The Bossier banner., 1910-07-07
WISDOM IN CHARITY.

Charity is something higher than an un-
welcome, grudged, scantily measured doing
of aims. The human being who believes
in the Deity must shape his life in humble
imitation. True charity is the conscious
union of the individual with that greater
Self which is the spiritual ground of hu-
manity." 1t is walking after the Supreme
Being of whom it is said that
"He paints the wayside flower,
He lights the evening star"
We cannot associate selfish enjoyment
with the Deity. We cannot associate it
with our best conception of life. We can
not think we'll of ourselves if we shower
gifts on our own tastes and those of our
friends who live in abundance, and yet
forget the innocent unfortunate who may
need warmth, food and light. We may
we'll pray in humble mood:
Increase our love of giving,
And cause our gifts to grow"
Nothing in the changing world has so
changed that the spirit of charity is not
yet nobly beautiful attribute of mankind,
and that spirit compels US to still realize
that when kindness "feeds from her super
flux the craving poor" it no more than
"pays back to adversely what heaven hath
lent" A man of perception soon under
stands that his capacity of personal en-
joyment, or of enjoying personal indul-
gences, is limited-is is, indeed very small.
Wealth which is not used to scatter pleas
ures and relief where others may be bene-
fitted is barren. 1t renders little repayment
for the labor of gain. One must give or
spiritually die, and spiritual death leaves
only ashes and dust in the physical being.
One change has come over the world.
Charity demands more of intelligence.
When most of our sententious maxims and
inspiring couplets we're written social ex-
istence was differently arranged. The poor
were in classes, and generally poor all
their lives. There was slight chance of
Among the rich and prosperous there was
more of the kindliness of the neighbor and
less of the cold duty of the stranger. In
our day it is incumbent on our intelligence
to ascertain the merit of the recipient, to
avoid the fraud, to repel the professional
beggar who practices upon the best senti-
ments of the race. For the welfare of all
it is as important to discourage idleness,
parasitism and humbug as to relieve suf-
fering. We have to learn that the most
obtrusive appeal, the smoothest tale of
want and the most squalid appearance of
poverty are put before us by the least de.
serving. Real want is most likely to be
concealed, reluctant to confess itself, hope
full of a change of fortune. Charity must
search carefully, delicately, tactfully. So
it has come about that generosity deems it
wiser to distribute its contributions through
organized, trained, skilled societies. Once
charity ''lent an ear to every cry and
asked no plea but misery" If it looked
no closer in our day, its means would be
wasted on the lazy mendicant and the
tramp, who choose to pray on labor instead
of sharing in the labor which creates the
comfort of a country. The organized
charities can distribute with the least waste.
They know better where the cases of real
merit are to be found. They can provide
relief without bringing before strangers
the humiliation of admitting dependence.
There is another instrument of charity
still more advanced. 1t consists of effort
to enlarge the opportunities of remunera-
tive labor. 1t seeks to remove the causes
of poverty by making earnings secure and
by minimizing loss, disease and waste.
Public law and private association work
together. Economists have said that ten
ement house laws in London-also in New
York-have done more than the philan-
thropy of direct giving to improve the
comfort of the poor. Enlarged scope OF
public health boards and attention to clean.
illness have cared for the hurt and sick.
Unwholesome food and tainted milk have
been controlled by inspection. Strict su-
pervision of savings institutions and build
ing associations have safeguarded thrift
and encouraged the habit of accumulation.
Social settlement movements have provided
instruction, enlightenment and compan-
ionship. Labor unions and fraternal or.
ganizations tide over the gaps in wage
earning.
In our day charity is not supplanted or
snperfluous. The difference is that it must
be supplemented with intelligence. The
careless good nature which throws a coin