The Washington herald., 1908-03-22
THE WORLD OF BOOKS
LITERARY GLEANINGS AND GOSSIP

~The Good Nelghbor, by Miss Mary E.
Richmond. secretary Of the philadelphia
Society for Organizing Charity. is little
book which is intere ting and instructive
II expresses effectively the point Of view,
the purposes and methods of modern or
ganlzed charity 1t will be helpful TO all
the philanthropic work of Washington II
this little book can have a wide circle OF
readers here Every church member.
every volunteer worker on boards of
managers or In any other relating 20
charitable work would ind this hand
book distinctly useful. while the general
public. and especially the contributors to
charitable work. would find the volume
interesting and valuable in many pracu-
cal ways.
Beginning with the parable of the Good
Samaritan. Miss Richmond states that
the purpose Of this book is 10 describe
the use OF modern agencies that are the
successors Of the inkeeper in the para
bic" The chapter on THE Child in the
CITY" takes up the general question as TO
What will make the city hit place for
all children 10 grow up in?'' Miss Rich
feeding. are OF no avail; that the real
needs Of children must be met by real
remedies IN their homes The city streets
must be made nj places for children 10
play In and Fairgrounds must be promOt-
ed The more exceptional needs OF neg
lected. defective. wayward. and dependent
children are also considered with pTacti-
cal suggestions as TO ways in which charl-
tablc-mnded citizens may be helpful
In discussing THE Adult Worker the
author SAYS that I'VE influence the lives
Of workers by our choice Of goods. She
conn ends the work Of the Consumers
League and urges all citizens 10 consider
how wage-earners are affected by the
craze for cheapness and by Indifference
10 the conditions and needs of the people
who make for Us our clothing and other
useful articles.
The chapter discussing The COntribu-
ter makes some very practical, useful
suggestions TO resourceful people who are
called upon for contributions TO charita-
ble work Among the questions which
the author says subscriber should de-
termine before making his contributions
are the following: rs this charity genu-
Inc or fraudulent Does il meet real
need in the community? Is it well man
aged Does il employ approved methods? q?
Does il account properly for ali in
come and expenditure. 1t Is prob
able that If such tests were applied
10 all charities asking contributions a
good many impractical, or even injuri-
Gus. charities would be allowed 10 dis
appear. while those which are really
meritorious would be adequately sus-
tained. Contributors would also find that
their contributions were more effective
and much more satisfactory 10 the don
Ors
The final chapter deals with THE
Church Member" ''The church supplies
the motive: charity supplies the method
SAYS Miss Richmond. Charity is for ever
exploring. inaugurating, and then relin-
gushing 70 other agencies the many so
cial functions which ii has developed. u
this way the crusades against tubercu-
losis and for better housing conditions
have been developed. In the same way
the church has developed and then relin-
uuished the activities represented by mod
ern medicine. statecraft, and education
In charity and in those other activities
which the church has relinquished there
is need for spiritual power for the larger
social and spiritual outlook which religion
and the church should supply. For the
church It is important that is members
should cooperate on the neutral ground
of social work This from the side OF
the church" says Miss Richmond but
the social work itself needs that spiritual
quality which devoted church members.
and they alone, can bring into it,