The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1915-11-22
WOMAN'S CLUB WORK
MRS. WALTER HOOD,
THE Human Cult"

The shortness of life is bound uI
with its fullness.
1t is to him who is most active, al
ways thinking, feeling, working, car.
ing for people and for things that life
seems short. Keep a life empty and
it will seem long enough.-Phillips
Brooks.
And DR.. Frank Crane has this tc
say of the Human Cult: Of all the
ferns of charity called forth by these
hard times, none seems more unique
and efficient than an organization that
has been formed in New York city
the aim of which is that people may
individually help each other, instead
OF intrusting their gifts to agents OF
to a society.
Anybody can belong. 1t is inclusive
not exclusive. 1t pays no regard to
creed nor sect, to station in life, to
means nor to race. It includes mil
lionaires and down-and-outers-
groes, whites and Japanese. The only
qualification for membership is that
you be human being. The shatter-
ing phrase of this cult is that it has
no collection box. You cannot give it
a check or otherwise hand it money.
1t has no dues nor assessments. When
you join you express your willingness
to relieve the necessities of one or
more families, or to try to get en-
ployment for one or more persons, so
long as you are able. When a needy
case is reported notice is sent you,
and you go and buy groceries, bring
assistance or do any other
task that may be called for. The So
ciety does not act; its individuals
act; 1T is man to man program. All
service is rendered gratis. There is
no treasury. They have weekly meet
lngs and even here distinguished
speakers and musicians give their
work free. 1t is simply an attempt
to organize the people of commun-
ty to help themselves. A young bus
mess man named Applebaum is the
founder, an enthusiast for humanity,
with no axe to grind. He has means
Of his own, and is looking neither for
profit nor advertising. The Cult was
formed in November, 1914, and limits
Itself to a certain city district. Up to
January II, 1915, immediate relief
mad been given to BIT families, 81
men had been put to work, medical
aid had been furnished in two cases,
and several cripples cared for. Of
The 317 families helped about "A are
low helping others of the Cult. Many
doctors, druggists, nurses and law
yers are in the organization, giving
their services free of charge in spe-
cited cases, even advancing funds to
certain applicants to tide them over
until they receive their pension mon
ey. These people not only help the
deserving" but they also look after
the so-called "undeserving," giving
them personal attention, and have
in winning some back to
There may be more in
this than appears upon the surface.
Why is it not pointer toward the
way out? We are not hard-hearted
people, we want no one to suffer from
want, and there are plenty Of means
for all. The trouble is, we do not
know, we are ignorant and afraid of
1oing more harm than good. This
ian be overcome by organization. Why
should not every neighborhood, in city
and country, get together and look
after it's own unfortunates? Metho-I
list, Catholic and Hebrew societies
for charity are good. But would not
4 Human" society be lot better?
II every district would organize as
young Applebaum has organized his,
simply to bring the HAYES and the
1ave-nots into helpful contact, and to
hull the cutting edge of misfortune,
would not this world be deal bright
er?
Above all, let us get rid of the mon
ey fetish, the idea that by making a
financial contribution we are dis
charging our duty What the world
wants is you, not yours. This great
man might have given many thousand
dollars to charity. He did more. He
gave himself.