The mere logic of religion, Sunday schools and teachers,
may supply one day out of seven; but to animate that logic and make it a
practical thing, a faith instead of a belief, it must be made concrete
and living in the loving life of home. In this case no one does the duty
or assumes the responsibility of the parent.
Our duty to our fellow men is not charity as we use the word--a bill
dropped into the contribution box, or a subscription to a charitable
society; but [Greek: charis] in the old meaning of love and help.
Poverty springs from two causes--improvidence, a lack of the
_savoir-faire_ in the affairs of life, or overwhelming circumstances,
which have broken the spirit of the man and made him sit down
discouraged and despairing. In either case, money is no remedy. If the
man be improvident, it only helps the evil for a moment, and the want
soon returns: what the man needs is instruction and care from those
better versed in the art of living. And in the second case, to give
money is no avail, but rather an evil; for instead of thus recognizing
his degradation, the man needs encouragement, the enthusiasm of a strong
and successful heart, giving life and light to him who thus sits in
darkness. This demands the time and careful thought of every man, or the
duty is left undone. Charitable institutions are well enough: the only
error is in supposing that they can assume the responsibility of the
individual.
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