New-York tribune., 1902-01-19
INSTITUTIONS A NECESSITY.

In his address before the Columbia University
Graduate Club the other evening Bishop Potter
declared his belief that the modern development
of institutions is harmful, inasmuch as II tends
to discourage, If not altogether destroy the per
sonal sympathy OF man for man which alone is
of any value in promoting the welfare and prog
ress OF the race. The menace of modern life,'
he said "is IN the growth OF the surrender Of
the care OF the sick, the MANNED. the imbecile
Ito institutional visitation. When men come to
'be the care of the State in such vast numbers
"it is impossible that there can be that note of
personality considered the best medicine for
the sick man and the insane man The world
lis not waiting for regeneration by machinery
'but by love"
The thought here expressed is not new. The
Bishop himself has on previous occasions taken
the same view in regard TO the multiplication
of machinery In the modern industrial world
And what he and others have said on this sub
tect is undoubtedly in a measure true lnstitu-
tional charity does tend to subordinate, If not
wholly kill. the helpful impulse of kindness and
brotherhood which in the first place created the
institution A practical illustration of this is
seen in the way I'm which so many employees Of
charitable institutions become unsympathetic
and sometimes even cruel in their treatment of
their charges. Moreover, the general public Is
only too ready TO assume that its support OF an
institution absolves it from any personal care
for or interest In the helpless and the unfortu-
nate. So too machinery tends to make the
workingman himself machine by dlsCOuraging
original thought.
Yet after ALL the discussion of such a ques-
tion is almost purely academic, except in so far
as it may bring home to people generally the
truth that material progress Is yalueless with
out an uplifting and unifying sense of brother
hood behind IT. That take it, is the thought
underlying the words of the Bishop; for it Is
impossible TO suppose that he would have all
institutions of charity destroyed, that he
favors the Punishment of all machinery from
the industrial world. Such a step as that would
paralyze If not completely destroy, modern
civilization without bringing any compensating
benefit TO those for whom the Bishop speaks
II millennial conditions obtained. perhaps the
people OF each community could and would take
personal care Of their own sick and poor
though the chances are that even then insttu-
tions would be found necessary. There is in
deed no reason per why an institution may
not be useful and even necessary in the scheme
of things. Bishop Potter is himself high Off
Ger in a great and venerable institution, namely
the Church, which declares that eternal saliva
ton may be obtained by those who join 1t and
follow its teachings; and we believe he would
be the first 10 condemn any who should
paraphrase his words so as TO apply them TO
the Church. Yet such paraphrase could easily
be made, as for instance: The menace OF
modern life is the growth of the tendency to
surrender the victims OF sin TO ecclesia stcal
institution. When men come TO be the care of
"the Church in such vast numbers it is impos-
"sible that there can be that note of personality
(which is the best medicine for the trans
"gressor. The world is not waiting for regener-
"ation by machinery, but by love" Every one