“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” So wrote Saint Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians, probably between AD 53 and 57. For those people who like to know chapter and verse, 1st Corinthians, chapter 13, verse 13. Whilst one could take issue with Saint Paul over a good many matters, I do agree with him about the importance of charity. However, I don’t support the methods of certain charities of persuading people to part with their cash.

There are many methods of fundraising. Most of them seem perfectly reasonable to me. However, there are three tactics which I hate. They are bullying, tugging at the heart strings, and guilt.

My experience of charitable bullying occurred twenty years ago. I was “doorstepped” repeatedly by a representative of a large charity. Its aims and objectives were, and remain, concerned with medical research. After saying, more than once, that I had neither the time nor the funds to set up regular direct debit payments, I lost patience, and suggested that they should lobby big business or the Government, not me. “If we do that,” I was told, “they will take the credit for any breakthroughs, instead of us”. After replying that if they were that petty, they didn’t deserve money from anyone, I contacted management of the charity concerned, and complained. They sided completely with their volunteer, so I’m afraid that they have not, since that day, had a penny from me. And nor will they in the future.

People say that one should never work with children or animals. However, a goodly number of fundraisers think that they should do just that. They argue that everyone loves small children and cute animals, so no-one would be prepared to allow any cruelty to take place. True, nobody likes the idea of little children or cute animals suffering. But this cynical tangling of heartstrings and purse strings is wrong.

Then there is guilt. “Don’t be mean,” we are told if we won’t contribute to whichever excellent cause. Or “for just a few pounds a month, you could make all the difference”, which implies that your non-payment will cause endless misery and pain.

I am by no means anti-charity. For most of my life, I have either volunteered for, contributed to, or benefited from various charities. For almost twelve years, I have been an active freemason, and have happily contributed to efforts to raise money for charities. Indeed, the only organisation in England and Wales to have given more money to charity than the freemasons, is the National Lottery. Nor do I seek to tar all charities wit the same brush. Most of them are very sensible in their fundraising endeavours.

By its definition, charity should be freely given. Nobody should be pressured into giving money, nor should they give, or be asked to give, more than they can afford. Just a few pounds here, and another few pounds there, can end up causing financial problems. The good that someone’s donation does is undone if it impoverishes the donor.

We are entering another festive season, and you, dear reader, will be asked to contribute to many good and worthy causes. For what it’s worth, my advice, should you be moved to put your hand in your pocket, is to give as generously as your circumstances allow, but never recklessly.