The herald., 1895-11-28
/ PenoIogy From the Objective
y and Subjective Standpoint
THE WORK OF ONE MAN
Importance Of Individual Effort En-.
phasized
'.fThe Public Benefactions Of Mrs. Hollenbeck
a. fade the Subject Of Wsil.Deserved
Commendation-Notes
Quoted by Mrs. NJ. i. .Maynard)

ting III ar association, intelligentiy ana
by natural methods, to large ends
ssUscar McCullocb.
H. 1t is not SO simple a matter as it used
to bo to fulfill ones obligations to the
esneedy: charity becomes ever more COM
,Cplicated, involving the head as well as
s%she heart, pecessitating practical bust
tc,ness like enterprise, as we'll as generous
Will. Almsgiving as a toll on the road to
saheaven was once candidly acknowledged
as a worthy thing ;now,,t is in disrepute.
ssbut think, nevertheless, still common.
MANY people still nave a feeling that
somehow they can weigh So much cbLr-
sity against so much of wrong.doing, and
keep the balance rsspectworthy. Most of
us, however, who are guilty Of sometimes
acting from suon a motive unconsciously,
do not need to be convinced that this IS
unworthy We know that only genuine
sympathy has any moral value, and more
and more we see that an opportunity to
be OF real service is a privilege, not bur.
den.
We are all so united in the laws that
>icontrol our human destiny that whatever
ave can do to make the lot OF another
more favorable is an opportunity to be
aembraced as eagerly as if it were an ad-
vantage for ourselves; not IN the same
degree. to be sure, as yet, but this sense
of our common responsibility becomes
SWore prevalent every day. Since we I'M
derstand better the laws Of heredity and
environment, we arc not so much inclin-
ed to decide who is to blame for any
condition of distress or poverty, but to
think more OF those general conditions
for which we are all responsible.
The question now is MT how we can re-
ward tho worthy, poor by generous
Ing them destitute but how may We de-
velop the qualities that have bsen lack
ing in order TO change the unfortunate
situation. In philanthropic work, as in
every other, we must regard the develop
ment Of the soul. Little else is worth
study.
Tbs reports of intelligent. workers in
charitabla societies now deal with many
wide problems. They are no longer con-
tent to report the number OF blankets and
shoes distributed. but they enter largely
into the causes of the poverty and the
me hods that will produce the hig hest
returns upon the characters of those who
need assistance. This brings into chari-
table work about all the problems that
one finds in modern society. 1t has in
it all the difficulties of an educational
system. without any opportunity for reg
ular instruction and Without necessary
application on the part of the student
training their children in habits of in
dustry, honesty and thrift, without the
tie OF olood to give the unquestioned
right, and without the years OF constant
ASSOCIATION to make it feasible.
Tho tasks imposed are tremendous, and
il 10 little wonder that many give up in
Discouraged and with bitter cynicism
refuse TO try to help. or give recklessly
IRON a desperate desire to get rid of the
whole problem. But we cannot escape
responsibility in either fashion without
moral blame of the most serious char
acter.
That weakest link IN the chain of hu-
mAnity must ne strengthened somehow
or We may we'll despair for all our kind.
The oest people that the world has de-
veloped SO far will be disgrace tc the
creative lfeif they are willing to re-
main on their higher plane without max
ing any effort to brIng the less favored
ones up after them. Human beings
worthy of the name will never be willing
that another mortal shall suffer from
hunger or cold if he can justly prevent
it. out neither will an intelligent person
Ge willing to give plindlv even to secure
his own peace of mind. What we want
IS some way by which we can help power
ty out of It's distress without depriving
the character Of it's self-respect, its en-
terprse and its mental and physical
energy
The experience of phlanthropists has
led to a system Of organized charity
which is expressed in this statement of
the Indianapolis society:
This is the true idea and object of the
Charity Organization societv-to draw
around the poor, the miserable, the ne.
elected, the forsaken and the evil circlo
OF sympathy, affection, intelligent thong ht
and resolute will. Each society differing
from the other in the special work it un.
dertakes. all unite in the common effort
to strengthen that which is weak and
lift up that which is fallen down
This seems like a much idealized state
ment woen one learns that it has to do
with central offices registrations and
much besides that seems to suggest "red
tape" and machinery; but really all the
machinery is to the end that individual
workers may Ce set in motion. The IN ost
that we can do to really help people is TO
bring them into friendly contact with n
dividuals who can be wise advisers and
sympathetic friends. This seems as if it
required nothing Dut the Willingness on
the part of these wise friends now and as
If no special machinery were needed, out
practically it Is Impossible without some
systematic cooperation. One case of
need may have dozen families interest
ed in il, whereas another case may have
been OVERLOOKED entire.y by anyone who
could inteIligently care for its needs,
while the case in which so many are in
terested may receive no wise guidance pe-
cause the responsibility is so divided.
Ths simple fact is that all things must
ne done decently and IN order If they are
dene at all. System and its consequent
machinery are simply oruerIy co-upera-
tion and. thank God things are so govern
ed in this world that we cannot work in
dependently OF each other even to do good
unseltishly. Society Is one unbroken
whole. and everything can DE more
efficiently done when in external method
we recognize this fundamental law,
Dr. Lyman Appott is quoted as saving
that mad the good Samaritan lived at
the present time and peen Yankee he
would not have peen satisfied with the
simple discharge of his duty as in the
parable, put would have organized So
cicty for the sick and wounded travellers.
with a president, several vice presidents
a treasurer, al assistant treasurer and
secretaries, in every district of Pales-
tine" Someone in commenting on this.
prefers to ignore the irony and consider
It high tribute to the good sense and
adaptapility Of our old friend, the Samar-
itan. "Thirst is always the same but tn
style of waterworks changes to meet the
changing needs. Charity, in essence, is
changeiess, but We must have modern
organizations to meet modern condi-
TONS"
The characteristic features of organized
charity are corporation, registration, in
vestigation andRconference. First Coop
erat0n-this should mean that all the
societies in the city doing charita o
work. all the benevolent indiyIduals