Such assistance as this has many advantages over that given by organized societies. There is little probability of imposition, of excessive relief, or of relief that is ill adapted to its purpose, such as is common in the wholesale distribu tion made by public officials and which sometimes shows and women among its members, to attempt a record necessarily so im perfect. — GEORGE SILSBEE HALE: History of Boston." In a footnote to the above passage, the author quotes from the diary and correspondence of Amos Lawrence an estimate that between 1807 and 1829 this private citizen of Boston expended in systematic charity for the benefit of his fellowmen some $7,000,000 ; and says : " It is hardly neces sary to add that this sum was much greater in value then than now, and that large fortunes are both larger and more numerous ; but it may be added that the living rival this munificence and exceed it in amount. We are forbidden to name the living, and it is impossible to name all those who are entitled to honor as examples of charity among the dead." itself in the work of private agencies. We have no method comparable to that of Dr. Chalmers in throwing the responsibility for relief entirely upon the private resources of immediate neighbors, and such a plan might prove inade quate, but as an element in the instinctive and unorganized methods by which the community distributes among its members the shock of unexpected want, unofficial neigh borly assistance is always to be given a liberal recognition.
Allied with this, although upon a somewhat different basis, may be placed the professional services of physicians in the charity work of which some falls to the share of every physician, and the information and advice given by lawyers who untangle many a snarl and protect from many a villany without compensation ; assistance given by church members and pastors individually to their own poor, no mention of which appears upon the official records of the church ; credit extended with little or no hope of payment by retail dealers, who may be nearly as poor as their customers ; forbearance of landlords in the matter of rents ; the advance of wages before they are earned, by employers ; and the various other kinds of assistance analogous to these. They are but one step removed from that neighborly charity which gives be cause of personal acquaintance. It may be said that these are professional or business relations, rather than personal, yet the underlying motive is similar. The im pulse is a charitable one, and if in some instances it is a professional rather than a charitable spirit, it is a magnani mous, altruistic, professional spirit springing from the same qualities that give rise to neighborliness, friendship, and charity. It is wholly unmeasured and immeasurable in amount. It is not to be denied that it is sometimes ill advised and unfortunate in its results. It is, how
ever, fundamental, sound, and sensible as a feature in the relief of distress. It is one of those elastic and elusive, but necessary, social forces which supplement organized schemes and insure needed assistance where, from igno rance of the necessity or from a failure on the part of those who are in trouble to act in what might be considered the rational manner, the more systematic plans might mis carry. It is therefore a creditable as well as a consider able element in the relief system, and it is not the least of its advantages that it gives peculiar scope for the development of those qualities in the individuals which eventually provide organized charity as well as individ ual assistance. In America such charity is spontaneous in all professions and callings, and among persons of all grades of income.
It might not seem amiss to enumerate in this connec tion as an agency for the relief of needy families those means of self-protection from the evil results of sickness, accident, and death which rest upon a business basis, such as benefit societies, benefit features of labor organizations, fraternal associations, insurance societies, and clubs of various kinds. They are not, however, charities, al though they are of the greatest possible service in making charity in its lower forms unnecessary. If such preven tive organizations covered the whole field of industry and if personal thrift were developed to the point at which laborers did their own saving instead of paying large sums to others to do their saving for them, the need for providing relief would almost disappear, as the number of needy families would be so small that relatives or neigh bors would easily be found to care for them. There would still be room for both the kinds of charity to which reference has last been made, but they could be exercised to a considerable extent in higher spheres. Instead of providing fuel, clothing, and shelter, they would give in creased opportunities for social, educational, and industrial advancement, and would only in rare instances need to provide the necessaries of life for those who are unable to supply their own wants. Plans of insurance and self help are not a part of a system of relief, but they are not to be overlooked as welcome alternatives.
There remains a class of special agencies which have to do with the care and relief of needy families, but which do not administer material relief in the ordinary sense. Illustrations of these are : I. The free employment agencies, and agencies which, while making a reasonable charge for the services ren dered, do this in such a way as to make it possible for one who is without means to take advantage of their facili ties, making payment after employment has been secured and wages received.