Our Duty to the Poor by Editor

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 6, 1863

Our Duty to the Poor.

By Editor

LIKE many others, in our early experience, we erred upon this subject. If we help the poor when they can help themselves, we injure them. It is generally a lack of noble independence and self-reliance that causes poverty. If we bestow means upon such, we make them weaker, and they at once feel that they have claims upon us, depend upon our assistance, covet what we have, and become our enemies if we do not hand out as much and as often as they think we should. We should be liberal and kind in all our dealings with the poor, help them to help themselves, and if possible inspire in them that nobleness of soul necessary to self-reliance, instead of relying on others for help.

We have a sacred duty to the widow, the orphan, and the unfortunate. But in these cases it is generally best to help them to help themselves by furnishing them employment.

We give the following copied from the Marshall Statesman, because of the sound truth it teaches.—Ed.