The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-10

fore mercy. They must be protected in
rights before courts, in representation, In
opportunities and shares of production. In
all this We see great Improvement There
Is every reason for JOY. What is TO come,
and much Is yet to come will be brought
about, not by revolution, but by evolution.
This class will be an increasing power in
all popular forms Of government. With the
right OF franchise. the intelligent co-opera-
thy and desire for better things, with the
privilege OF free agitation, there is a bright
future for the struggling classes 1t Is not
wise TO trust TO theories which imagination
creates, which the originator sees is the
remedy for all human ills. But agitation is
safe. Beware of theories which offer to
men more than is provided for in product
i've ability. Remember the law, The effect
In benefits is never greater than the
causes
Ignore any theory which does not re-
be improved as we'll as individuals, but
when the individual is ignored the COM
munity will fail
Again, the poor are TO be improved. This
we already recognize In our system OF free
education The public school is supplement-
ed by the kindergarten, beginning at the
right time and place. We need TO teach in
dustries, and in so doing train for useful
ness. Ignorance here is the cause Of much
poverty and distress. Teach boys and girls
TO work effectively and you heal much pow
erty-
But after all this good work there will
still be need for further aid TO the poor.
The need arises out of the facts of the
causes of poverty which will still remain.
The old classification Is not Incorrect
Gods poor. the devils poor. and the poor
devils All these classes exist. There are
the poor who are poor because of misfor-
tune. Sickness has kept the man at hard
toll and the weary years have brought
nothing but want. Infirmities and weak
nesses, which render one incompetent in
No blame for this: God made the old man
poor These are often the choicest souls
Of of earth But ,o they need Sympathy and
given them. There Is the poverty Of be-
ginning life; the poverty of the pioneer and
the young man and woman who are start
Ing. Honest toilers, these. Blessed is the
man who helpeth them. We have also the
poverty of the wrongdoer-the product of
intemperance and improvfdence.
RELIGION NECESSARY.
Religion and it's influences. which min
lister to the spirit and hope of men, is in
dispensabe. Sin is the reason for a large
proportion Of the debasing poverty of this
land. Sin is extravagant. II consumes
the life, wastes the substance, devours
homes and blights the hope of prosperity.
Faith and hope make bright the days of
necessary poverty, cheer the sufferers of
misfortune and strengthen the weary hand
to the task of another day. The poor may
be greatly helped by mutual assistance.
lU.
financially and socially. are of inestimable
value. These are doing q work that is
divine. They afford men of limited means
the relief from anxiety for the future of
those dependent upon them It is not sur
prising that this kind Of benevolence is so
popular to-day.
lzations, of cruelty and oppression, born
and bred in crime. They crowd the vile
cesspools of our cities, living under con-
ditions which beasts despise. These are
in God nv hn dnd 49,
try. These are poor devils. Their treat
ment need concern us much. They are to
be improved, not neglected. But they can
posed on them-that of labor. Not the man
with the hoe but the man who will use the
hoe, need concern us. To give to these food
and clothing is TO perpetuate curse which
may some day ruin our civilization. This
work of philanthropy can only be done
through the agencies of the gospel which
offers hope to the most degraded. 1t is the
work of patience and time. The church
and other organizations are doing a great
work In these dark places. But the only
safe way to reach these classes with gifts
is through organizations which administer
them with greatest wisdom. Miscellaneous
charity here is entirely out of place and
no Christian should take to himself praise
for such work. Charity should never I'M
dermine, but always assist the better in
stincts of human nature.
TRUE HELPFULNESS
Then there Is that helpfulness which
comes in sympathetic consideration for
the poor. which Is often greater than money.
The Russian novelist tells of a poor blind
beggar asking aims of a gentleman, and
the man, finding himself without money.
said, Brother, L have nothing for YOU
The sightless eyes filled with tears as the
poor man said: Nothing for me? You have
given me more than wealth; you called me
brother A new power came into his life.
He could never be the same poor man
again. He was richer all through life for
the kind word. The world is filled with
them to footing, and they struggle to sue
cess.
THE poor class. after all, is and has ever
been the worlds royalty. These the
salt of the earth. l mean those who are
not rich except In faith. Many of the rich
created resources, the producing classes,
the worlds burden, the worlds educators,
it's ministers of righteousness and peace
its artists, who have in the novels of want
painted its pictures and composed its an
thems. Poor, yet making many rich II
is not a disgrace. but an honor, to be c,ss-
sified with Gods honest poor. The great
refOrmers have in life felt the cravings
of hunger, the philanthropists have fought
the wolf from the door. 1t can be no dis
grace to belong to the family Of Lincoln
and Garfield. In the mill of poverty which
of industry, thrift, economy and honor
which finally come to the throne. 1t is
hard to be poor, but IL is often profitable
In this school the tuition is high. Let
us be brave in poverty and struggle against
IL. Let us be kind to those who unfor-
tunate. Let us be liberal and wise IN our
gifts, but broad and intense in our SYM
pathies. Inasmuch as We have done il