The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1946-02-13
LETTER BOX
Continued from Page Four)

wear IN care for the needs OF this
group. and it is obvious that only
a limited group can be cared Tor
under the 1900 per annum bud
get. So far it has been impossible
to find a director to head this or
ganization, so it has never been
set up.
The Community Chest has main
tanned that the care of the per-
manently sick and disabled and
those requiring considerable cash
outlay for food, shelter, and med
ical care is a proper charge for
the county and city governments
and therefore no funds from the
Community Chest could be used to
feed. house or otherwise care for
this group. This thinking on the
part of the Community Chest has
the backing of a committee sent
here by the State Board of Public
welfare to make survey OF the
local situation, but the directors of
the Associated Charities have
maintained that feeding the hum
cry, clothing the naked is of para
mount Importance and should take
precedence over anything else and
that those contributors who make
the Community Chest possible are
willing and anxious that some OF
their funds be used to feed the
hungry and to care for those I'M
able to care for themselves.
The two agencies have not been
able to reconcile their differences
and the Associated Charities has
appealed to the county govern
ment for assistance so that the
hungry may be provided with
food. Here the matter now stands
and something must be done at
once if people in our community
are not to suffer.
AS things have reached an i'm
passe, it seems that the public who
: are rightfully concerned should
have full information from both
, sides and the public should de-
: eide.
/ It is true that under the Con-
, stitution of North Carolina the
county government is charged with
a the care of the INDECENT and that
: tax funds should be provided for
: this purpose. This law is still in
effect but there is another law
I governing this matter, law much
r older than our Constitution and
r also still in effect. I refer to the
laws of religion which is so ably
: defined in both the old and the
: new Testaments.
S The religious law intended that
4 the churches should care for those
in need but the churches have
stopped doing that and this has
d made it necessary for the char
d table organizations to come into
e being and do the things that the
h church was supposed to do.
Let me say in advance I am
e quoting from memory and am no
claiming that these quotations are
l. verbatim but they are close
t. enough so that they can be recog
II nized. ION the first doy o
e the week, let everyone lay by il
II store as God has prospered you.
.e They were not admonished to la.
l. by in store to pay taxes, but t.
y" feed the poor and care TOR tn
q other church duties.
All of you remember the ric]
young man who came to Jesus ant
asked what he could do to inheri
eternal life. You recall he hal
, been an exemplary person an
\ kept all the commandments, bu
} the Master said, Zone thin!
thou lackest, 60, sell all thy good
W and give to the poor The Maste
~ did not say, sell your goods AM
20 pay your taxes. Again the Maste
o said, 81 was rungry and you CAV
= me no meat, I was thirsty an
n. you gave me no drink, I was make
"a and you clothed me not, ETC." H
h was asked when these refusal
were made and He said, in a
If much as we did lot unto the leas
IN of these, my brethren, We did
! not unto me-" No mention o
a. taxes there. Another time whel
N Jesus was questioned about payin
Ct der unto Caesar the things tina
in are Caesars and unto God tn
things that are Gods" I thinl
- this last covers the entire sub
n iect. There is an amount tina
, should be paid in taxes and Their
10 is also an amount that must b.
3 given to the poor. :.
. There are basic functions II
> this matter of helping the needy il
which the government does have
part. I think all of us are agreed
on Old Age Assistance. Aid to:
! Dependent Children and Aid to-
the Blind. Only governmental
functions could make these plan!
u uniform and national in scope ane
II to set up units to dispense these
$ funds. Certainly no church coult
II get that much uniformity, but
a the church has not been relieved
}. of its responsibilities and the law:
r of God have not been changed, sc
:. Il is our responsibility to give te
q the poor now just as much as il
was then and it is only through {
), local organization such as the AS
d sociated Charities that we are al
Il lowed this privilege of giving ane
e IL