[...] the earliest statement of the COS idea of charity---that it must help, not harm, and be a work of friendly neighbourliness---is a private one. In 1869 Octavia Hill read a paper to the Social Science Association with the significant title "The Importance of aiding the poor without almgiving". She augued that man's spirit was more important than his material prosperity; any gift which did not make a man better, stronger, more independent, damaged rather than helped him.