The world charity by derivation and in old English
means love. But in ordinary modern English it means alms giving, and in this
short essay we must confine ourselves to the later and narrower meaning of the
world. Charity in this sense is a virtue extensively practiced and highly
esteemed in the east. In Pakistan we have in most of our large cities fine
monuments of munificent charity in the university building, college hospital convalescent
homes and water-fountains, built wholly or partially at the expense of rich
citizens who chose this practical way of showing their love for their native
city.
But it must be remembered that it is not only the
rich that have the power of being charitable. Very often the munificent gifts
of rich men are made for purposes of ostentation or as a means of gaining favor
with government. The best charity is that which is done in secret, so that in
the expressive words of the gospel, the left hand goes not know what the right
hand doth.
It is very necessary to exercise discrimination in
the giving of alms. The great object of charity is to relieve misery. And
indiscriminate charity, by encouraging the trade of begging. Actually add to the
misery of the world. If it were not for the reckless charity of well-meaning
men, who think it a duty to give a small alms to every beggar they come across,
many who now lead a miserable existence as beggars would take to honest work,
and become profitable members of society. As things are, they prefer to live an
idle life of ‘degradation, and some of them, by begging and imposture. Make
more money than an honest poor man can earn by hard labor. Such being the case
it is no wonder that so many beggars infest the streets of Lahore and other
rich cities.
A rich man who is really determined to do good itch
his money, should either find out for himself what poor men really deserve
help, or if he has not time to do so, he should en his alms through some
charitable society, that has officers appointed for the special purpose of
distinguishing between the deserving poor and impudent impostors. There are
also some who require to be reminded the charity begins at home and that they
must not deprive themselves of the means of supporting their oven family by
profuse charity to strangers who have fewer claims upon them.
These then, are the two principal limits to observe
in the duty of alms giving. We must recognize the prior obligation of providing
for the necessities of our own family, and we must take care lest by. Ill-judged
distribution of alms we encourage beggary and improvidence with its attendant
miseries.
Charity would seem to be least exposed to the
second danger, when a subscription is made for unfortunate persons suddenly reduced to ruin by an earthquake,
or a storm, or any other calamity against which no foresight could have
defended them. For in such cases there is very great distress to be relieved in
the present, and there is little fear of the help given, leading in the future
to ruinous improvidence or extravagance.