SYSTEMATIC AND EFFICIENT CHARITY. CHARITY has ever been acknowledged the greatest of virtues; but its exercise has been always attended with many difficulties, as is the judicious carrying out of any other virtue. On superficial examination nothing would appear so simple as to exercise charity: for is it not easy to relieve distress applying at our doors, by gifts of money or the necessaries of life? If you throw a penny to the beggar, is this not charity? But when we inquire more deeply into the matter, we shall find that this indiscriminate almsgiving, as a general thing, does more harm than good. A person of any self-respect, deprived by accident or some unforeseen circumstance of the means of self-support, will shrink with horror from the idea of asking alms, though most deserving of relief; while the professional beggar, neither needy nor deserving of encouragement, will, by persistence and impudence, generally gain his point. The charitably disposed, either ignorant of this fact or not having the time to institute inquiries, are thus grossly imposed upon, pauperism is encouraged, and real, deserving poverty remains unrelieved. It is very far from us to ask our readers to discountenance almsgiving, because five out of six applicants may, perhaps, be impostors; but we wish to check indiscriminate charity, as tending more to demoralize than elevate the applicant. Conscious of the facts above stated, our co-religionists of the city of Philadelphia first made a step in the right direction, and we are glad to see that our brethren of this city have followed the good example. Five prominent charitable associations have united into one society for relieving distress, and that in a manner to help the deserving poor to regain their position in society by giving them the means of self-support, and encouraging thrift and economy, while professional beggars will henceforth be unable to impose upon the charitable. We We reproduce below the circular of the "United Hebrew Charities of the City of New York"-the name given to the five societies that have amalgamated as stated above-setting forth more in detail how that desirable end is to be attained. We earnestly hope that other charitable institutions will follow the good example of these worthy societies, and by joining the union increase and enlarge their sphere of usefulness. Other cities would do well to organize likewise into one efficient body their several smaller charities, and thereby contribute to the eradication of one of the blots of our nineteenth-century civilization-pauperism. Thus, indeed, is "charity made easy," the difficulties in the way have been cleared off, and we may confidenly anticipate an improvement in the condition of the needy. The Executive Committee close their circular with an appeal to the benevolent: winter is at our doors; employment is scarce and labor abundant-shall that appeal be heeded? The Israelites have always nobly responded to calls of this nature, and we are sure this one will be no exception to the rule-nay, more, where such inducements are held out, and such noble ends to be gained, we are convinced that the result will far exceed the most sanguine expectation. Godspeed, then, to thee, thou noble charity! I. F. CIRCULAR OF THE UNITED HEBREW CHARITIES OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK. CENTRAL OFFICE, 59 EAST 4TH ST. NEW YORK, November 1st, 1874. To the Israelites of New York: WE have the pleasure to announce that, having commenced active operations under the auspices of the following Societies, viz., "The Hebrew Benevolent and Orphan Asylum Society," "The Hebrew Benevolent Fuel Association," "The Hebrew Relief Society," "The Hebrew Ladies' Benevolent Society of Yorkville," and "The Ladies' Benevolent Society, Congregation 'Gates of Prayer,' represented by a board of delegates, a central office for the transaction of its business has been opened at the above address. Our object (briefly stated) is to carry out an improved system of relief. To this end, the city has been divided into seventeen districts; in each a committee [consisting of two ladies and three gentlemen] has been appointed, whose duty will be, to visit the poor in their several districts, note their condition, and report on every case of distress, with the least possible delay. Committees have also been appointed for obtaining employment, granting loans and receiving deposits, on emigration, and on medical and sanitary relief. By their united efforts we hope to improve the condition of our poor, by assisting them in various ways to raise themselves from their present condition. While the co-operation of our societies will greatly promote their efficiency and secure the intelligent and methodical performance of their work, we are nevertheless aware that the assistance of the benevolent is indispensable in furnishing the means whereby the material usefulness of the Board can be maintained. We therefore appeal to you, especially in view of the peculiar calls upon us during the winter season, to extend to us your hearty and generous aid. And we would impress upon you that the assistance of the community is required in order that the unworthy shall no longer receive the help to which the needy and unfortunate are entitled. Refuse to give alms indiscriminately to those who apply to your offices and dwellings, take their names and addresses, forward the same to our central office, and the cases will be immediately referred to the proper District Committee for investigation. If found worthy, the applicants will be promptly relieved; if professional beggars, they will be compelled to seek an honest livelihood and will cease to be a burden on the charitable. In this