106 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



the use of volunteers is not only desirable but imperative. The 

 work could not be carried on otherwise. The usual support given to 

 the poor, the encouragement to elevate their home life, their health, 

 and their habits are matters foi- the benevolent citizen who can 

 snatch a half hour in the week for that purpose, and comes all the 

 better from him than from the official i-epresentative of charity. 



Indeed the associated charities must do good in this direction, or 

 do very little at all, as they are not organized to relieve the poor 

 by giving alms, but to enquire into the cases of deserving poor 

 and thus aid the existing charities, and secondly, to help the poor to 

 help themselves. So long as real misery exists or is skilfully coun- 

 terfeited, so long will the charitable hand out their money on the 

 street or in their offices, no matter how many charities there may be 

 around them. The association of charities is opposed to this thought- 

 less or indiscriminate giving. An English clergyman, speaking of 

 his experience in the terrible winter of 1867-'8 in the east end of 

 London, says that out of every shilling ticket he had given he had 

 done four pennywoi'th of good to eight pennyworth of harm — the 

 id. representing the bread which had gone into the mouths of a 

 wretched population, the 8d. the premium which was given to their 

 wasteful, indolent habits. Immediately after the experience of these 

 times a society was started in London called the " Chai-ity Organiza- 

 tion Society," and it gives no relief (except in the extreme cases of 

 despair or imminent death) without previous and searching exami- 

 nation. At its head is the Bishop of London ; and men like Cardinal 

 Manning, Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Ruskin, the Earl of Shaftesbury and 

 the Duke of Norfolk are amongst its officers. 



One of the aims of a charity organization calls for special men- 

 tion. The basis of relief is employment in all cases where work can 

 be got, and where the applicant is able to work. This is easier to 

 discuss in theory than to reduce to practice. One thing has, how- 

 ever, been noticed. Whenever work was obtainable the applications 

 for relief fell off. In many cities the procuring of work is put on a 

 commercial basis as they say ; in many the civic authorities provide 

 employment. In Baltimore it is made a substantive charity called 

 the Provident Wood Yard. When a man professed a willingness to 

 work and work could not be provided, it was cruel to dismiss him as 

 undeserving. Any man making a proper application is provided 

 with livinsr wages until something better can be found for him. 



