This paper is a study of that part of the field of American private philanthropy known as the Charity Organization Movement. We are here concerned with but a section of a larger movement which in its turn is but one of the social developments of our times. The century which saw the rise of charity organization will as often be known as the age of humanitarianism as the age of machinery. Some day a complete history of the century will be written from this point of view. In this present article the writer has set himself a more humble task.
Although the present study covers but a part of a larger movement, it does not suffer from lack of unity. This is due in the first place to the inherent nature of the part which contains within itself certain essential and characteristic features easily discernible. The earliest charity organization societies in the United States adopted certain so-called fundamental principles. In the main, these principles or methods have been consistently adhered to with a constant faith in their usefulness. It is due in the second place to the geographical limits set for the study. The economic background of America has definitely influenced the development of charity organization after its transplanting from Europe.
"IT may be granted at once," writes one, long a leader in the movement, "that the representatives of organized charity have not adopted any special system of political economy or social philosophy. They do not aim to present a common front either of support or antagonism towards the diverse schemes of social reform and improvement. They are not, as a body, free traders or protectionists, single taxers or socialists, prohibitionists, trade unionists, populists or expansionists." (Anheir, Helmut K. & Stefan Toepler 1999) In short, "charity organization has never pretended to have a complete social program."................
