The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-06-27
Sweet Charity.

OF late the charity OF good people
has been strongly appealed to 10 be-
half of storm sufferers on the coast
The newspapers seem to have discover
ed that there are nov persons 10 needy
circumstances in that section which
VAS last August submerged by the
waves Of the sea.
We have taken no part for or against
this recent claim upon our charity,
When the misfortune first befell that
people, our recollection is, that the
people Of Abbeville responded. Tba,
was right, bus Ne arg not SO certain Of
the wisdom Of giving to that people
At this late day. It reminds as toe
much Of circumstance that occurred
before the war. A man had the
misfortune to lose his house aud its
contents BY Gre. and after that be
xonld always appeal to the strangers
whom he met. One Of the beseiged
strangers Interrupted him as to when
he had suffered this great loss. It
vas ascertainea to have been about
tveosy-eight years ago. It has now been
nearly 4 year since the Blufton suffer.
ers lost their crops.
This newspaper doesn't understand
charity to be the dividing out of our
goods indiscriminately among the IN
fortunate, the thrifsless or the lazy
people who fail or neglect to work, and
then call on us to divide our earn
ings.
Charity IN its first. its best. and its
highest incentive exists 10 the heart
and not in the pocket book. It would
restrain our tongues from speaking
evil Of our neighbor, and it would
forbid our hearts from believing or en-
sertaining evil Of our unfortunate peo-
pie. While of course plain asd posi-
tive facts that are susceptible of proof
are to be recorded in the book OF re-
membrance. ye. a large per cent. Of
the neighborhood scandal or gossip is
based on the merest 6ction-or at
worst, is founded only on the speakers
evil construction of an act which in
itself may have been totally innocent.
Our understanding is, if persoo,
be be rich or poor, friend or stranger.
happen to an accident in our immediate,
vicinity. whereby he needs assistance.
it is ehsrity to give the needed help
whether to CALI his friends or a phSsi-
clan, whether to shelter him or to feed
him. II his horse throw him at yonr
gate. charity demands that We consri-
butte to his relief, promptly aud
quickly. If the horse gets sick aud
lee down At oar gate. it is eur boundeD
duty to render the animal aoy assistance
possible. That is charity.
But if our neighbor's horse dies, we
are in no wise called upon to buy him
another horse. That woald be to
endow With him an estate, which act
would encourage shiftlesspess.
There is no charity in feeding peo-
pie who have work to do. but who seek
an excuse for no. doing it.
The poor we have always. with US,
and if people are amiud to give as
long as they can end somebody poorer
than they are. they can soon divide out
their entire estate.
It may be that-there is suffering on
she coast We do not doubt it. We
presume the same is true in Abbeville
county. There cao always be found
suffering, destitution and hunger. The
The situation will never be different.
AS the giving away Of the money for
which we have labored and economical
10 our living to save, is a practical
thing, and one to be we'll considered, it
10 the duty Of our preachers to protect
their focks from unnecessary drafts. and
they owe it to the poor to see that they
are not encouraged in idlepess, aud that
they are not led to believe that Chris
tian people will support them 10 the
lack Of proper effort to sustain them
selves.
If people need money that they are
able to work for, it is charity 60 give
them an opportunity to work. 1t is
positively sinful to support such peo-
pie In idleuess. People ought to be
taught to be self-reliant.-Abbeville