436 RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE: SOCIAL 



The chief obstacle to Christian charity now, as then, is the pre- 

 occupation of the individual with his own affairs, and the consequent 

 dependence upon impersonal methods of relief ; and the reform of 

 method now proposed, in the name of scientific charity, is in reality 

 nothing else than a return to the principles of the Good Samaritan. 



This is what Alfred T. White, a practical charity worker of Brook- 

 lyn, says: " It may appear a slow process to eliminate poverty piece 

 by piece from our great cities, and it is natural to long for some 

 quicker way. But there is no way which does not reach to and 

 touch the character of the individual poor." The following words 

 from the statement of the Brooklyn Bureau of Charity shows the 

 spirit of modern charity: " It shall be the duty of a friendly visitor 

 to visit the poor and distressed, as a friend; to examine in the spirit 

 of kindness the cause of their trouble; to do what can be done to 

 remove the cause of their trouble; to become acquainted with the 

 ability which each may have, and to aid in developing it, and in 

 finding ways in which it may be developed in self-help; through 

 friendly intercourse, sympathy, and direction, to encourage self- 

 dependence, industry, and thrift; to recommend whatever may be 

 possible and wise to alleviate the suffering of those whose infirmities 

 cannot be cured or removed; if material aid be necessary, to obtain 

 it from existing organizations, and, as far as possible, in every case, 

 to promote in practical ways the physical and moral improvement 

 of the families in the visitor's charge." 



Practically, this method is being pursued in several cities and 

 states. The churches in Buffalo have undertaken to divide the entire 

 city among themselves, and to assign to each church a district, for 

 the poor families of which it shall hold itself responsible. Each 

 family has a visitor, whose business it is to search out the true need 

 of each individual, and as a friend, give each help as is needed. 

 Churches and other organizations are doing much to aid the state 

 in making charity effective. 



It seems safe to say that in assisting those who, for any reason, 

 need help, the following principles are both in accord with Chris- 

 tianity and scientific charity: 



First, the ideal to be attained is to offer to every human being 

 all opportunities of education, and every other elevating influence 

 which the age affords that is within the power of the individual 

 under favorable conditions to secure. With nothing short of the 

 best attainable under all conditions should we be content. For the 

 masses, the aim should be to improve their condition in the work 

 in which they are now engaged; not to encourage them to aspire 

 to conditions which, in the nature of the case, they cannot reach. 



Any assistance which does not have in mind helping the individual 

 to help himself and to help others is in the direction of pauperism. 



