The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-05-24
uNFoRTuNATE POOR.

A telegram was published In yester-
day mornings Astorian OF poor wo-
man with Ave little children having
been found in starving condition IN
one OF the tenement houses of New
York. This Is only one OF dozens OF
such instances happening every day In
the large cities, 1t Is this condi ion
OF affairs that has tendency 10 work
lup strong public sentim MT against
spending millions OF dollars In foreign
missions TO care for the souls OF the
hs athen in foreign lands. while there
are thousands of people hire at home
starving for the want. not only Of food,
but spiritual food. II the millions of
dollars annually devoted to the edu-
cation and Christianizing of heathens
in foreign lands could be used TO feed
the hungry and give them little
spiritual consolation. our own country
and people would be more happy and
Icontented and there would be less suf-
fering.
II Is no doubt true that the many
noble Chris ian men and women en-
gagged in the work of foreign mis-
sions are deeply interested and honest
in their work. yet IL would seem TO be
more on the humanitarian order II
some little time and money were de-
voted 10 the alienation Of suffering
and destitution In our own county
and leave the work OF educating the
heather to the wealthy foreign nations.
The people living In Astoria know very
little OF the suffering in the larger
cities, Here we have no poor, except
those that are being cared for by the
county. II poor family is discover
ed, suffering for the necessities Of life,
the liberal citizens Of Astoria soon re-
lieve their suffering and in doing so
they are doing more and better work
in the Lords vineyard. than IL they
s:nt that money TO assist foreign mis-
sions.
II there were no starving people In
the United States; II there was an OPP
portunity for all the poor children to
attend Sunday school and their pa
rents church, and there was surplus
money left over. then we would say,
send II abroad to help the soul-starv-
ing people Of foreign countries, but
we are inclined 20 the belief that char
ity begins at home. Out Of popula-
ton OF 10000 people In Astoria, It l.
safe to say tina; there are 5000 men,
women and children that never attend |
church. II the same work and energy; |
II the same untiring energy in the
highways and byways of heather lands |
were devoted by the people now en-
gagged in foreign missionary work |
were used in Astoria. every church in |
the city would be crowded every Sun
day and there would not b. so many |
vacant pews. II We would convert our |
OWL pcOps MoNt VIC HSuid nave !
large amy and more funds to work |
among the heather OF foreign lands
Taking tais visw of the matter, charity |
ought to begin at home.
II 10 per cent Of the money wasted
by the wealthy of New York in fool
ish extravaganza were devoted to al
sriating the suffering and destitution
Of the poor, there would be no poor
families in New York. The father
would not be compelled to desert ais
family TO find work; the
mother would not have to be separat-
ed from her five little children and be
20 hospital; the dead in
'ant would have been alive, for there
Is no doub. but 1t starved TO death.
All Of thes, questions should be care
fully considered when we are oppor-
tuned to contribute to foreign mig
sions. True, what the people Of AS
toria would contribute to foreign mis-
|