Being and Doing – 9 August – Ancient and Modern Philanthropy

SPEAKING roughly, we might say that the characteristic difference between ancient and modern philanthropy is that the former aims at curing, while the latter aims at preventing;  the former is moral, the latter intellectual as well as moral.   Thus if it was the task of the early Christians to relieve disease, it is ours to use our new knowledge of sanitary laws for the prevention of disease;  if it was theirs to assist the poor, it is ours to destroy the causes of pauperism;  if it was the privilege of the first disciples in one emotional shock to convert a sinner from darkness to light by the mere mention of the name of Jesus, it is our less startling duty to remove from our poorer brethren the irresistible temptations to crime, taught by sad experience, that the want of food frequently means the want of spiritual as well as bodily strength, and the absence of education means the presence of brutality and the absence of the physical decencies of life means the presence of moral indecency; and, in a word, that man’s unpitied misery means Satan’s opportunity.

E.A. ABBOTT

SANITARY reform in itself may mean nothing more than better drainage, fresher air, freer light, more abundant water; to the ‘Governor among the nations’ it means lessened impossibility that men should live to Him.”

J. C. BROWN, from Ethics of George Eliot

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These quotes are from ‘Being and Doing’ A selection of helpful thoughts from various authors arranged for daily reading.

Collected by Constance M Whishaw and first published in 1908 for members of the Being and Doing Guild whose object is to do all they can for the relief of suffering and misery.

Most of the writers are 19th Century Christians from Britain and Europe who were committed to living their faith through deeds as well as words – Being AND Doing.

For many years these words have kept me company and encouraged me on the journey of faith.  I hope they will encourage others also.