The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-16
"WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER IS. 1908.
Organized Charity.

wa arc cratifed to learn that several
leading ministers Of the gospel IN Rlch7
mond. representing various denomina-
lions, recently held an important CONFER
cnce and decided to dispense charity win
common sense and system. and we are en-
couraged to believe that this conference
is the direct outgrowth Of tho work which
has been done by the Virginia State Con-
ference of Charities and Correction. AT
The meeting OF the conference last FEB
ruary the question OF organized charity
was discussed in all Its phases, and 1t
was clearly shown by those VINO nave
made it the study of their lives. VINO
=. have had long experiences In charitable
4 work. and who have reduced charity to
something like a science, that indiscrlml-
k native aims giving does moro harm than
good.
Ono of the most practical addresses
II made on that subject was the address Of
\ Mr.. John NJ. Glenn, OF Baltimore. rich
man, who has devoted his life and his
fortune to true charity. Mr.. Glenn spoke
of pauperism as disease, and defined
paupers as these who are willing and
anxious to depend upon others, when they
\ can take care Of themselves THE pro-
3 blem that we have before u.s. said he,
us to lift the pauper, IL possible out OF
II his class to lift him above the line
y of depending upon others into the realm
n OF self respect. and, again, to keep those
y who are not paupers who have not yet
i become paupers, but who are In danger
4 of becoming so. above the pauper line,
A keep them up encourage them, help them
and make them get on .neir feet again
Proceeding, he declared that the most
freuuent remedy applied In charity work
was aims giving, but he declared that
aims giving was far from always being
a remedy-that it was remedy which
should be applied only after the most
careful thought and investigation as to
p what the effect of it was going to be.
ITO carry out tho smile Of medicine. y
he added, at is very much like giving
opium in majority of cases. Aims CIV
ing is often deleterious drink, It Is de-
pressing, it is not elevatng. and, In my
opinion. aims giving docs more TO create
paupers than anything else in the world,
and before alhs giving we should satisfy
ourselves that We are using the remedy
In such way that 1t VIII help tho pa
tient and lift him up, and not leave him
tomorrow where he Is to-day. or even In
worse plight. We must work to cure
and not to alleviate, and still less must
we work to continue people IN the dis
tress In which they are"
In conclusion Mr.. Glenn startled some
of his hearers by saying he took issue
with those who say 1t is great dea
better to help dozen imposters than tc
turn one worthy person away. Flo de-
clared that to be an immoral argument
and that the real argument was just the
other way--it Is a. great deal better Il
withhold assistance from a dozen thar
to give TO one who Is not In need.
In nine cases out of ten. when you Civ
to a street beggar or to a. tramp VIII,
calls at your house for food, you ar
encouraging an imposter in his weakness
or his meanness. or both. Apart from
the moral and religious view, it is contra
ry to public policy to encourage me-
and women to beg. Our government rest
upon the principle Of independent, self
reliant manhood, We started out TO bull
up a nation OF men who would Deepen
upon nothing but the free gifts of Go
and their own brain and Drawn TO gal
we laid it down as a cardinal prncipl
that the government should not aid on
or hinder another. but that It should Sc
cure TO all men the same right to worl
to buy and sell and get gain. witho,
favoritism and without hindrance to an
man or TO any class. Amercanism. IL
means anything, means self reliance. al
this grand principle of American govern
ment should be kept well in mind In d
pensing charity.
There are those who, for one reasc
or another. are not able TO take care
themselves. and they must be supporte
at the public expense. Hence our as.
luIns for the insane and the feeble min,
ed, and our almshouses. But II Is publ
policy for us 10 keep men from Deepen,
ing upon the public bounty, and NAL
them take care OF themselves whenev
it is possible for them to do so. III
best help Is that which enables a man
help himself. But any so-caled he
which encourages him TO be a depende
~ not help at all but hindrance. t
effect OF which Is to destroy his 81
respect and his character
Richmond is very generous In her co
tributtons to the poor, and the City NJ
n sion and the Citizens Relief ASSOCIATE
" haye greatly helped the cause OF "