unsuccessful and detrimental
results?
Beginning first with inadequate and
positively indifferent appreciation of the
sacredness OF public funds, the purposes
of which the dependents and incapabies.
as well, iorsooth, as the distributors in
l<>l F..
enceless persons look upon a corporate
railroad or a toll turnpike, or the treas