The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-23
WISE BENEFICENcE.
To what Objects should Phlianihropi'tS
Omen Their POcketboOks?

To TINS FDIroR or THE SrN SIR great
deal OF money has been given away IN the last
decade which might have been much more
wisely bestowed. Very many people actuaten
I'm tho main By motives or bcneVolcnce COM
min sled with a touch OF vanity or several de-
gre,s of crankness. select obiectsio assist
ance which night better have never been'
or having been born. should be left 10 perish
This k especially true of the multiplication
OF weak churches and institutions OF learn
ing IL IL even more true OF them thah OF
business enterprises. that efficiency can %
promoted and results reached DN cohSo"la-
ton. When the population was more e'dn'S
and more scattered aud means OF loeomoUoh
nutiQuatcd and difficult. there was more et'
cuse for having q church ana oouese III
every neighborhood.
Now, when all places are accessible. mo
puny and struggling plants should be united
aud strong useful. influential organizations
formed In many small villages, hau
dozen churches every sect insisting on nav
ing It's own. carry on nn uhchrislhh ilNaH'
and are more harmful than benenclhl NeI"
their Efforts united in the direction OF mors'
unfit, exhibiting the brotherhood they preach
and profess. they might be powerful influences
for good The founder Of Christianity SAID
He must bc about His Fathers business.
which shows that there X a business element
in reli gious work. and that IT should be done
on business principles. Doubtless the some
what eniEmntical saying. Make unto your
self friends OF the m inmon OF unrl9hteous'
ness may be interpreted 10 mean that even
the most nnworldly work must be conducted
by the wise methods OF least expenditure ana
greatest results. which mlmmon uses.
Not only TO the founding and support oi
such needless institutions and chur'h'T, but
to useless libraries. cathedrals which are
anachronisms and fantastic hero tunds'
have vast sums been given, AT time IN our
social evolution when money can be judi
ciously expended in promoting better out
look in ways the wisdom and benefit OF which
no one can question. 4 million dollars has
lust been devoted by Henry Phlpps TO
such purpose 40 one who scans present
conditions carefully and tries to look ahead
fail to see that the question oil tnc succes
! and permanence of society as at present
| organized turns on wider opportunities lor
! better living and improved surfouhulnkS'
! among the masses who live by dally tph
/ The problem is how to bring aDoN. sun
amelioration In way conslHteht WIZ, ~ W
! self-respect Of the. beneiciariesi WItn row
| miscalled charity and without interfering
| with the ordinary, orderly ongong OF social
| and commercial growth. -.
| done by providing clean. sanitary. conN en-
lent and sufficiently commodous homes lor
| amply the accumulation OF his fund. which he
| intends 20 make yield per cont, 70 ohlldihe
more houses. charginR tnNt rare Dt'hu0t ~"
| does not wish one result of his gilt TO pc wv"
| encouragement or private capital anu ~
| terprise In the same direction. NO hchelh"
! for the life OF the community 10 be progre>-
| sive and successful can ever leave out reSSIcd
tion places and Fairgrounds Tor chlufen.
! Mr.. Phipps's plan provides Tor tnetn' III, 7,
have more than once In your columns callel
attention to the necessity for SUCH PROVISION
! being made especially In connection Win the
| schools, holding TINT " there wero enough
of them properly supervised the boy gang,
| With its resultant hoodlums and criminals
would be gradually eliminated. IL sppeAaa.
! 10 me that here is more promise OF real DeueuN
| TO mankind OF more happiness ana content :
( ment and generally improved conditions IN
[ the ranks OF labor. at the present tIinc. IN
| auch a bencfaction az that Of Mr.. Phlpps.
/ than In any other form Of benevolence nov
| being eNnloite ed: and to the donor hlmsell
| there should come vastly higher satisfaction
| in the consciousness that he has enabled
| hundreds OF worthy families TO live clea n.
| self-respectiny lives, IN healthim MONIES
| than becoud have il he had donated tons o.
| stone 10 add 20 pretentiou~ eccleSlastlca,
| pile or built shelter for hundred thousand
! Who can Question whe her the CRYING need
! or the age is cathedrals and libraries or the
decent housing OF the poor. or Whlch VIII 10
the more goodY 49,, ~,
/ phipps is aiding hss been begun in Wash
ngton. With already highly useful result
! and with promise Of still greater success. No
| country can be permanently prosperous.
! penceful and progressive. with great masses
! Of its peopla demorazed and dngrnded by
! soualid pestiferous closely crowded hou@'
ing:und our great cities can beneht tnemseiNe'
in no other wav SO surely and so greatly a.
by promptly entering npou tho work ,whlcl,
| Mr. Phipps and others have started ana
| pursuinG IL until such CONDITIONS cease IN
| exist WAsH1NGToN.
W,sHrseroS. D. c. Jan. 81