The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-11-10
CHARITY
CONFERENCE.
Impressive Address by
Rev. Mr. TOmkinS.
DIR. ANDREWS REMARKS.
Relief Work OF Church and Char
liable Organizations
BROUGHT NEARER TOGETHER.


+. Benjamin Andrews were the speakers.
The work and aims Of this society are
the noblest that man can attempt. Its
influence cannot he estimated. That
which has for its object the raising up of
tbs down. trodden, the bctterment and
character forming i'm the wctched If
made inclusive enough is probably the
only thing that csn reyolutlonizo the
world to state Of happiness. But little
is known OF this work which is so essen
ti& 10 the permanent stability OF the
nation. Rev Floyd w. Tomkins. Jr..
said, speaking CT the Charity Problem
AMI the Churches:" Tho old relation of
the church TO organized charity is chang.
ing. What is the church for: The Bible
and common sense show that lt Is 10
bring tne Kingdom OF God to the world
and looks for the time when man shall be
free from all that hinders him from being
his best. God founded the church with
the idea of bringing all 10 Himself. The
church has not always recognized the i'm
portance Of charity rs work. AT trst III
mad too great struggle for existence;
| later, its riches made IL selfish; still later
at the Reformation IL was tco busy try
! ing TO ureserve its Old standards from the
hands of those who sought TO destroy
| them. Only in the last 30 years has it
| begun TO recognize its power 10 make
men truer, DoDier, better to preach life
not ungmat cS
No church is complete without its helps
| for the young, weak and needy. no man
a Christian who docs not do someth ing
| TO make men better. The world has gone
| ahead of the church in organized work
| that, is the philanthropic reasoning,
civilized heart world. Because the
| church did not DO it, it took il UP irdif-
| ferent TO the church. Then the church
| saw the need and took it up, and as they
| ara working for the same purpose To bet
| ter the world, they ought 10 work to-
| gether. The difficulty in doing this Is
| Il o difference in the motive. The inspira-
| ton Of the church is the inspiration of
| God. 10 save men. The inspiration OF the
world is one of humaDitariahisin, To
better the conditions and develop the
powers of men. While the motive appears
different the end ana method are the
same.
Set aside the motive for a time and all
work together. Every man who does
| something TO make men better has part
| of Gods motive Organized charity Is
trying ID make the world better; the
| church is doing this also, trying 10 find
| the causes That make it bad. the root
| of the evils, ami then remedy
1he work of the two is drawing ncar,r
| and nearer together and it is for the full
| development OF ran. That man who
| simply wants to save his own soul, has
no soul worth saving; he must try To save
Others. lie object is not simply To feed
| the hungry, clothe the naked, but find
| the causes of destitution and lift men
| up physically, morally, intellectually.
| Give him purity. temperance, intelll-
! gence, bodily, health, moral sense II he
! has none. 1t makes one an optimist to
| see these glorious things go Oh. Why do
| we have Athletics gymnasiums, evening
| schools and provisions for the moral in
| teresrs? Because it is not enough just to
| supply the temporary want: we want q
| fu l deve.opu cnt of a mans whole nature.
| jealousy has helped To keep the church
| and organized charity apart.
The churchman wants not only better
| man, but wants to make hin religious,
aud. according to n certain religion. The
| organized charity does not like that, and
| thinks the church knows little about
| practical work. 20 they have kept auart
| Then there is the difference OF opinion
| as TO methods. The church follows too
| literally the command To feed, clothe,
| etc. Organized charity investigates cases,
| finds merits and unworthiness, and is
| accused by the church of harshness But
organized charity Is beginning To find
| the church her best friend, and the OPP
posite is true. Both have teen universe,
| but with common end, motives and
! methods they stand today ready TO join
| hands How can it be donet
First, by corporation. We need TO
| bring the church up to the efficient lines
! OF organized charity; 20 have "a definite
| under standing Cf every case. To be certain
| that the help given Is not duplicated, not
| To give up n case till man Is bettcred or
! proved utterly bad. TO get n man into
| touch with religion, not dogmatic, or
| UNCONVENTIONAL. but the religion that
! teaches IN that God loves His children
and wants t Iem TO know Him.
sccond, by helping each other 70 core
| closer together not for church uniformity
| or unity. but Christian unity as mem.
| bars of "a human race destined To be di-
! vine 20 join hands in q common cause, TO
| do all we can.
Third. by ths power of cooperation to
| u, had from consulting lest met hods
and those who have most studied these
problems.
Fourth, by friendly visits The right
motto is Not aims but friend. :"
Human life needs more than food or
clothes. 1hc church must get friendly
visitors who will put love into their work
| indi yidually trying 10 fill the empty, not
sitting I'm Tews and putting money In the
plate. he re suit will be better work.
| not machipe but heart work, and the
freshness Of religion will be brought into
active service We rejuice that these two
| agents are coming together and God has
| ten the day when all will work In com
mon.
| Dr. AnnfeWs tnen spoke rs 1ollOWs on
"Somc Points on the Ethics of Citizen
| ship" The conceptions OF the central
| idea of this society are visionary and
vague The chief purpose, as many sup.
| piSe. is not to feed the hungry. Others
! hnk 10 is handed together to prevent
| fraud. This is not the main point. Relief
| not otherwise hul il part of a. Relief
| through helpful moss 10 character. We
| would haNG money enough u people nf
| means fully understood our aims. We
seek t. build character. make Jnen and
women real proper. Some have dim
| idea of this, admit It's value snd give
| when asked liut few ~ us. most init.
mate even, know it's full opportunities
\ few Things we nave To consider I'm
| this " ork are these:
| Ihc thought 10 economic value, that l..
true economy. the actual saving to wealth
! and actual increase ut wealth arising
! from lifting up tie degraded tu wealth.
! pruducers Many business man who