There are two types of doing good works: one, which induces each person to relieve, according to his means, the ills he finds around him. This type is as old as the world; it began with human misery; Christianity has made a divine virtue out of it and calls it charity. The other type, less instinctive, more reasoned, less enthusiastic, and often more powerful, induces society itself to see to the misfortunes of its members and to systematically watch over the relief of their misery. This type was born of Protestantism and only developed in modern societies.
The first is a private virtue; it escapes social action. The second, on the contrary, is carried out and regulated by society. It is on this second type that we especially concentrate.
On the surface, there is no idea grander or more beautiful than public charity.
Society, examining itself constantly, measuring its injuries each day and working to cure them; society, at the same time that it assures to the rich enjoyment of their property, safeguarding the poor from the excesses of their misery, demands from some a portion of their surplus to provide necessities to others. There is certainly in the presence of this impressive sight something that elevates the spirit and that could not fail to move the soul.
Why must experience come to destroy part of these beautiful illusions?
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