New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-21
WHAT A CITY PASTOR SEES
ITEMS OF PERSONAL INTEREST ~
CHURCH PEOPLE

CHURCH PEOFLE
It is probably too late to influence any one VINO
desires to add the pleasure Of the children OF te
tenement districts by loading Christmas trees Win
nresants for distribution IN public places But II
is not too late protest against THIS form
of philanthropy The assumption on tne par VI
those who conduct enterprises OF this KIND Is tha'
the recipients of the gifts would not otherwise ha's
Christmas presents. This assumption Is based upon
a lack Of knowledge regarding the children OF 'ns
NOR As there is no Jewish family, however poor.
that does not have at least one good meal IN ths
week so there Is practically no child not Je"'sa
that does not have Christmas present however
small and many Of the families that would impress
the average person being in extremely straItenea
circumstances have a Christmas tree IN their htue
roous oven though the tree and its fruit may not
he worth more than a dollar or two Inc ASSENT
bling Of children whether deserving or not Al
great hail. where their wealthy benefactors may
gather ITO enjoy themselves al the expense oi INC
poor" is Of the surest ways to develop eI oS
feeling which is already one OF the ht"at v ~
city One Of the great aims OF the pest plith' w.
pists is to avoid having the poverty o. TIC
clpents placed on exhibition.
But, some one says. Have you only present "
offer? Give us something better Here - s'e
gestion Every phianthropist whether MS BY
large or small, would get vastly more soVu ou' "
his oenehcence IL he were able personally 10 pu Wv
gift into the home. showing an Interest IN '"e a.
ly not merely financial. Friendship more lion
aims even Christmas aims, is the great 'oHe''s
those who receive this class of gifts II "'oDs
press OF duties dis,aste for PERSONA 49," 49,.
with the recipients OF his benevo.ence' OF 'H'0ue"
a desire not to pose as benetac'or, ne
~ the many agencies already esiao4shea' % hss
personal friend who works among NE rsch those
almoner he will find his gifts VII t r'1out t" de-
sroying their self-respect; the last barrier pe'-
manhood and pauperism
several
nastor of Romeyn Chapel in East Four'ee'''-s'"
has received a unanimous and hearty can iro'" 20
West Fifty-irst Street Presbyterian Chu'0" -
he is now considering. DR.; Douglas ass a.,
preacher enthusiastic worker IN me Nv IN mis-
and he will undoubtedly do excellent E0rN j" "'''
new place II he decides TO accept the call
At the annual meeting of the New-fork SUNDAY
school Association the following officers were
elected The Rev. DR.. James Burrel! pIsiin p'' ~
William Ives Washburn, vice-pFes!dGH'', 'n,ey
Knevas. treasurer. and the Kew y L. '' '''
secretary.
THE Evangelical Religion and It's kN"'s w."
be the subject discussed at the New-horh f.' -.
Cadman. the head OF the forward movement OF 'N'
Methodist Episcopal Church in THIS CITY
Dr. Parkhurst, in a recent article In Ihe IN
denendent" discussing The Church and the nv
nicipality" says that the character OF 'o""
the mean average character of the men anu WIN,
who live In IT, and that the political salVauoh y.
the town involves the personal ehhooie"e". ~
the citizens man by man, VINO form par % -
heng and Ife The writer believes IN reaeh'Hs
the masses' individually and has this 10 say aoO'
the doleful significance OF the expression spaS"''
OF virtue: "Spasmodic virtue in municpai my
ters means that once In while some peVu''"' -
bination OF circumstances rouses the people !" "
act of dignity and decency that rs more thah 0o
mensurate with the virtue existing In the Pe'P'0
| Individually That can best be illustrated 10
familiar way by saying that at the Impulse Vi -,
sprlting urgency a selfish man. even inset va"
often be stimulated TO an act or larger o'"e"' -,
He will not repeat IT, Ii is not expected 1Iat ne hy
The generosity in his donation was nor o,Sn ~,
an equivalent generosity in his heart No" W."
OF artificial stimulation that conpcis d wa" ysry
act of the heart OF an unchaEltdut hi'
much OF a piece with the campaign denlohs 80 ia
perpetrated here every October that mas vo,ers
object strain certain number or thouSas'u ,hsv
the casting OF a ballot that Is cleaner Sia AZ
man cannot be tricked exhilarated INTO aoa" ne
high-grade act twice without long s'oi,,teai
tween. That exhibits the point at WINCH III Vi hst-
effort fails In Its attempt to secure nu'nS n~e the
church needs to do It's work Whatever may I've ,s i
character Of officials to-day we may az ,,ne
make up our mind 10 the fact that as RUE "a ~ A
years out OF ten the city government VIII De ",
par In point OF character Win the aVefaSe hs OK.
acter OF our citizenship Politicians cannot De vN
pected TO raise the moral average, tor th,. ,,ons
mean working for remote purposes; ana pon,s ro,s
az this city knows them do not work lot 'emTnss
purposes They work for the next election. in ~
Is always the horizon OF political endeavor ana "a
| love votes. but In the men who love men,