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198 METHODS OF SOCIAL REFORhl:
the poor are duped into aasieting those who are seuretly ia
p h o n of eafficient mean5 of livelihood.
Fer worse, however, than privata charity are the innnmerable
small oheritise established by tbe bequest of mistaken
testators. Almost every parish church has its tables of benefoctiona
holding up to everlwting gratitude those who have
left a small patoh of land, or an annual sum of money, to be
devoted to pauperising tho population of the parish throughout
all time. Blankets, coals, loaves, or money are doled out once
or twice a year, usually by tho vicar and churchwardens. More
or 108s the parish charities net as a decoy to keep the most
kelpleas part of the population nominally within the fold of
the Church. Tho Ilismnters, whorc they are strong enough,
ratnlinte by competing for tho possession of tho poor by their own
missions, and thus tho reproach of tho Roman Catholic Church,
thut it fostered mendicancy, holds far too true of our present
sects. With privato charity no lam can interfere, and we can
do nothiug but appeal to tho discrction of individuals. With
testarncntary charities it is otherwise.
We aro far yet from tho time when so beneficial a measure
will bo possible, but I trust that wo are rapidly approaching
tlw timo whcn tho whole of theso pernicious charities will be
swep)t away. IVo have in this country curried rcspect to the
wiallos of past gc~uerations to an estezlt simply irrational. The
laws of pruperty aro a purely human institution, and are just
so fur dtrfunsiblu RS they conduce to the good of societ,y. Yet
we maintain them to tho extent of wasting and misusing no
inconsiderablo fraction of tho land and wealth of the country.
It would bo wvoll worthy, I think, of Mr. Goschen's attention,
whether all small parish charities might not bo transferred to
the care of the guardians of the poor, so as to be brought
under the supervision of the Poor Law Board, and distributed
in accordance with sound principle. I should refuse to see in all
such public ondowments any rights of privst.c property, and
the State which undertakes the ultimate sopport of the poor, is
bound to prevent its own efforts to reduce pauperism from
being frustrated, a8 they are at present.
And while speaking of charities, it ie imposeible b