BIBLIOGRAPHY OF SOCIOLOGY.
SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF PHILANTHROPY.'
THE discovery of the scientific method of determining truth and the appli- cation of this method in the study of the social organism, together with a strengthening of the humanitarian sentiment, have developed in the latter half of this century what is known as the "new philanthropy." Charity has been, through all the ages past, largely selfish and sentimental. In its highest type it was based on the impulse to save one's self from the pain of seeing others suffer. Perhaps the social settlement expresses more perfectly than any other modern movement the tendency of the new philanthropy. As dis- tinguished from the older form, which relieved suffering without regard to the effect on society, the new philanthropy is characterized by two tendencies : (i) a spirit of friendliness ; "not alms, but a friend ;" (2) a scientific study of philanthropy; "information before reformation."
This scientific study of philanthropy implies :
1. The scientific spirit. An open mind and a single purpose to find the truth.
2. The scientific method.
(a) Careful investigation of all the facts.
() Coordination of the facts ; /'. <?., placing them in their real relation-
(c) A determination of underlying general principles.
(tf) The application of these principles to local conditions.
Many possessed of the charitable impulse are repelled by the term "scien- tific philanthropy." Scientific study of human beings implies to them an unsympathetic study. They object, and rightly, to putting impulse in "cold storage." But the term is used in this paper as including the spirit of friendliness essential to the student who would understand human beings as men and women who hope, suffer, and wish they had never been born. It is a superficial science that knows the environment and habits of "cases," but not the hearts of the poor. The term "scientific philanthropy" is for those who understand its full meaning an adequate and inspiring term.
It is not strange that men and women of noble ideals and of singulat ability and training have given their lives to the study of the new philan- thropy, nor is it strange that a large number of women arc delighted to
1 Prepared by request of the New York State Federation of Women's Clubs, and read at the annual meeting held in Buffalo, November, 1896. Here printed a* intrn ductory to the bibliography which follows.
