Inhabitants and Citizens of Munich. 5 1 1 



profaned by them without scruple, and employed with 

 consummate hypocrisy to their wicked purposes.* 



Whence is it that this evil proceeds ? Not from the 

 inability of this great capital to provide for its poor ; 

 for no city in the world, of equal extent and population, 

 has so many hospitals for the sick and infirm, and other 

 institutions of public charity. Neither is it owing to 

 the hardheartedness of the inhabitants ; for a more feel- 

 ing and charitable people cannot be found. Even the 

 uncommonly great and increasing numbers of the beg- 

 gars show the kindness and liberality of the inhabitants ; 

 for these vagabonds naturally collect together in the 

 greatest numbers, where their trade can be carried on 

 to the greatest advantage. 



The hijudicious dispensation of alms is the real and 

 only source of this evil. 



In every community there are certainly to be found 

 a greater or less number of poor and distressed persons 

 who have just claims on the public charity. This is also 

 the case at Munich, and nature dictates to us the duty 

 of administering relief to suffering humanity, and more 

 especially to our poor and distressed fellow-citizens ; 

 and our holy religion promises eternal rewards to him 

 who supports and relieves the poor and needy, and 



* Suffice it to mention one among numberless facts which might be brought 

 to prove these assertions : — 



The beggars of our capital carry on an increasing and very lucrative trade 

 with confessional and communion testimonials, which they sell to people who 

 daringly transgress the holy ecclesiastical laws by neglecting to confess and 

 receive the holy sacrament of the Lord's Supper at Easter. Some of these im- 

 pious wretches receive the sacrament at least twice a day, in order not to lose 

 their customers, if the demands for communion testimonials are great or come 

 late. Ye priests and preachers of the gospel, can you still forbear raising 

 your voices against beggars ? 



