The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-09

tered to the poor. the hungry. the thirsty,
the lame, the deaf and to ali who were in
need.
Charity is not a virtue. The poor we
have always with US, and IL is no virtue
FOR US 10 help a poor, deserving person
Charity is doing the Will or God. Pauper-
ism is no necessary evil. Pauperism and
poverty are the results of social conditions.
When you meet a tramp on the wayside
and give him money or other assistance
you do him i'll. You are only helping that
man 10 keep on his downward path. Christ
when He, met d mendicant always up
braided the man for begging and told him
TO desist. We should do the same. The
sole object of the Charity Organization IL
the upbuilding of humanity. We have come
to the conclusion that those who choose 10
lead a pauper life are not 10 be helped an
any way.
THE greatest motive of modern charity
is 10 abolish and eliminate pauperism. If
we could starve out the tramp it would be
better for humanity. 1t Is no nonor to keep
a mans lazy blood inactive. 1t is marvel
Gus TO note what is being lone by the
Charity Organization for the care of Chill
dren. AS a result of the laws in this State
orphanages a been established which
are little by-Stations along the lives of
many of our young. They are the stations
in life which lead the little one TO a better
home and keep him from the prison cell.
The work in this respect In this State Is or
a gigantic nature and is little understood
by the many thousands of people living
here. BY the organization of our State
(udIl(y bOdTQ every Cnllu III lHlS Oldlt IL
practically under control of the State until
il is old enough to look after Itself. Con-
nected with the state institution are tour
men who go about the State looking after
children who have been taken from or
phanages and placed in good, Christian
homes. These men keep a continual watch
over all their charges until they are about
sixteen years old. Some people say that
such a care must surely cause a great out
lay of money and be burdersome TO the
taxpayers. 1T is in a way expensive, but
4ha, IL -. -lA, - - "a -
examined which show that the money used
in this way also brings a dividend. 1t cost
last year 500 to take children out of the
~rphanages and place them in good homes.
: the children were allowed to remain in
the orphanages for the entire year it
would have cost the State $50, 600 to care for
them. So you will see that it was a great
saving in the end.
1T would be better that this work of the
Charity Organization were understood more
fully. People would then realize the gray
ity of the social condition which confronts
us. The little bands which now have the
work in charge would be probably aug
mented by others, and owing TO their united
efforts fewer criminals would be incar-
cerated and there would be fewer imbeciles
in the home in Fort Wayne.
The latter phase of Indiana's pauper
charges is almost beyond the belief of one
outside the institution. Superintendent
Johnson is doing a great work in this in
stitution in teaching these feeble-minded
boys and girls to learn farming The work
done by the children last year enabled the
State to save many thousands of dollars
in the care of the home. When a man like
Mr.. Johnson takes 600 children who are
without will power of their own and
teaches them to do work of this kind which
enables them to support themselves he IS
surely doing the Masters bidding.
Another charity which is becoming
prominent is the care of the criminal in
digent. A man IS put in prison nowadays
TO teach him higher motives OF life. A few
years ago when a mar was arrested and
sentenced to prison it was TO keep him
away from society. a great majority Of
those in prison are there because their
home surroundings were such as TO corrupt
the mind. The home could work great
good in looking after the young and teach
ing the little ones higher ideals of life and
teaching them to quickly see the wrongs
Of this life"