In a wonderful scene near the beginning of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” two portly gentlemen wander into Scrooge’s office on Christmas Eve to make a cold call–figuratively and literally–for their favorite charity.
Clearly, these guys are amateurs.
First off, they bungle Scrooge’s name–apparently having failed to do their homework.
And when they forge ahead with their canned speech, Scrooge shreds them. Are there no prisons? And the union workhouses? Are they still in operation?
Give the portly duo credit. Scrooge does everything but hit them over the head with his fireplace poker, and they are still trying to talk him into parting with a few shillings:
“A few of us are endeavouring to raise a fund to buy the Poor some meat and drink, and means of warmth. We choose this time, because it is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices.”
That pitch sounds familiar today, of course, as it would have in Dickens’ day. Check your mail–at this time of year, if it is not a catalog, it is probably a solicitation.
But it is worth remembering that the idea of voluntarily giving a little of one’s abundance to those who are in need is recent, in historic terms, and truly revolutionary.
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Scholar Michael Novak argues that this large-scale, societal focus on serving the poor has grown up just over the last few thousand years, with the major religions. In the process, it transformed western civilization.
From vast networks of hospitals, orphanages and schools for the poor to sandwiches handed out the back door of the church, religion has put a premium on charitable service. Even secular and governmental efforts to provide for society’s neediest sprang from religious assumptions.
It is also worth remembering, as Catholic apologist Novak points out, that the idea was first of all a Jewish idea, laid out in the Old Testament text of Deuteronomy.
So on the eve of Hanukkah, which begins Sunday night, perhaps it is worth consulting the great 12th Century Jewish philosopher Moses Maimonides to see what he might do with the crush of holiday charitable solicitations.
Maimonides sketched out eight steps of charity, leading to the highest form of love for fellow humankind.
The first step is to give reluctantly. The second step is to give freely, but not in proportion to the need.
Maimonides’ third step is to give cheerfully and proportionately, but only when asked. The fourth is to do it without being asked.
The fifth step is for the receiver’s identity to be hidden from the giver, so as to preserve the dignity of the needy. The sixth is to give so that the recipient does not know the benefactor, to give without seeking credit. The seventh is to give so that neither recipient nor benefactor knows the other.
The eighth and highest step is to anticipate the need, to prevent poverty. Teach somebody a trade, lend them enough to start a business, so that the handout is not needed.
Happily, no matter where you find yourself on that ladder, we have the charity for you. Last year the Tribune Holiday Fund spent $3.7 million on everything from toys for needy children, to independent-living training for the disabled, to abuse-prevention programs.
This year the fund aims to distribute $4 million. The McCormick Tribune Foundation will add 60 cents for every dollar you donate, and not a penny of the total goes to administrative costs.
You may give reluctantly, give cheerfully, give publicly, give anonymously, give to prevent the need.
As the portly gentleman said to Scrooge, “What shall I put you down for?”