The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-02-17

lima Conference for Social Service
February 13, 1914. by r. 3. Beasley.)
Poverty and charity are twins. They
are born together. They eat the
same food and they row apace. L
a primitive state of society. where
there is little wealth and relatively
little poverty, there is no such thing
as we now know specifically by the |
name Of charity. But as society ad- |
yances through it's different degrees
of completely and wealth accumulates |
in the hands Of individuals, alms-giv-
ing follows, to be in turn followed, |
as in modern times, by still larger |
a~ggregations of corporate wealth, |
with charity upon an equally grow
ing scale. SO today we have individ-
uals and corporations SO wealthy
that they exert a greater influence
upon the life of the people thar gov
ornment itself, and we have organ
lied charities, and associated chart
ties. and charities of all kinds, and
the amounts of none being given to
these various efforts are astounding.
But the giving is not half so astOund-
ing as is the fact of the existence Of
the need of giving. AS the identical
processes which produce these re-
suits elsewhere are beginning to work
in North Carolina, a general discus
sion Of the principles involved will
be equally applicable to this State.
TO show to what extent the business
of charity is being organized it is
necessary only to cite the figures just
issued by the National Department
of Commerce. These show that in
1910 there were more than fly thou
sane benevolent institutions in the
United States, spending annually a
hundred and eighteen million dollars,
and having a population of nearly
three million people. And these in
clude only three classes and do not
include institutions for paupers prop
er. for the insane and the feeble
minded, nor does it have any refer
ence to work lone outside of estab-
Iished institutions. Is it not aston
fishing that all this is necessary, to
say nothing of that which is not be-
ing done, in a new country notorious
for its huge fortunes II useless dis
play of wealth, where h arts and
sciences are cultivated to the utmost
where wealth is annually produced
on a scale undreamed of a few years
ago, and where the productive power
of the country is yet held in SWad-
ding clothes? If there is one fact
obvious to all observers it is that
we know as progress is accom-.
panied, pari passu, with poverty. Ano
since the extremes of poverty never
NNAhI W AS ONAASA 80
IRENE of wealth, nor in the less com
pick forms of society, we cannot long
cr attribute the existence of WHOLESALE
poverty to mere lack of individual
thrift, industry or prudence. N
amount of thrift, industry or econo
my can lift from poverty a man o
class Of men whose wage scale Is be
low the point of decent living. 1t !
true that now and then one, by supe
rior enterprise or strength, may rfs
out of his class. but the very fac
that he 50 rises is predicted upon tn
certainty that others must stay dowI
These facts have thrust upon tn
progressive nations of the world
new thought, which. though but no'
In it's incipiency, is as inevitably t
result in practical demonstration a
II was that this continent should b
discovered after men had once fOun
that the earth was round. Ths
thought is, that there is a cause II
herent in the present methods an
organization OF society that produce
Wholesale involuntary poverty. an
that when once discovered it can I
eradicated. The things with whic
Charity is now concerned are the r.
suits of both voluntary and involul
tary poverty. The time has CON
when We must separate the two, 81,
the involuntary poor q chance to rem
- N'N'h " 49,
to charity it's proper business Of lool
ing after the willing or accident
derelicts in the best way it may. 4
present charity is merely remedis
and not preventive, even if carried
It's best possibilities. 1t is the trea
ment Of symptoms, not causes n
IN medicine, the removal of asympto
merely changes the direction OF
occurrence and is no remedy at a
And as the best minds in medicine a
today concerned with causes and pr
l~latives. SO the student of s%ocioloi
must be concerned with the caus
mat prevent normal men and WON
from enjoying to the full, life, libeT
ana the pursuit of happiness. I
very passion for discovery. il not
ms else, will lead men to do tn
When once the enlightened thong
81 mankind is turned upon this qut
Lon the desire for success will
cClne "a passion, as it is in all brancf
~