The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-09-20

ohaI1A, 4NSD., sept. ID his even
1rg's session closed the meeting of the
Mississippi conference of chart
ties and corrections, which has been
held in this city during the last five
days. 1t was presided over by Mrs E.
b. Perrin, of this city, who has been
engaged in charity work for many
years. The topic for discussion was
me Treatment Of the Feeble Mind
ed. Papers were read by DR.. George
Mogridge, of Glenwood, To-, and DR..
osborne, superintendent Of the Cali
fornia institution for the feeble-m mind
ed. A paper on THE Application of
the Charity Organization Society Idea
to Cities of 5000 to 10000 Population"
was presented by James F. jackson, of
st. Paul. He said:
The problem of the city is said to be
tne problem Of the age. The proper att
delinquent is one of the most important ele-
ments in the city problem, because them
seiVes part OF the community, their in
nuence is always destructive. They are the
tools OF the corruptionists, the promoters of
disease and the despoilers of life character
anu property. These elements are always
present in small cities.
II IS interesting to observe that Just
as cut calls out the curative qualities of
t the oIood, SO the presence Of parasitism and
tne destructive element in the community
Calls cut the opposite tendencies. No society
possesses more of this curative element than
a
asehcy It's peculiar function is to provide CO.
operation investigation, registration, informa-
tlon 10 proper parties, prevention of fraud
friend for each bro. her, help to self-heIp
mere, you may ask why so much ma
emery for the charity of small city? What
then Is practical charity? Charity is love; It
cconsidereth the poor Loving thought IA
me essential; with it no necessary article
WIN be Withheld; The important standard
in charity is not the financial effect mon
tho giver, but the effect upon the REGIMENT
is ne more of man, more able to fill his
pI1ce IN society? +: is pitiable to see some
People acting rs If to Guido God in goodness
by feeding a family whose responsible mem
pers could be led or driven into sef-support.
aims that are given except as the result
OF adequate investigation are usually mis-
placed and minister to laziness Hcentiousness
ana crime much more often than to physical
cber;+v investigation i've is essential to helpful
cHarity, out the charity organization agent
should make the initial Investigation to in
sure thoroughness.
The Charity Organization society is not
expected TO relieve the individual of all ofIi-
9aIlGns; on the contrary, it Is intended TO be
IN tne largest sense an agency for individual
CHARITY A SCIENCE.
Charity is science and it is as IMPORTANT
10 consult the charity organization agents as
IL is TO consult the minister, the lawyer, or
the doctor concerning their srecialties Re-
nemperlng that the object Of charity is to
help to readjust people who are in abnormal
relationship. the reed of organized work - in
small cities is evident
Recent testimony from workers IN r,,oI
cites throughout our land shows conc1usive
lhat the application of charity organization
in Is necessary and as Dracticable as
In large cities In towns so small as tn
nave but two charity societies or churches
an interchange of views has proved helpful
ana eco1onilcal. There is thea aginning of
Charity Organization society. Representatives
or every char ty in a small CITY should m set
at stated intervals as council for conference
ana 70 secure harmony of action. These
councils are of great Importance. The more
societies the more opportunity for heIpfuln sss
UNNECESSARY gifts reduce the desire and the
ABILITY for selfsuppcrt, therefore as few as
one time. "'
II is often necessary at the outsst of
small charity organization society to empha-
size the saving effected to the poor depart
ment and to the charities But the agent
bears constantly in mind the fact that the
the applicant.
The question naturally arises how small
cry cry is TO AFFORD to pay the agent 1t has
heen found practicable to employ an agent
by the hour and perhaps limit the number
OF hours service. The agent must be per-
son of energy intelligence and tact with q
love for humanity, charity organization
society can be had IN any established and
enterrrising community the same as churches
schools and Libraries.
"A cardinal doctrine of charity organiza
ton in larger cities is that material relief
is never given from its treasury. The smaller
cities will do well to adopt this doctrine.
When necessary, relief should be given by
church, lodge, or a relief society The
practice of relief giving has proven a mill
stone about the neck of many a promising
charity organization society
The important thing to be borne in mind
everywhere is that the essential element in
charity is not dollars. but principles, soften
mems souls. The work of a charity organi-
cation society is never easy, but it is always
worth while It's working motto should he
Benjamin Franklin's saying: Il think the
best way of helping the poor is not by max
Ing them easy in their poverty, but by lead
Ing or driving them out of it,
Following the reading of these two papers
reports were heard from representatives of
the leading charity organizations in this city.
The delegates spent the afternoon in driving
about the city and made short visits to sew
erai of the hospitals and other charity insti-
tutons.