The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-01-22
MODERN
 PHILANTHROPY
A Fifty Years Survey of Charitable Work Shows that Increased Population Followed By Scientific Methods Have Made Req sonable the Charity of To- day.
<Zebulon Brockway.

1 (Mr. Broadway is best known as ] former ,superi1tendent~ of the El1nlra Reforma tory where he took charge in l 1876, moulding that institution into the l model that it is today. He remained superintendent until 1900. He has been in prison work since 1S4S when l he was clerk in the Connecticut State Prison, and his interest in pen 1 ology has put him in close touch with | the whole field of charities and cor age and active in all good works in 1 his home city-Elmira, N. Y0
 i Exclusive Service The Survey Press Bureau.o
 | The present increased general in- terest and activity in charitable and correctional work should, more fairly, be attributed to increase and density poverty, and remarkable facilities of communicating, than to any difference in the ratio and quality of prevalent moral and philanthropic enthusiasm. Modern charity, both in it's spirit, and method, is a more reasonable thing than it was fifty years ago. It is characterized with that wisdom which sees the essential unity and mutualitW of all human interests, knows that individual misfortune is also a public injury-an economic loss the public must ultimately pay;
 
 seen to be poor economy; so that the personal and churchly dole of earlier | times are giving way to more syste- matic and thorough methods.
 The totality of current charitable endeavor now gratifyingly organized and advanta geously somewhat secu- larized lacks as yet complete unity of it's voluntary and governmental grand divisions. But, already charity or ganization has enabled and instituted profund research for causes, bringing to light the intimate relation that ex- ists between dependency and crime, and, by means of trained charity workers the ministrations are much improved Social ills are not now so
 generally attributed to a neglectful or punitive Providence, nor, are de- fective and delinquent individuals so severely blamed, as they were, for their own ,faultiness.s Research has disclosed antecedents and environ ments quite beyond the individual control which reasonably account for much: and, at the same time,. em- phasize the importance of proper reg ulation of present conditions with a view to the future. Thus, the chari- table activities of today are somewhat scientized This is also evident in the
 changed tones of the Icharity con ventions-the sentimentalism of the earlier conventions is, happily, latter SA1S OA ic inquiry.
 Since about 1860, the independent voluntary charity associations have been gradually gathered within State control by means of the State Chari- ty Commissions, so many of which voluntary and authoritative charity organizations still exist with some consequent, not antagonistic, but in felicitous exercise of function. Ap- parently there is strong present tendency towards blending the two in to one harmonious governing agency, which shall be completely controlled and the charities mainly supported by the State. There is a measure of ap- propriateness in this proposition for, in truth, there is actual identity of
 wise philanthropy and the public political science and so peculiarly an executive function of the State.
 | Federation of voluntary charity or organizations is favorable preliminary to such a merger. The movement is active in a number of cities and in Cleveland. Ohio, and Elmira N. Y., already it is accomplished and with good results.
 It is claimed and believed that the very best contribution voluntaryism can make to charity, whether it be l of money or service, is that which y
 intelligent instrumentality of the or | ganized State government. Voluntary ism, under guidance of official experts will be mainly devoted to relief and remedy of existing ills; but the State governmental agency will drive di- rectly at the negotiable sources of the evils The indications are now more clear that as we advance into the Twentieth Century the predominant aim of public charity will be to stifle causes prevent and occasion for char ity
 Philanthropists of the present time status of affairs can, by any human agency, be essentially changed. We have learned or are learning that the limit of possible present benefits of charity lies within the passing minis
 tration of help to the needy: stron g
 repression of open evils; exercise of a steadying influence on conflicting in
 terests. That the reasonable hope of permanent social benefits depends on wise measures and wise use of them directed for effect, upon the future generations.
 Marked change and hopeful sign are seen in the greater importance attach ed and attention given, in the mod ern philanthropy. to material in dis tinction from incorporal conditions and
 interventions, particularly as relates
 to the children and youth. But for
 this it must be said that the family and church have lost caste as useful