The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-10-24
Practical Philanthropy.

| contained In the recently published re-
port of the Providence Society for Or
| panied Charities. The Society, by It's
| liberal unsectarian and economical meth
DDS, has claim.upon the hearty co-opera-
tioD and liberal support Of all who believe
| In, and practice, practical philanthropy.
| The Society offers to investigate, with
, out charge, cases referred to it and to
report results.
Also to procure necessary relief from
proper sources.
:Ths socie,y asks the pubic to render
all applications for aid from strangers to
its Office for Investigation.
To send the names of all persons and
families receiving aid from private
sources.
10 assist In obtaining general cooper
alton and support. Cards for use in
such service will re provided by the So
ciety at it's Office. 20 Market square, Room
30, Miss Alice NJ. Taylor manager.
II protects the charitable public from
various kinds of imposition, but better
than all else, 1t has opened door OF OPP
portunity through which our Iof.iest as
pirations may be more effectually realized.
Any one having the spirit OF Him
"who went about doing good" 10 in
vited to share In its service.
Our city pastors lament the dwarfed
religious life in the churches to which
they minister. Many good men them
selves lament that they find 80 little
scope for the beneft spirit tha IS In them.
To this want our charity Organization
addresses itself. In 1t can be found work
enough for the development Of the best
energies hat religious love and self-sac-
| rifics for Others inspired.
1t says to one who 10 willing to do SER
| vice: Here is q family IN want. We
know their want and It's cause. We know
their dependency. We know that they
have but little confidence in religious
effort We know the cherries, the
frightful outlook for the children, al
ready prematurely wise in the knowledge
| OF the world on its dark side Some
special distress has brought them to our
door. We entrust them to your care
Bestow upon them your heart. Win their
Take the commission as in Gods name.
tnat this family may engage your thought
and time and prayer, and may become ct
length your Joy. 1t Is q task that an
angel might covet. 1t is a task that the
Divine Son eagerly accepted, and SO in
aod's name We offer It to you.
Anyone who knows the poor only as the
| rootryopta ~ olp,o opyopa uh1 taa ,,.t
friends among them, anyone who has not
seen the patience, self-denial and hard
work through long years which some
faithful mother undergoes, anxious only
that her children NAV not grow up pau
pers, has missed something from life.
Those who cannot give money can give
what is often better, their time and err.
ergies to the work. They can make sure
that no children grow up as paupers.
They can aid In fnding employment for
all who are able. Direct in industrial
agencies all who are deficient. Encour-
age cleanliness and comfort in the home
and inspire new hope, and self-respect.
Starving and shivering bodies some
times forget that they have souls. The
offer of tract or religious counsel to
one who Is more distinctly conscious OF
bodily wants offends and repels. But the
frieudliness that meets one In the want OF
which ne is conscious, and bestows sym
patby and help at just that point, wins
confidence. 1t gains power to lift the
needy upon e.higher plane, not only OF
physical culture, but OF spiritual con-
sciouness and aspiration.
Friendly visitors oeeo not be limited
10 the parlor, or confined In four wells.
Yet a doorway or sidewalk call may easily
lead to an introduction to the former
IL one desires 1t. The poor are hospitable
and simple hearted. AS soon as they are
assured of ones kindly interest, their
hearts and homes are open to receive one.
They seldom ask who you are, or even
your name II you forget to give 1t. And
the idea Of social difference does not
often occur to them. Hence IL is that
one who seeks the work from mere
motives OF sentiment will be very apt to
fail.
Some people have an idea that one can
not visit the poor except for the purpose
OF talking religion or carrying gifts. But
the motive Of the friendly visitor is con.
trary to both these ideas.
How absurd II would be IL we though
our friends expected q gift every time
we called upon them. Or II they sat and
preached whenever they came to see us.
think we should tire OF II.
What the poor need Is real sympathy
and encouragement hat they may feel
that there is some one who takes a real
interest in them, and cares whether they
succeed or not.
May the time soon come when every
body will be brought up for the race,
and live for the race, the motto being
that OF Fenelon: 81 prefer my family to
myself, my country to my family, and
humanity to my country"
"oh Brother man fold 10 thy heart thy brother;
| where pity dweils the power Of God 10 there.
| To wors nip rightly, IL To love each other.
| Each smfle a hymn. each rood deed a tfaVer "