The Dangerous Classes of New York, and Twenty Years' Work Among ThemBrace, Charles Loring
History
The Dangerous Classes of New York, and Twenty Years' Work Among Them
Brace, Charles Loring
Child welfare -- New York (State) -- New York; New York (N.Y.) -- Social conditions; Poor -- New York (State) -- New York
Gradually, by publicity, the general community come to have something of
the same moral interest in the enterprise, that the special attendants
of a church have in its welfare; and it becomes a truly public interest.
To attain this, the press should be the great agency, as well as the
pulpit, wherever practicable. Annual reports, designed for all classes,
wherein there are figures for the statistical, facts for the doubting,
incidents for the young, and principles stated for the thoughtful,
should be scattered far and wide.
As the organization grows, State-aid should be secured for a portion of
its expenses, that a more permanent character may be given it, and it
may not be suddenly too much crippled by a business depression or
disaster.
Of the modes in which money should be raised, I have already spoken. In
all these matters, the general rule of wisdom is to avoid "sensation,"
and to trust to the settled and reasonable conviction of the public,
rather than to temporary feeling or excitement.
Founded on such principles, and guided by men of this character and
ability, and by those of similar purposes who shall come after them,
there seems no good reason why this extended Charity should not scatter
its blessings for generations to come throughout this ever-increasing
metropolis.
To those now serving in it, no thought can be sweeter, when their
"change of guard" comes, than that the humble organization of humanity
and Christian kindness, which, amid many labors and sacrifices, they
aided to found, will spread good-will and intelligence and relief and
religious light to the children of the unfortunate and the needy, long
years after even their names are forgotten; and for monument or record
of their work, they cannot ask for more enduring than young lives
redeemed from crime and misery, and young hearts purified and ennobled
by CHRIST, and many orphans' tears wiped away, and wounds of the lonely
and despairing "little ones" of the world healed through
instrumentalities which they assisted to plant, and which shall continue
when they are long gone.
END.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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