The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-19

There is no organization in Birming- ham or anywhere else so unfortunately named as the Associated Charities. Why? Because to nine people out oi len charity" means giving money away, or clothes, or something you don't want But charity means not thai. Charity is loving kindness. expressed in sympathetic and considerate help. Charity does not want to make pau- ports.
 Give him a dollar and let him go hang himself!Y was the impatient feel ing of charitable persons in the re- cent past For it is only of late years that the causes of want and failure in life have been carefully and thoroughly lconsidered So many people enter into life without preparation that thousands are wrecked and become pitiful para sites, vagabonds. alms-hunters, impe- dent or despairing beggars Charity wants to put these among those who bear their own burdens.
 Much of the evil arises from the in creased complexity of life, the growth of great cities, the demand for skilled labor. the increase of educational re- ,ouirements the discarding of the occa- sional drunkard, the recognized use lessness of the fellow who can't play the game, and the competition of women with men for salaried positions. In our American civilization we have a terrific and heart-wf1nging proposi- ton of men and women thrust into the voyage of life with almost no equip ment or training.
 Now. it is no solution of this prob lem to offer such people nights lodg- ing free or a meal now and then till they get job. A job must be found for them which they can hold. What they want is more than groceries and rent. They must be helped to earn a living, and so be helped to hold the job they get, and therefore to be ca pable To give people like this ocea- sional relief only encourages them not to depend upon the God within them, but to crawl apologetica1ly or swagger impudently, thinking that the world owes them living.
 Here is the essence of the matter so often LTedleQ pS MlOhS tbot'H PCNIAS as reason of criticism against the "charities" organizations.
 Ut costs" they say. "75 cents to give away a quarter"
 Precisely. Because the problem is not to give away quarters or any other coins. but to help woman to make home right, to protect children from wrong environment, to help men to find the job they can do and to quit the course that makes them unfit for any job. 1t is human service that Is needed, and human service made intelligent and wise. Such charity" costs money, but 1t costs more than money. The charity organization Society of America exists to encourage communities to form their work of relief on the plan of service, and to secure the leadership of those who know how to serve.
 Here is an old and sick German. quaint interesting, but in danger of starvation. Shall we give him dol lar and growl at him? The true way IS to give him a grip on life. He is sup piled with a lunch stand. and is keep ing himself, by a wise little lady in the Associated Charities office.
 Here is cripple who for years had been drinking to drown his cares and anxieties He Is encouraged to become a merchant in esmall way. braces up. quits the drink, and earns enough to Iheip another too.
 And here Is a poor fellow who has had a similar experience, beginning with wound received during his ser vice. as soldier. The "charity'' lady goes ahead, gets aid from friends, pro- vides a lunch stand near the gates of 2 big industrial plant; and so not only lis the man provided for, but his aged mother also. and the clergyman who persuaded him to quit drinking is sus- tained in that endeavor Before this solution is found every sort of sug- gestion is received, tested and aban- |doned.
 Hundreds of such cases could be |auoted, involving children. mothers grandparents as well as single home less men and women These are deeds being done in Birinin gham today through its office of Associated Chari- ties. From that office other forms of relief and aid have issued---the pure milk movement. the Anti-Tuberculosis association. the Day Nursery and Infant Mortality society. now united with the