The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1912-03-22
CLEARINGHOUSE" FOR
HONOLULU'S CHARITIES

Honolulu s charitable organizations
will be brought under system of CO.
operation if plans under foot material
ize. The subject Of cooperative philan-
thropy formed special topic at yes
terday afternoons meeting of the
chamber of commerce. The need for
centralized efforts was pointed out by
James A. Rath, superintendent of the
Palama Settlement Association, and DR..
Doremus Scudder of the Central Union
Church.
The proposal was made that the
chamber of commerce should assume a
sort of paternal censorship over local
philanthropical organizations, through a
committee that should investigate the
aims, methods of collecting, and meth
DDS of disbursing money by those or
CARNATIONS. This appeared to get
favorable consideration by those pres
emf, but in order to put before the
chamber proper plan of action com
mittee of three was appointed, consist
ing of w. r. Castle, chairman; F. Q.
Anterior and w. A. Bowen.
Doctor Seudder pointed out the fact
that there is much overlapping of chart
ties in Honolulu, demonstrating the
need of what he termed a Central
clearinghouse for charitable work "
He said that appeals for aid are becom-
ing more and more frequent as the
population of Honolulu grows. 1t was
Doctor Scudder's suggestion that the
title of a central organization should
not contain the word "charity,' but
that it should rather be called a
bureau of Self Help or bureau
of Employment. This, he said, while
it seems small matter, is nevertheless
an important one, tending to preserve
the selfrespect of the applicant for aid
and giving him the idea of ultimately
shifting for himself.
/ To Authenticate Societies.
| The organization of the new societies
4 likely to overlap with others in theiI
work was touched upon by Doctor Send
der, who pointed out the efficacy in this
matter of central committee whose
work should be to authenticate those
societies, new or old, which would most
effectively administer charities in vari
GUS fields without overlapping
"The subject of cooperative philan
thropy,', said Mr.. Rath, "is one that
is today receiving the thoughtful con
sideration of men and women the world
over. The old hit-and-miss method
mostly miss-of administering charity
is no longer considered wise and i:
fast going out of fashion. 1t has made
paupers and reformed but very few
if any. 1t has robbed people of init
alive and independence and made
parasites of those who should be self
, respecting members of society. 1t wa
wasteful, not only of money, but O.
energy and effort. 1t was aimless ant
unscientifc. Out of the chaos of idea
of the past, there is being evolved
more systematic and scientific metho'
4 of treating our dependent, delinquen
, and deficient classes.
'fThe idea of the old was palliative
Crime. poverty and disease Were viewe'
!, purely as individual matters. The NOR
b piousiy inclined looked upon misfortun
r as visitation from Providence and 1
consequence all they attempted to d
. was to alleviate pain and suffering. Tn
Q less pious blamed the suffering mo
o vidhal and were often indifferent I
d his or her needs. This viewpoint, how
a ever, is changing or rather expanding
Today, we realize that society IS con
posed of individuals and hence the II
6 dividual must be taken into account /
r, any scheme, of social uplift or bette
t ment, but we are also realizing that tn
u individual is a product of society,
other words, our old idea is bein
u socialized. We no longer look upo
1, disease, crime and poverty as beyon
Ie our control Rather we are seekn
r the causes of these enemies of OF
"a civilization. The new philanthroT
~ like the science of the new medicine
laying emphasis on prevention. IT er
! phasizes the parable of the goo
al Samaritan not only in the line of relic
no but also in the line of preventio
Having sent the man who was beat
no and robbed on the Jericho road to he
IS pital, it would go further, as Profess
of Patten states, and police and light tn
road, so that similar experiences
m Others may be avoided.
~ Leads to specialization.
"This new ideal has lead to the g
y plication of new tests to social welfa
pt work, as we'll as to specialization.
of is no longer possible for one individI
to cover effectively the whole field
:. social service. New forms of eff
~ such as Fairgrounds, child welff
is agencies, social research and allied liz
IN. of effort have called for specializati'
ty Men and women of education and c
- ture have felt the call of the protest.
as and have needed il. The human
ty. social engineer is gradually being rec,
nized by the public as well as by
art other professions, as necessary q
useful part of the social structure.
iso "Any institution or individual wo
Wo ing for humanity must today submit
I'M these tests, the first of which is soc
,bt Is the work being done or propos
"a, social in its aimf OK in other wo
'n' does it or viii it serve society IN SO