Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-07-10
Charitable Work.
Senate.

known philanthropists and leading re-
formers from all over America arr
gathered there to discuss the ways and
means of carrying on the great work 81
helping those who need help. The
holding out of helping hand is tha
basis of Christianity, and it is a boast
and pride of our country that it pos
sesses so many great charitable insti-
tutions and organizations. Every city
has them, and when private charity
does not act, the municipality steps fol :
ward and will not let any person starve
or suffer. This is the duty of govern
ment, to be sure, and is only right and
just, but the private charities, the hos
pitfalls. the Stun missions the relief so-
cieties, and the numberless 0rganiza-
tons that under many names do the
work of the good Samaritan,are worthy
all our praise, our prayers and our as
distance.
The charitable organization has for
its great work the relief of the needy
and the removal of the causes that
make charity a necessity. Two causes
are paramount in causing poverty.
One is ignorance and the other is in
temperance. To wipe out these causes
would be to diminish greatly the num-
bers of those who need help. Some
charitable societies cor - u every child
of school age to attend the public
schools before allowing their families
any assistance from their funds.
America could dissolve many of its
charity organizations within a few
years if our hordes of immigrants did
not include any paupers or ignorant
persons. AS long as immigration l.;
practically unrestricted, as long as in
temperance prevails, and as long as
people prefer a state of ignorance to
any other, so long will our charities
have more work than they can do.
A great drawback to their usefulness
is the fact that SO many unworthy per-
sons manage to secure assistance.
Many professional mendicants live on
the fat of the land, while many worthy
of help suffer in silence and die in their
want. Misplaced charity does much
harm to both parties concerned, and
oh, n,,it o,,ir !
uals are confronted every day with the
problem of helping the ones who really
need and deserve help. More perfect
organization is what is needed in
charitable work to do away with in
discriminate giving, and to make
charity business matter
The charity which puts a needy per-
son in q way TO help himself is the
true kind of charity. Ohio has tried
with great success the plan of free en-
ployment offices in its cities, and it Is
accurately estimated that in this way
500, 900 each year is saved to the labor
ing people of Ohio's five largest cities
out of their hard earned wages. The
person who will not help himself when
given the opportunity does not deserve
help from others and should have nc
place in society. The vast army ii
tramps that overrun the Continent, de-
vastating it like a swarm of locustS
presents serious problem to the pun
lie and private charities of the country
A few are deserving unfortunates, but
most are professional mendicants
made 50 by environment. heredity and
misapplied charity.
The Toronto convention, has many
great questions to discuss and many
able men to handle them. Let us hop,
they will bring about closer and more
effective organization of the forces thai
are contending against darkness, ignor-
ance and evil. A great struggle is on
May it be battle royal fastening tht
millennium the dawn Of better civil
ization; the break of a new morn OF
peace. prosperity and happiness; the
approach of perfection along the multi
tudinous highways of the great socia
| evolution.