The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-10-16
Meeting of Association Of Directors
of the Poor.
A PAPER READ BY MRS. SWAN
discussion Upon Charity aud the Best
Methods OF Dispensing the Same.
Some Useful Suggestions for
the phiianthrOpic Citizen.


President Lawrence delivered his an
nual address. Mrs. Francis Swan, Of
scranton read paper entitled What
Is Char!ty?' which created a marked
impression upon the directors present.
rms. swans paper was as follows:
To all thinking minds, this question
must he acknowledged to be one of the
leading problems of the day. 1t would be
arrogance on the part of any one to ex-
pect TO solve the question 20 the satisfac-
tion OF all We are so thoroughly the
creatures of circumstance. and environ
ment. that our very thoughts, as well as
our lives, are governed thereby. That
man or woman who has known only
lie OF ease and luxury, never coming
into personal contact with the actual suf.
fering and distress of the poor cannot
possibly know their need. Neither can
ssuch persons agree with the poor in their
IDEAS as TO the best method of ameliorat-
ing lheir condition, or eradicating the
evils which have served 10 produce exist
ing conditions. Custom, too. often over
rules reason and judgment, giving color
to our conclusions.
AS the world advances, new times de-
mand new measures, and the wise men
of today will in time yield their opinions
TO men who have grown wiser in the
light of the needs of the future. Thus
agreeing TO disagree with those who differ
from us, as to what may be the greater
charty, let us counsel together Web
ster defines charity as love- benevolence.
good will: that disposition Of heart which
lnclines men to think favorably of their
felloWnien. and to do them good. In
theological sense ii includes supreme love
to God, and universal good will to man.
Liberality to the poor in gratuitous aims
giving or service, to relieve them in dis
tress liberal!ty in gifts and services to
promote public objects Of utility; liber-
ality in Judging of men and their actions.
and to put the best construction on
words and actions which the case will
admit. Thus he defines charity, as the i'm
pulse of generous mind.
The Poor Always withUs
Many centuries have past since the fact
became known that we should always
have the poor with us" and that it must
find its counterpart in charity. We read
of deaconesses who served in the capacity
of servants in the church from the time
of the apostles, in caring for the sick
and imprisoned women, and in taking
care of lyine-in women and the poor
During the middle ages numerous socitics
for benevolent purposes were Instituted
mong them the Beghards and Beguines
the Apostolic Brethren and the Flagel-
lants. some were founded on ecclesiasti-
rosea po by the beS olesFs srf bitterly G2
among the Free Masons, but unless they
put aside their arcana, the church con-
sidered their influence peculiarly dan
gerous. Brothers and sisters of the Free
Spirit were sect of the thirteenth CEN
tury who were early suppressed. because
of their belief that the deeds of ths body
could not possibly effect the soul. there
by leading them into excesses of licentious
living.
The society of Brethren of Social Life.
of the Common Lot. of GOODWIN, in the
fourteenth century was in several re-
spects, the forerunner of the societies of
United Bre hren. Community of goods,
ascetic habits, industry. care of the edu-
cation of the young, were some of the
chief points insisted upon In the order.
Their followers rendered most important
services 10 popular education. having free
schools in connection with many of their
homes, supporting students at other
schools, and distributing useful books.
In the sixteenth century the order of the
Brothers of Charity was established for
the care of the sick. and reformation of
fallen wcmen. The order of the Sisters
of Charity was first called into existence
by Vincent Ge Paul in 1894 Although
during the French revolution this order
was suppressed, IL was restored by Napo-
leon in 1907. They attended the sic! in
hospitals and engaged in elementary edu-
cation among the villagers.
Money Given to Charity.
The Institute of Dee aconesses in the pro-
tsstant churches of the continent of
Europe is &C far similar character. The
throughout Europe and America during
the past century is familiar to YOU ali,
One hundred millions of dollars(S1Oo 600. .ooW
are spent annually in the United States in
charity, but this does not prove that tho
best interests of the poor are being served
thereby. Our own state cannot be sur
passed in its public and private charities,
More than one per cent. of its population
Is supported by the public three fifths of
that number heirg the direct results of
Ia ~ i,, ~,
minds of any one as to the magnitude of
the benevolent work being done in our
own state let him try to enumerate its
public Institutions.
Training schools for boys and girls, hos
pi;sls for the deaf, dumb. blind, feeble
minded and incurables Homes for the
aged and children. day nurseries, found
ling asylums, crphanaces, odd Fellows
and Masons orphauages and homes,
church homes. homes for colored women
and children. educational homes, homes
for the friendless. children's aid societies.
home for the employment and instruc-
tion of the poor. temporary homes for
women, Florence Crittenton missions.
homes for the widows and single women,
old mems homes, homes for consump-
tivcs, maternity hospitals. refornlatories
for inebriates, midnight missions. homes
for the working girls, and many other.
All of these, without touching upon the
home provided by each city and town for
its own poor. or the many private chari- |
ties. Is net the necessity for so many
che ritablc institutions n cause for alarm?
VIII 1t not soon command the attention
of the better classes, who should feel |
some responsibility. for such social con- |
ditions? Hopeless want should have no
room in land of christian liberty. He
who feeds the raven. provdently cares for |
the sparrow. and clothes the lilies of the |
field. provides literally Cor the temporal |
wants OF all mankind-yet we read-"For |
the poor shall never cease ont of the lands |
therefore, | command thee. saying thou
shalt open thine hand wide unto thy |
brother, to thy poor. and to thy needy |
In thy lard" This command executed |
will be transposing the word charity into |
love to fellow-man.
Duty for Us 10 Perform
We cannot reach its apex. until we have |
brought our fellow-man out of vice and |
degradation. out of abject Ignorance and |
into realm of law and order |
where with an educated head and hand, |
and a clean heart, he can stand side by |
side with his more favored fellow work. |
man, on his own merit. There Is no direc- |
ton In which human ingenuity has been |
more exerted, than In its endeavor to |
improve the condition OF the poor. The |
of alms-giving has been SO ad.
verse at times that many doubt its In
fiuence for good. and some OF our best
are of the opinion that all relief
outside of the almshouse Is to be depre-
Gated. The ignorant classes who talk
much. but think, read and study little
are not easily convinced that the money
to the directors OF the poor Is
not intended to be used as private charity.
They do not realize that the poor laws
policy, and that only the safety and honor
OF the state is considered bv their enact