way only can we prevent the unworthy obtaining funds (as they have hitherto, by their persistence) from our various societies and private individuals. We offer this brief sketch, asking your attention to its prominent features, and in pledging ourselves to use the utmost zeal in the administration of its various details, we trust this appeal to assist us with funds to carry them out, will not have been made in vain. Your cast-off wearing apparel, blankets, etc., can be made available and will be gratefully received. If you will kindly notify us, our messenger shall be instructed to call at your residence for such articles as you desire to distribute amongst our worthy poor the coming winter. Contributions addressed to the Treasurer, Lewis S. Levy, Esq., at the central offices, or to the undersigned, will be thankfully received, and suitably acknowledged. We are, very respectfully yours, The Executive Committee, P. W. FRANK, 43 Broad Street. A CHRISTIAN THANKSGIVING. As usual at this time of the year, the various governors have issued their proclamations, appointing the day of Thanksgiving for their respective States. It has hitherto been supposed that this day was to be celebrated by the whole country irrespective of creed, and as our Constitution guarantees us an unsectarian government, so ought our national holidays-Fourth of July and Thanksgiving—to be entirely unsectarian. The governor of the State of Massachusetts, however, Mr. Talbot, would like to exclude from the participation in this national rejoicing all who do not believe as he happens to believe. The feelings of those who think otherwise go for nothing with him. How can we interpret differently the following passage in his proclamation, to give thanks "for the higher hopes and aspirations which spring from the gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ"? Following the example of Mr. Talbot, perhaps we may expect next year, from a State whose governor happens to be a Catholic, to be asked to give thanks for the grace of the intercession of the Virgin Mary and all the Saints in the calendar. That would only be the natural consequence of the precedent set by this fanatical official, and every newspaper in the land, no matter of what creed or tendency, ought to censure this evident violation of our Constitution. OUR NEW VOLUME. WITH the present number, the fourth volume of the NEW ERA closes. We think it unnecessary to hold out a long list of tempting novelties as attractions for the coming volume; the character and reputation of our magazine being so well established by this time, that we need resort to no such expedients. Our patrons and readers may rest assured that we will, in the future as in the past, endeavor to maintain its high standard; and that no pains and expense will be spared to secure the co-operation of contributors in the various fields to which our monthly is devoted. To our friends and supportors we herewith tender our thanks, and promise, in return-no matter how well we may have done in the past-we shall strive to do still better in the future. With this understanding, we have no doubt that our readers will continue to give us their encouragement, and thereby facilitate the fulfillment of our promise. LITERARY NOTICES. THE LIFE OF CHRIST. BY FREDERICK W. FARRAR, D.D., F.R.S. 2 Vols. New York: E. P. Dutton & Co. Almost since the destruction of the Second Temple the life of that renowned Israelite, who suffered martyrdom because his ignorant contemporaries could not appreciate the reforms he desired to introduce into Judaism, has been made the pet subject on which theological biographers have devoted much time, labor, and erudition. First of all appeared the original histories, written by gentlemen who have since been called the four Evangelists. In these, as was to have been expected from the writers and the object they had in view, truth was perverted to suit the exigencies of the circumstances, the sayings and doings of the illustrious Jew were intentionally misinterpreted and falsified, a totally different character to that which he bore was assigned to him by his "faithful" historians, and the nature of his mission was entirely changed so as to suit the religious sentiments and weak minds of the heathens, from whose ranks the founders of Christianity determined to establish a new sect of believers. And yet, even in these histories, albeit the intention was the same, there are many contradictions and discrepancies which bewilder the reader, and leave him much in doubt on the very subject he wishes to be enlightened. After these biographies came the writings and discussions of the earlier fathers of the Church, and so on, through the lapse of centuries, until the invention of printing gave them to the world, as text books on which to write numerous commentaries, and from which should spring all those violent controversies which have not yet ceased even in this very utilitarian age. The biographical as well as the theological student will readily recall many of these "lives of Christ" which have appeared within comparatively late years. Their writers have represented Jesus under all imaginable aspects. They have shown him up as a semi-God, as a whole God, and as no God at all. They have given him the character either of king, priest, prophet, law-giver, savior, or of all these put together. They have proved him to be everything in general and nothing at all in particular; in short, they have proved too much; hence it is incumbent on everybody now who wishes either to defend or to attack Christianity, to write a life of Jesus and to give his own version of the great events in which our respected coreligionist took so prominent a part. |