The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-12-26
CHRISTIAN CHARITY.
(By Alfred w. Kliefotk, A. BY


(ey Alfred w. kliefoth, A. By
The history of charity dates with
the beginning of Christianity. Juda-
ism of the Old Testament, while
striving to prevent the economic en-
slavement, and the temporary and
sudden Impeachment of the race
knew naught of charity. The sabbath
cal year institutionalized this policy.
One year in seven provided for a
fallow treatment of the land, while
the uncultivated crops of the fields
belonged equally to all. Each flftieth
year released the debtors from every
form of obligation, and the ownership
of lands and property reverted to the
original proprietors. The evolution
of a proletariate was consequently
checked by this system. Furthermore,
the poor were permitted to partake of
all feasts, and CLEAN the fallen kernels
of grain, while certain rules and reg
ulations governed the treatment of
widows and orphans. Charity as such,
however, was unknown, and the above
laws were restricted to the Jewish
people. The law of love for ones
neighbor was acknowledged, yes, and
quite extensively practiced, but it did
not extend beyond the Jewish race
The stranger-the outsider, was ever
an outcast, an undesirable person. In
situations for the helpless and the
sick were unknown, excepting that a
leper was forced to live in an isolated
place.
Much less is known of charity in
heathendom; the larger the cities,
and the grander the culture of the
Greek and Roman lands, the greater
was the disdain and pity for the poor
and helpless. We are told that one
of the great Roman philosophers ut
tered these words: 1T is a loss to
offer aims to the poor, for the aims
prolong his worthless life" Indeed,
it was impossible to imagine relief
rendered to the poor, when the ma
jority of a people are enslaved. It is
true that history records the distribu-
ton of free grain at various times in
Rome and other places, and that DIFF
ferent public measures of relief were
instituted for the free citizen, but it
is likewise true and these considera-
tions were to decoy the masses and
to appease their wrath. Or If the
considerations were philosophical in
the least, the only reason was that
famine might weaken the state, but
the individual, the poor, was not con-
sidered. The slave, as the beast of
burden today, was valued for his pro-
ductive power.
The history of paganism is totally
absent of all humane considerations,
and thus charity, the care of the poor,
stands out as the noble daughter of
Christianity. What you do for the
least of these, my brothers, you do
for me, was the beginning of the
glorious era when every man, regard
less of his physical being or social
status, had a soul which was redeem
ed and destined for heaven. This
utterance of Christ swept aside all
Judgments, and the poor, the help.
less, stepped into their inheritance.
Through His own life, Christ enobled
the poor. His life and miracles,
which was a continual relief of the
poor and the distressed, was the first
noble example to the world. Above
all, He equalized the status of all
men, in equalizing them before God
His Father. 1t was here that slavery
received its first check. This, in
short, is the condition of charity, Of
love for ones neighbor, at the be
ginning of the Christian era.
Nineteen hundred and fourteen
The noble daughter of Christianity
charity, love for cne's neighbor, is liv
ing, yes, respondent in her works
bounteous in her gifts, limitless II
her extent, and unquitting in her love
From the leper colonies in the lonely
Hawaiian Islands, to the warm fire
sides for the lost traveller in the Swiss
mountains, yes, from the Orient tt
Occident, from pole to equator, wher
ever human heart beats, and bod.
wants, the daughter of Christianit.
is ever present, ever alert to admin
lister and to relieve. what you d.
for the least of these, my brothers, 20,
do for Me, and what you do for Me
you do for My Father, who is il
heaven" This is Christian charity
this is love.
Nineteen hundred and fifteen year,
have passed. The progress of sci
ence and art has jumped ahead b,
leaps and bounds. Man has learned
to communicate almost instantly from
continent to continent, he has learned
to navigate the waters beneath him
and the skies above him. He hat
builded, and builded marvelously. Blu
in only one thing has man made grea
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