The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-09-03
Rich Mems Gifts to Society.

A letter Of tender hearted woman
which we print to-day asks why rich
men in giving large benefactions to
promote the public welfare are combining
themselves to the establishment or
strengthening of institutions for the
mental elevation Of society, like schools
and village libraries, instead Of bestow-
ing their millions to give "a scrap OF
good, honest daily bread
She touches one Of the gravest prob
lens Of the social organization, and it
cannot be denied that she expresses
the spirit Of the Gospel Of Christianity
in her treatment Of it. To the young
man who came to JESUS asking: What
shall do that may inherit eternal life?"
the Masterreplied: Go thy way, sell what
soever thou hast, and give to the poor,
and thou shalt have treasure in heaven
Practically. however, Christendom has
never obeyed this precept. Mr.. RocKE-
TELLER is q devoted Baptist, or Of
religious school which lays special stress
on the obligation to render exact obedi-
ence to the precise words of JESUS, yet,
enormous as his gifts have been In the
aggregate, they represent only very
small fraction Of his possessions. More
over, as our correspondent observes,
his gifts and those Of the rich men gen.
orally most distinguished for the magni-
tude Of their benefactions have not
been to the poor specifically. They
have been for the extension Of education
to rich and poor alike. All our great
universities are practically philanthropio
institutions. The part Of their whole
expenditures, counting the interest
on the millions invested in their educa-
tional plants, which the rich or well to
do students pay in tuition fees is small.
To some extent every boy in college is a
charity student.
Why not give this charity for daily
bread to starving millions?' asks our
gentle correspondent, and she recites
the suffering by famines in India and
elsewhere as Furnishing evidences Of the
need Of it. Crops fail in successive
years and great communities Of indus
trious people perish for lack Of bare food
or are reduced to the verge of starvation.
Even in this very town long lines Of men
and women waited patiently to get the
bread which Mr.. FLE1sCHAdANN doled
out to them from his bakery at mid
night. 1t was a pathetic sight last
winter to watch the equally long lines
of people waiting for their turn to re-
ceiye q cup Of coffee from the coffee
carts provided by benevolence. 1t is
pathetic to see the misery Of disease to
which the hospitals give succor. 1t is
pitiful to look on the wrecks of humanity,
whether brought to grief by their own
vices, by their natural Effectiveness, or
by the harsh competition Of human
society. No wonder the gentle heart Of
our correspondent Is touched by this SO
prevalent wretohedness.
It Is, however, Indebtedness Of a
volume so great and of causes SO inner
emit in our social system that no private
wealth and no combination Of private
wealth can prevent it or moro than
palliate Its sufferings-even if such
Intended relief would not prove rather
an irritant and a provocation. Organ
lied society only can deal with it in any
adequate fashion, and actually society is
giving foremost attention to the lnrge
fraction Of social delinquents, defect
ives and unfortunates. Our main
municipal expenditure is directly or
indirectly for their benefit, and the first
purpose Of the churches and tho ohari-
table and benevolent institutions founded
and supported by them is their sucoor.
The whole machinery Of society is ar
ranged for their benefit. They are
cared for by society from their birth to
their death when they need the help.
The recipients Of the direct bounty Of
tho city number many Thousands. Add
those VIE Ese.s9 - he9 parishes