The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-02
SPEECHES ON CHARITY
ANIMAL MEETING OF THE BIG IN
DIANAPOLIs ORGANIZATIONS.
Mr.. John III. Holiday Outlines the
Practical Work and Result Accom-
plishcd-John w. Kern Talks.

at Engishs Opera House last night. In
spite of the unpleasant, rainy weather
about 800 people assembled to participate
In the meeting. Governor Claude Matthews
presided. In opening the meeting he con-
graduated the city on the success that has
attended the efforts OF the benevolent So
cities, and mentioned the fact that Indian
apolis ranks first among the cities of the
Union in the success that has attended the
efforts towards organized charities
After the invocation offered by Rev. Mr..
Milburn, John II. Holiday, chairman of the
executive committee, delivered an address
on the subject OF 1.-THE Charity Organizes
ton Society" He said:
When the future historian surveying the
past from his far-removed standpoint. con-
templates the characteristics and achieve
ments OF the nineteenth century, ii is more
than probable he will declare that its great
est gift TO the world was the realization
OF the power OF organization. Men have
always appreciated the force of union Ia
time OF war, but IL remained for this age
10 adapt the principle to all the affairs Of
HE. Whether II be in matters OF govern
inent or religion. the development of vast
transactions in business or methods of So
cfal advancement, In whatever tends 70 inn
prcVement in a civilization swiftly becom-
ing more and more complex, have
learned that union not only is strength, but
Is absolutely necessary if any Roadway is
''The application of this principle i'm the
administration OF charity signaly illus
trates. this. We have come to feel that no
man lives to HIMSELF; that. willing or un-
willing. we are Joined together by bonds
that cannot be broken without injury to
ALL and that all must in self-protection look
after the laggard, the weaklings and the
vicious in the race OF life. and this looking
after must be permanent and methodcaL
For centuries charity simply meant indis-
criminate alms-giving. 1t means that yet
in heather and semi-civilized lands TO give
without asking questions is the height of
merit The Anglo-Saxon got away from
That notion long ago. He realized that
there should be fitness in giving which
did not exist unless there was need. He
believed that If an able man work not
the right principle, for no community can
support an army of drones without bring
ing upon itself a formidable array of evils
Sc the first thought that comes TO us when
asked for charity is: is the applicant
worthy" In small community ii is easy
TO find the answer but In the city, where
time Is the scarcest thing 10 be had, 1t is
difficult TO find ii. and the result is one of
two things: either help is given without
knowledge. and that means in many cases
fused, and that means in many cases con-
tinuance or increase of suffering that should
be alleyiated.
~ INTELLIGENT, TRUE CHARITY.
ut is here that organization steps in TO
do its work and apply TO human distress
the power of intelligent and systematic COM
bination. 1t applies business methods in the
administration of relief. 1t investigates
each case. 1t learns the real condition of
the applicant, the habits, surroundings, re-
lations, antecedents, all that can be learned
about him. 1t puts the facts obtained be-
fore a weekly conference of workers in
charitable societies and public officials
which considers them, and decides whether
aid shall be given, and. If So in what man.
rer. Now. this is not done I'm a cold-blood-
ed, perfunctory way. Some people think
that such treatm has no sentiment in H.
no heart: that it Is gradgrind work. That
is not true. There is far more sympathy
and love in IL than in handing out dollars
an unpleasant thing. There Is sympathy
and love. but they are ruled by intelligence
and action is taken upon established prin-
ciplss which have borne the test Of long
trial.
"Organized charity tries to administer true
charity. Ii goes to the suffering and sub
merged, not with the idea OF alternating
their distress temporarily, but with the
idea of removing the causes and of helping
them up 10 plane of self-support and self
respect. 1t can accomplish little in this
direction unless it has heart In il. unless
1t shows that it is friendly. Without kind
Illness ii cannot win confidence, and
s Nibsuu atiaI aid. This is the give spirit
in which 1t must work. in which 1t does
work. There is no time here TO go into
used TO induce people to help themselves.
but you can understand that 1t requires
steady. thoughtful effort. Contact cannot
end with provision for immediate necessi-
ties. There are cases in which this is all
that can be done, but whenever there is a
ray of hope that the condition can be
altered. the Intercourse is kept up. Espe-
cially is this true where there are children.
DIR. Holmes said that a physician, to treat
a patient successfully, should go back 10
his grandfather and it is only by getting
hold of the plastic and pllable children and
surrounding them with influences which
make for righteousness that the roots OF
much attention is given to the children TO
get them into school and keep them there,
TO induce the parents to take an interest
i'm them and 10 make the home better.
Families upon the verge of pauperlsm are
not thought back by one effort or two. Ii
requires continuous work, frequent friendly
hands. Often they fall back, become dis
couraged or indifferent and the work must
be done again. / take you to families
here where two years ago the HUSBANDS
were drunkards and terrible restitution
sky Now. through the work OF the Char
ity ORGANIZATION In counsel, occasional help
and in bringing sympathy and good infu-
ences to bear, the men have reformed and
the wolf has been driven from the door.
Hundreds OF persons have been started and
encouraged in habits Of thrift. by the visits
OF the Dime Savings Association, which
last year numbered over 1900. Then char
ity cannot confne itself 10 applicants. 1t
must seek out ulStIeSS OilSi.
there are people VINO suffer in silence, who
would starve rather than ask for help.
Only few days ago there was such
case. where the utter destitution of FAM
lily was discovered by person. who re-.
ported the fact. A lady called at the in
stance of the society, learned the circum-
stances. measures were taken TO aid them
and employment was secured, which put
the family beyond want without their ever
discovering that Il was the work of the.
Charity Organization.
CARING FOR CHILDREN.
1.-THE value of all these influences is not
TO be measured In dollars and cents. but
suppose you only consider the money bene-
fit. What has been the result of charity
organization among us? From all the evil
de.rces at hand. there has been great re-
duction in pauperism in this city in the
last seventeen years. In the face of great
increase in population, pauperism has been
held in check and is far less relatively,
than when the work began. If, indeed, 1t is
not absolutely less.
have the care of children. most impor-
tant adjunct to organized charity is the
Board of Childrens Guardians, which is
empowered by the law TO remove children
from the care OF such parents and TO find
suitable homes for them. l want 10 say
that this work. while often misunderstood
and sometimes denounced is good and
necessary one, which IL being administered
i'm the right spirit. On surface view that
NAV seem to be drastic and harsh method
which interferes with parental rights, but