Birmingham age-herald., 1895-01-27
MRS. [. B. SPENCER, President of the Board of Mana
 gers of the Mercy Home, REAL HER ANNUAL REPORT Immediate NeedS-AdmiSsion Committee and Treasurer
 Submit Their Reports.
REAL HER ANNUAL REPORT

At the annual meeting of the board of managers of the Mercy Home, Tuesday, January 22, the following reports were read and accepted:
 The old officers were unanimously re- elected, as follows:
 President, Mrs. c. B. Spencer.
 First vice. president, Mrs. l.. F. Stratton.
 Second vice. president, Mrs. James F. Johnston.
 Secretary, Mrs. T. A. Hamilton.
 Treasurer, Mrs. w. H. Jeffries.
 Chairman admission committee, Mrs. A. N. Ballard.
 Chairman house committee, Mrs. Will liam Redd.
 Chairman clothing committee, Mrs. F. B. Wheeler.
 Chairman religious committee, Mrs. A. L. Billheimer.
 THE ANNUAL REPORT.
 The following is the annual report of Mrs. c. B. Spencer, president of the board Of managers:
 The work of the Mercy Home during the past year has been carefully reported from month to month at tho reg ular meetings of the board of managers, and will be re- viewed and gathered up by the chairmen of the various committees in their annual re- ports today. l cannot, however, forego the pleasure it gives ple to speak of the general welfare and prosperity during the year and the outlook for the future. The work has passed the experimental stage and the home is now regarded as one of the permanent institutions of the city.
 As there seems still to exist in the minds of many misconception, think it well to state again that the home is under the auspices of the Woman's Christian Tenn perance uniop and hss no connection with the United Charities, except such co opera son as should always exist between socie- ties of similar lmpu. t.
 Early in the year tho uouse now occupied was repaired and enlarged somewhat, add ing to the comfort and convenience. Soon after we were fortunate in securing as matron Mrs. Margaret Ramsey from Moody's institute at Northfield, Mass.
 Mrs. Ramsey combines in lovely Chris tian character all the attributes necessary for this difficult position. Firmness and good discipline are maintained with gen. tleness and unfailing kindness, and all who come within her influence are im- pressed with her excellencies.
 The healthfulnes5 during the year has been marked. Very few cases of sickness occurred and no deaths, except of infants who were brought in with incUrable dis eases.
 The confidence and sympathy of the Bir- mingham public have been exemplified by many expressions of good Will and gener- erous contributions for the maintenance of the home, and though there has been an occasional deficit we close the year free from debt, with a small balance. Thanks to our painstaking treasurer, hoped by January 1, 1895, we would be able to start a building fund, to be augmented by private subscriptions, special gifts, or in any way thought best by the board. It has never been our policy to raise money by entertainments, and think only twice in three years has this means been resorted to. We should always be looking forward to a permanent home of our own. One of our generous citizens has promised build- ing site, when sufficient funds are on hand for the building, and only tho hard times have prevented active, aggressive work in this direction.
 Our work is necessarily very complex. As the only "open door' in the city, we are obliged to deal with all classes. Out cast women and children wandering from place to place in search ofsome fanciful chimera or from sheer force of habit, women who have been separated from friends, or who belong to the great army of the inefficient and indolent, women out of employ men; the rich, the helpless and hopeless, the semi-invalid and the aged all appeal to us, and to all we endeavor to reach out helping hand.
 This is well known to all of you, but I recall it to say further: There is, to my mind, something very unsatisfactory in the temporary character of our work 1, and though we have learned by experience that nights lodging or few days de- tention in the home may be the pivotal op- portunity of life, l greatly desire that there may be something more permanent for the reclamation and education of those who come to us.
 Regular employment is the key to the situation, and believe if systematic work for a number of hours each day be re- | quired-work adapted to the habit and | condition of the individual-it will develop | self-respect, regular habits, and an ambi- | ton to do honest, efficient servics that is always in demand. l therefore recom- mend Q.) That, except in tue cass of transients, inmates shall be required to re- main a given time-not less than three l months-the same to be determined by the | general officers. (2.) That the work be so 1 arranged that each individual shall per- l form the part assigned her for thirty con- l secutive days, the task to be changed at the l expiration of that time at the discretion l of the matron and tue general officers, l whose duty it shall also be to apportion
 the work. The feasibility of the plan of allowing Woman'a Christian Temperance l unions in tte state that are willing to pay a | certain sum annually to the support of the l home to send limited number of persons, {, l children CT adults, the same to be subject | to;the approval of the admission commit l tee, is suouaitted to you for discussion. | OUR IMMEDIATE NEEDS. l. A reception room, where meetings ol l the board may be held, the religious serv-
 ices on Sunday and special services of any
 kind during the week; where visitors may | be received and general business trans | acted. We have too long encroached upon l the actual right of our matron, and we
 owe it to her to provide for her use 6 pri. | vate room.
 2. We must have as soon as possible c | room for transients. It is extremely dis
 agreeable as we'll as injudicious to allow
 such to occupy the regular sleeping rooms | of the house.
 8. We need sick ward-one room se
 apart for this. Just what it's limitation:
 should be leave with you, as l have beer | una ble to formulate a satisfactory plan.
 These things demand our attention. We
 desire to do we'll the work undertaken tc
 enlarge our scheme 10 meet the emergencie! l of the times.
 The brief history of three years has much
 of human life in it: tender memories | pathetic scenes, crucial days for many
 souls, and the name has been in no sense
 mtsn omer. Much remains to be done, anG
 over all is One who will supplement oul l irn oraooa with wicdnp, nur