Charity Should Help Men Help Themselves
By Editor
The Advance (Congregational), Chicago, of August 29, has the following concerning the Pullman employes:— "Dr. Bolton, pastor of the Centenary M. E. Church of this city, in speaking of affairs at Pullman, said that, notwithstanding the large amount of rent due the Pullman Company, no tenant had been evicted. He thought that if people in all parts of the city could get their rent free and have other people call around with good food and clothing, they would not go to work either. This forcible remark is of wider application than to the Pullman case alone. There is reason to believe that the free-handed charity of last winter was somewhat demoralizing in its effects, for work had no sooner begun in the spring than the striking spirit became rampant, and finally took on the aggressive character of the great assault on the railroads. The fact raises the question whether the laboring people were not influenced by the expectation that their wants would be supplied by a generous city whether they work or not." The above and many similar cases point the moral that the man of charity should be wise as well as generous. He who is helped to help himself is twice helped.