The Curse of Charity

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 17, 1884, Page 453

2. “The Curse of Charity,” by E. A. Mackechnie. The author referred to the economy of the animal kingdom, and showed that design in all the forms of the animal framework was the same in all cases. There was no real knowledge of what life is. It existed, and was sustained by a continual regulated supply of food and other conditions of growth and life, but no one knew really what it was. A slight puncture of the brain and it was gone; a stoppage of the regular pulsations of the heart and it ceased, and when once gone no power on earth could recall or restore it. He contrasted the resemblance between the lower animals and man in many respects, and showed the degree of affection that sprang up between some members of the animal kingdom and man. His remarks on this point were illustrated by reference to “Rab and his Friends,” by Dr. Brown. But, while there was such a similarity between man and the lower animals with which he was associated, the lecturer held that man in his religious feelings, depth of sympathy, power of reasoning, etc., gave evidence of the existence in himself of a power or faculty which was beyond that which any of the lower animals possessed. The law of heredity was referred to, in the discussion of which he pointed out that the physical qualities were transmitted as well as the mental, and this led to his remarks on the question of charity. With Herbert Spencer, he agreed that the exercize of charity has the effect of increasing the demands upon it. There was a kind of parasitic quality in many people, and this quality was also transmitted. He compared this parasitic, or dependent, trait of character in human beings with the habits of parasitic plants. For a time little support was derived from the plants upon which the parasites were dependent, but a time came when they would depend wholly upon the supporting tree, only to be destroyed, as the rata does the kauri. He referred to free education, and held that parents should not shift their burdens in this respect upon the State. This reduced the feeling of independence, which all should cherish, and the education given was not a useful one, as there was a tendency growing up among those who were thus educated to become dependent, with a disinclination to work, and in time they might become a burden to the careful and independent citizens. He showed that in all things there was a greater amount of care bestowed upon purely ornamental than upon useful objects. The girls should be taught household work, and learn to study books upon household economy; and boys should be educated in the several trades or occupations at which they would have to earn their living. For some time past the tendency of education had been as if the world no more required the performance of manual labour. This was a mistake, and the system of education which produced such a feeling was very defective, if not mischievous. He referred to the position taken up by the unemployed, and contrasted it with the experience of the Messrs. Chambers of Edinburgh, Nasmyth the engineer, and others, who had shown a self-reliant nature. Many illustrations were given of the dependence to which some have come, and the utter moral degradation to which some come when they are long the recipients of what is called charity. The hospital management was referred to. It was found that many here were not ashamed to apply to the hospital for free medical advice who were well able to pay for such advice. He held that, though the city was but small, it had its full share of lazy loafers and sturdy beggars, and

the mental tendency of these people would be transmitted to their offspring with unerring certainty. To uproot this tendency, a good deal of severity, and, in some cases, a little harshness, would be necessary. The action of the Jews was used as an illustration of the writer's argument. They were charitable, and gave freely to Jew and Gentile, but, among their own people, while they gave, they only did so that the receivers might be able to work and help themselves. They never gave to enable any one to live a life of idleness and dependence upon others so long as they were able to work. He thought our charity was misapplied and wrong when pauperism was produced by such action. He referred to the Communism of France, the Fenianism of Ireland, the Nihilism of Russia, as the portents which hung over the world, and which might break up the civilization of the present day. If the time came when the possession of property would be generally regarded as theft, then they would realize, in its true and full import, the meaning of the words “The Curse of Charity.” Mr. Pond defended the expenditure upon our educational system, and thought that so long as primary education was confined to the three R.'s there could be little harm done in our expenditure upon education. He thought there was a greater tendency to an idle life by those who received a secondary education largely at the public expense, than among those who participated in our primary education. Dr. J. Murray Moore hoped that what Mr. Mackechnie had said would not shut up the fountains of charity. There were people in distress in Auckland. There existed here wives and families deserted by their husbands, and others who had drunken and profligate husbands who were anything but a support to those they should sustain.