The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-05-21

fore it Yields better results. But the CON
clusion at which I have arrived, after a
life spent in observing the operation and
effect of all conceivable prison systems,
is that in all of them, the best and the
saved by love, and by nothing else. The
one thing essential to their salvation is
the healing touch.
THE National Conference of Charities
was originally to a much greater extent
than now an official body. With the ad-
vent of a proportfonally larger number of
representatives of private charities, es-
pecially of younger men and women rep
%resenting the work of the associated
charities, questions pertaining to methods
of relief and prevention of pauperism
have naturally occupied more of our time
and attention. NoWhere Is the personal
touch more needed than in the care of
the poor. This conviction led to the
movement which has received the name
OF charity and it is the main
spring of its vitality. Its originators were
animated by two leading thoughts: First,
that almsgiving by proxy, while it may be
an effective means of alternating the phys
zeal distress due to extreme poverty, has
proved almost a complete failure as a
means of lifting the poor man out of his
poverty; and, second, that no system of
~almsgiving, individual or organized, can
accomplish this result without the inter-
yentton of the so-called friendly visitor
These principles were elaborated into a
system known as the new charity which
Is a mlsnomer,. since they are not new.
The movement had two distinct aims, one
positive. the other negative. 1t sought to
render imposture on the part of profess
sional beggars more difficult, by registra-
ton of the relief granted by all Charitable
organizations in a given community. On
mldd1eman IN charity, and to bring the
giver and the recipient of relief into per-
sonal relation with each other.
I need not, L think, carry the illustra-
ton of the healing touch into other de-
partments of charitable work: into child
saving, for instance. Love in the family
would render half the work in that direc-
ton needless. 1t is the unloved child, us
ually. who goes astray; or else the child
who is the object of a mistaken, counter
felt affection, assuming the form of in
dulgence unmodiied by proper parental
restraint.
ITO avoid misconception, let me add
that love needs always to be supplement-
ed by knowledge. The combination of
knowledge with love, or of the conclu-
sions, of the reason with the intuitions of
higher and nobler attribute than knowl-
edge alone. ~Tennyson, speaking of the
evolution OF civilization, has said that
" knowledge comes, but wisdom fingers.
Another m-isconception, which must he
guarded against, is that of supposing that
love is tolerant Of unrighteousness. Char
ity re9olceth not in iniquity. but rejoiceth
in the.truth.' Mercy and truth said the
Psalmist-mercy and truth or love and
righteousness have kissed each other
Love is the power that makes for right
eousneSS. because Love Worketh no iii
to his n%eighbor; therefore love Is +he FIJI.
filing of the law The law of love is tho
golden rule: AS We would that mer
should do to you, do We even so to them.
liz ODSC1 fdIlGS VI LllS TUX
would usher in the golden age, in which
the lost Eden shall be regained.
i marvel at the undue Importance
which we attach, in our discussions. Il
methods of charitable work. Not tina
they are unimportant- Not that they dC
not demand discussion. Not that it make.
lany difference whether We adopt and pur-
sue inferior or vicious melhod in prefer
ence to better methods, more fruitful O.
good results. We need to exchange ex
periences and to compare opinions. Their,
are practical and impractical methods
methods scientific and unscienti6e, II
every undertaking, religious or secular
IN medicine, in education, in philanthropy
and in government. But infinitely NOR,
important is the question of the spirit Il
which they are followed, whether our mo
uyes are pure, whether our eye is single
whether we seek, in what we do, self
qualification and the applause of men, o
whether we do all IN the name of tn,
Master. unselishly, hoping to be blesse,
in blessing others. Greater vet will b
the glory of the century to come. becaus
it is destined to be a century of moral vic
tories more Respondent than the materia
and intellectual triumphs of the last hun
dred years.