Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 5.djvu/341

Rh digested at the central office C. O. S. The almoner of a church charity fund will often seek coöperation with a mixed society (not through it with others) in order to turn over to it for relief some case which has long burdened the church's fund, and has probably become completely pauperized. If we do not give relief, we are spared such trials, for those who control such funds under such circumstances do not want C. O. S. investigation nor registration, and care little for any friendly visitation other than they can supply. The duty of C. O. S. is to do these things, and it expects the church to do its full share of the work of helpfulness, that is, to care for all its own members in distress, if able, and as many more cases as it can. C. O. S. is most successful in getting relief societies to coöperate with each other, and all agencies through it, when it constantly helps them by making their relief-giving function plain, and not infringing on it. It must expect the relief agencies of every kind to do the work for which they exist, and not let them think they can evade responsibility for unrelieved suffering by assuming that C. O. S. will make up for all they fail to do.

The most valuable aid in securing the cooperation of private charitable persons is lost to the mixed society. C. O. S. can call on its friends and subscribers to furnish the material assistance needed for their own cases with a better grace than the mixed society, and does not need to fear the answer: "I subscribe that you may help these people; why do you bring them back to me?"

The C. O. S. must secure its influence with and guidance of other societies and agencies by usefulness to them. It must carefully avoid competition with any. "Whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant." The price of success is demonstrated usefulness.

The above are among the more obvious reasons against a society which calls itself C. O. S. or A. C. being the disburser of relief funds from its own treasury. They do not all apply, though some of them do, to C. O. S. being a temporary custodian of funds given it for specific cases. Nor even to C. O. S. keeping a "Golden Book," although there are some difficulties