Birmingham age-herald., 1895-06-13
CARD.
To the Age-Herald:

To the Age-Herald:
 Our reply to a sermon preached on last Sunday night at the First Methodist church:
 We were very much pained to learn through your journal, and other friends who were kind enough to tell us, Of some remarks made by the minister who occupied the pulpit in his sermon Sun day night last and beg the privilege of a reply through your columns in order to place ourselves right before the pub lie and in defense of our business repu- tation and character,
 First. we do not run a 'bucket shop" as he is pleased to call it. and will cheer fully give our check for $500 to that gen tleman for the benefit of his church if he can prove his statement in reference to our business to be true, and will allow him the privilege of selecting a commit tee of the leading business men of his church to decide the matter.
 We do strictly a commission business oyer private wires connecting with the New York, Chicago and New orleans cotton, stock and produce exchanges, institutions recognized and honored throughout the commercial world.
 All of life is an investment or specula- ton, and the line we have chosen is in perfect harmony with every other line known to the commercial world.
 The buying and selling of shares of the great railroads and other large cor pOrations is as legitimate and safe a business as the buying and selling of any commodity. Stocks represent the property of the corporations which is sue them, each certificate being entitled to it's prorata share of the same, and there is no legal or moral reason why they shall not be purchased and sold in the market precisely the same as any merchantable commodity. A merchant buys his goods to sell them again when he has a profit.
 An investor buys stocks and bonds for the same purpose and to the same end. Each buys when he thinks his goods are cheap and sells when he gets a profit. If either possess an advantage in oppor- tunities it must certainly be in favor of the investor, as the percentage of profit is much larger and the amount of cap- tai required much smaller. All preju- dice against this method of business is born of ignorance. No other way pre- sentS such opportunities, requires so lit tie experience or necessitateS so little at- tentiOn. To buy and sell real estate, dry goods, shoes, groceries or anything else is an investment or speculation, and all men are engaged in the same, from the farmer to the banker.
 Our methods are honest and clean, and are open for the examination of the best business men in the community, as well as the minister's a class we regret to sae'9f NiAp 2D pAtNli ielNh eS pieNSliteil cd, e of life and business generally.
 We believe in the gospel and love min isters, but think it a grave error when ever they forsake the preaching of it to do an injustice to men and methods of whom and which they are totally igno- rant. We do not believe that they have a legal or moral right to do damage to our business any more than they have to invade the privacy of the home life of many Birmingham ladies and condemn them for any simple or innocent amuse- ment they may see fit to enjoy.
 Allow no man to rule over your con- science is our motto. Respectfully,
 CROW & CO,
 Dealers in Stocks, Bonds, Grain, Etc.