The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-11-30
THE NEED AND SCOPE
"Non-Sectarian Municipal
 Clarity in Montxonerv.


 At recent meeting of our Commercial and Industrial Association, Mir. Gilbert. it's genial: but indefatigable secretary, made an earnest plea for the organization Mir. Gilbert met the fate of all pleasant and sweet-voiced speakers. His remarks were roundly applauded and as quickly
 Had his suggestion been needed and had Civic Federation" become an accom- plished fact in Montgomery. it is hardly probable that a movement looking toward a "Non-Sectartan Municipal Charity" would ever have been launched. For there can be no doubt that in their ambi- tious schemes for social betterment and municipal improvement the sponsors Of the latter project have in mind a task which properly belongs to a Civic Feder- ation" rather than to an institution pri- aims.
 To Mrs. J. M. Falkner and Mrs. Frank Fillmore, ever foremost in the ranks of those who answer the call of civic need the present undertaking. Responsive to their public appeal the following ladies and gentlemen gathered in the City Coun- cit Chamber last Tuesday morning to Mrs. Lila Little, Mrs. Lydia Doran, Mrs. s. B. Marks. Miss Edith Hurter, Miss Emily sernpie. Mrs. J. MI Falkner. Mrs. Frank Fillmore, Rev. E. k. Cobbs, Rev. c. " Patterson, Robert Tyler, Mayor H. E. Tyson and Rabbi A. J. Messing.
 Only twelve! Alas that the public at large. which never refuses its financial support should be so indifferent to the work and methods of the agencies bene- fitted by their generosity. The lack of interest in the various charitable societies in the city on the part Of those who com tribute toward their maintenance, is Encouragement that the officers in charge cannot hut feel most keeuly. It is often a nf these few stewards Of the publics obliga- tions at their trying and always thankless post.
 What does a "Non-Sectarian Municipal Charity mean? The shiboleth of modern industrialism is the phrase invented by J. P Morgan, Community of Interests. /" And nothing is to be more commonly observed than the ..Morganization,,,, of literature in modern life. Phil antrophy is under the same law. the same organized necessity. Divis- ion of effort, If uncorrected. leads to waste lay. The antidote Is offered in the com prehensive scheme of cooperation and association.
 But community of interest" in philan- throphy does not necessarily mean ab- sorption or amalgamation. We have no expect that the various charitable organi- zations at present existing in the city. shall become Incorporated into one central institution and lose their identity in the process. Some of our societies have been giving aims for forty years, some are but of yesterday. Each church. each parish, each denomination has its own immediate needs to subserve. These it can under stand and meet better than an outsider
 If the present plan is merely to cen- trafize the collection of funds 1t will not be successful. If its intended only to create an additional society to work t,u-a A.A -E Ak1 now in the field it is superfiuous. But If 1t is the object to organize and direct into proper channels the forces now work ing indiscriminately. and therefore often times injudiciously, then this movement ought to receive the unanimous support of every charitable institution and indi- vidaal in the city.
 We in Montgomery are slow to learn the lessons of modern constructive phil anthrophy as distinguished from senti- mental charity. It cannot be denied that there is much in our system that is mere gush and sentimental spaem. It does not aim a the relief of the donee 70 much as that of the donor. With some people carnal pleasure. They regularly visit their poor to satisfy their own, ap- petite for self-adulation. This indulgence in the voluptuous sensations of helpfulnes to others must in the long run weaken the whole organism.
 Our Chief of Police, Adolph Gerald. who is perhaps better informed as to the real needs of the poor in Montgomery than cared to, the evil results of emotional sentimental aims giving. Some day in The Advertiser there will appear the pathetic story of a poor family in the West End, reduced to the last extremity. Immediately and without regard to the real needs of those in distress the house will be loaded down wiln luxuries, with flowers, and with all the danties that the Wh..k An.- I. y11, I,o. made permanently self-sustaining? No, 1t has only been supplied with an excellent incentive for a similar and still more heartrending appeal at later date.
 The new system would reduce senti- mentalism to a minimum. Prevention is its watchword. Pauperization is the danger it would guard against. Investi- gation. classification. discrimination are a few of the sacramental terms which tho new method would put into daily practice.
 The director of a 'Non-Sectarian Muni- cipal Charity" must needs be a student, an investigator. His post demands expert knowledge. His is a profession as high as that of the minister. the physician or the trained man of business Our univer- sites have courses for those who would pursue the new vocation.
 or course in Montgomery we could not afford to maintain a high salaried off, cial. student of philantrophy, a grad uate from a reputable university. Nor, indeed, does our situation require it. For the present, competent person, expe- rienced in the work of the local field, could meet all possible demands. The central bureau should be located as near as possible to the office of Chief Gerald whose advice and assistance can be counted on at all times.
 As the work progresses and the scope widens, the Municipal Charity might with propriety perform some of the functions of Civic Federation. Under its guid- ance steps might be taken to put into effective operation some of the features of Industrial Betterment' upon which Professor Holman diScoursed so interest rgly at the opera house last winter. The aesthetic spirit which The Advertiser en- deavored to stimulate by its recent Gar den Contest. should be fostered and en- couraged. The cause of education. too, might, by and by, come under the watch full care of the Municipal Charity. The city has the obligation to see to 1t that none of it's children grow up to man hood or womanhood with insufficient ed uCation. Our organization, too, might perform the functions of a Municipal Art League and kindred movements which have transformed so many other American cities. making the desert blos- som like the rose The public conscience should be awakened at once to the neces- sity of beautifying the cemeteries. A legal aid society is a necessity In this community and, O for the kindly minis trations of John Howard or a Mrs. Fry in the dark, foul, pestilential Montgom- cry jail.
 No powerful philanthropic organization abreast with the progressive spirit of the times is any longer content to appease hunger and want alone. If giving money have cured Restitution 1t would have been cured long ago. As Emerson says. we owe to man something more than the mere succors of food and fire"