Article November 2, 1929 Issue

True Philanthropy

WILIAM COLWELL BARTLETT

The world's view of philanthropy is all too often the limited one of bestowal of vast material wealth for humanitarian purposes. Those alone to whom such privilege is vouchsafed by limited mortal belief are the ones whom the world counts wealthy. Such a standpoint would eliminate from the possible practice of philanthropy most of the human race.

Do we as Christian Scientists accept this view? We cannot do so if we recognize that our opportunities to benefit the human race are unlimited, since God, good, is infinite in His immortal being and expression. Such opportunities therefore do not depend upon matter or material conditions; neither can they be limited by any such thing.

It may be helpful to consider what are some of our opportunities, and how by improving them we can be philanthropists in the highest and therefore the most truly beneficial sense. Do we love? Are we practicing the Golden Rule? Are we daily striving to exemplify the Christ-spirit in our thoughts and lives?

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