The sun., 1896-12-17
CHURCH WORK FOR THE PooK.
A Card from DIR. Rainsrord.


To THE EDITOR OF THE SUS-Sir: In the con-
siderate notice which THE sun has seen ht to give
to the report of st. Georges work for 1895 as re-
corded in its Year Book. there is only one Inn
portant particular in regard IN which, It seems
70 me, the aim of such work is misunderstood
and so rather misstated. The notice refer to
closes with this sentence:
The question cannot fail arise In rejecting minds
whether this vast machinery OF benevoience is &C
complaining actual results commensurate with It's
and Its niude; whether Il 10 founded sound
principle. only tends to aggravate the evil OF
pendsnce and TO create the spirit OF pauperism and
social rebellion.
Now. sir. / quite agree with THE SUN that
much work that passes for charitable work
may have tendency. often has q tendency. to
agRravate the evil OF dependence and to create
the spirit of pauperlsm. and SO ultimately to
foster social rebellion. But an actual acauaint-
ance with the practical working of most
churches would make 1t evident to any intelli-
gent man that these structures do not apply in
their cases. Under our present social condition
a well-organized church, in my judgment.
should undertake to give to the public some
practical illustrations of what our social life
requires.
Let me take an instance which illustrates my
position. only one OF many. The public school
system OF New York when properly admins
tered will meet the educational requirements
OF all the children OF the city. 1t does do so
at present. Now. II is not the function OF the
Church TO supply the education which the pub
lie school does not supply: This may have been
But 1t is the function OF the Church. 1t seems to
me. to point out where our system OF education
AND to Of of nS e' .sS DPN
rublic system OF education which leaves the
Children of the masses, especially the chill
while they are very little, is system
which Will commend itself to men who know
III y adm al ma Var ia Ia
the condition In New York to-day. Many. many
thousands of little tots" are left to spend their
time among tenement-h honse stairs or Railways,
aiity, disease, and bad habit have fastened on
them. No city Is doing its duty for the children
II Al does not provide on "A large and thoroughly
efficient scale kindergarten training for the
their education Is OF most vital Importance.
These are commonpiaces, sir. Every one who
knows anything about education knows them
Yet what are we doinR2 Not what we ought
TO do In New IorR yet; nor can we until our
people are prepared TO expend much larger sums
Of money on this vital matter OF education. Now.
St Georges provides kindergarten or two as
the case may be. Not that we are such fools In
the church as TO suppose that We can do the
great work that the public system of education
leaves undone: but simply TO keep before the
public eye the evils resulting from present neg
figence and the good that may be achieved
from the use OF intelligent and efficient methods.
III had time to enlarge on tho departments
of the church's work, | could make IL evident
that money expended In this way does not tend
10 paupe.ize an ybohy, and does create the very
worthy spirit which is In opposition to all de-
pendence, and the snrest possible preventive OF
social rebellion. could make il clear that IL 10
spent. Let me ado, In conclusion, that very lit
lie money, indeed is to-day spent by any church
iknow OF in direct charity. There thoroughly
agree with you. To give things to people for