South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-11-11
How Much a Man
Ought to Give
BY Charles T. Andrews.

During the Napoleonic wars, when
England was straining every nerve
and exhausting every resource 90
meet the national emergencies. her
leader, the Great Commoner, William
Pitt. in appealing for further effort
exhorted the people TO consider not
how much they had already given
but how much they had left. In a
similar spirit, the standard for social
service should not be what we have
already done, but how much we are
still able to do. This should apply
both TO contributors to the funds and
to work for the cause.
In the old Hebrew organization, in
addition TO free-will offerings, a tenth
of the givers annual income was re
quired for the support of the theo-
cratic state - the Social service of
those days. Many people, both Jews
and Christians, still make a similar
pious contribution from their re-
sources for the support OF benevo-
lence. The term "Benevolence" is,
indeed from the Latin for good will
ing" and may well be applied to any
of the Il institutions for which sup
port will be solicited during Good
income any individual may feel dis
posed to give. to this cause may be
regarded as a measure of his benevo-
lence, or good will. How much he
can give may depend upon circum-
stances more or less under his con-
troll. How much he actually does
give will be the result of disposition
applied to circumstances. Observa-
ton teaches that of persons in the
same circumstances, some give freely
and literally, some give grudgingly
and stingily and some do not give at
all. Some give carelessiy as the
mood moves them; and some give
carefully and intelligently. The last
are the dependable supporters of all
forms of social service.
one object of this federation is to
increase the number of the intelligent
givers in South Bend. An attempt is
made to secure the attention of all
the people TO the objects sought by
the - federated societies, and then
to induce each person thoughtfully TO
consider what he can do TO aid in
accomplishing these objects. In COM
ing to his conclusion. each person
should adopt some standard-better
is low standard than haphaZard
impulse.
Those who have an income beyond
their expenditures could easily decide
what part of their surplus should be
given. For the larger number who
barely make both ends meet" some
sacrifice is necessary. To many II
will be the temporary dropping of
some luxury which may range from
candy. chewing gum, or tobacco 10
moving pictures, theaters, parties,
rich dresses, jewelry, or other eXtrav-
agant pleasures. Some, indeed, may
have TO sacrifice necessartes, and
suffer want because of the giving
possibly these gifts are the most prec-
ious of all. The penny from the lit
tie child. the nickle from the older
one, the dime or dollar from the fam
lily TO which il means a sacrifice
gathered throughout the city-would
aggregate a valuable addition TO the
funds of the federation.
OF course, the larger amount must
come from those whose circum-
stances make the sacrifices less.
Whether this shall be So or $500
each, or more, must be determined
by the givers There should be taken
into consideration, however. the fact
that this is the only subscription~<o
be asked for during the year for any
Of the 10 objects enumerated. The
facts presented show that all the peo-
pie of the city ought 10 give an ag-
gregate OF $4,000 for this social ser
vice. How much each one ought 10
give must be determined by his own
awakened conscience.