New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-19
rorrpANcE IN CHARITABLE WORK.

TOLERANCE IN CHARITABLE WYNN
THE NEED OF PUTTING ASIDE RELIGIOUS PREJ-
uprcEs TO SECURE THE BEST RESULTS.
To The Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: The writer has been much struck py the
,o,,.r ~ A T. NJ in The Tribune OF May IT, because
II treats OF a subject unpleasant In Itself ana con-
stantly ''in evidence" wherever men and women are
handed together for the purpose of any kind OF char
liable work or work for the betermen OF the lower
classes which does not avow Itself as church work
II is a strange thing that even In this age OF the
world the old Lam hoer -than-thou spirit should
still be rampant everywhere as 1t most certainly H.
Nothing seems to be so hard to eradicate as this
narrowness OF view regarding all religious matters
IL is plainly shown in the words Of the Brother or
St Andrew quoted by A. f. NJ. That any one can
really believe that the work of the College ana
University Settlements does Injury to any other
work for the beterment OF the lower classes shows
such Ignorance Of the truth and such hopeless dens
ity on the subject that 1t would be utterly useless
IN saw Come let us reason together" What the
worthy brother really means Is simply this: That
these devoted men and women are working not FOR
love OF "the church." but for the love OF humanity
doubtless he thinks he means Christ when he uses
the name but In the course OF A somewhat varied
experience the writer has become convinced that In
most charitable work avowedy under church patron
age the workers prone to set the church above
the things for which the church stands.
Many OF us will recall the fact that when the
Sanitary Commission had made It's work success
full land T. the first to start such labors), dur
Ing the early part of the Civil War, another COM
mission was set up and called the "Christian Com
mission" as II to reprove those who had founded
the other one, and the fact that the late DR.. Bel
lows was at the head of the Sanitary Commission
was by many believed to have been the cause Of
this unchristian act. But that waA generation
ago; ought not TO expect something better OF
more advanced time?
on a occasion the present writer visited the
College Settlement in Hivington-st Among other
lessons to be learned there is the broadcast kind OF
charity, the real spirit of Christianity, not the
letter OF church teachings, There was
ference Of delegates from other cities and among
other speakers was Miss Jane Adams. of Hun
House, Chicago. OF the foremost women In tho
noble work In this country, She dwelt upon the
fact that tolerance Of every shade OF opinion ahso'
lutte nonseotarianism. must DO the basis OF their
work, And In the so-called "slums" whore they
live they arc obliged 10 remember constantly that II
they would have any measure ~ success. no mans
religious pfeudlcrH must ba offended Perhaps
tho beat way To describe this work N 10 shy thh u
n preparatory 20 religious WORK ani " tho brother
of ~, Andrew viii oal ~ the Settlement. even hla
eyes may loo opened when ho hurH these devoted
women IN the midst Of the children for whom they
nfe laboflng The change IN their appearance ana
IN their manner IL marvellous since they have
been brought into contact with their more fortunate
brothers and sisters. AS for tho religious side OF
he mater since aimos. al me people wno I'VE IN
Bohcmians and Hebrews. It In obvious that To at
tempt anything In tho way OF regular service
would be out OF the question: and would surely end
in driving away those whom II II the first object Of
these unscnsh workers to reclaim and upft. In
true charitable and Chrstllke work three things
necessary First, tolcrat!on, second. toleration;
third liberation. {. >. n.
Brooklyn. May l6. 1885,