The age-herald., 1897-12-28
IN THE CAUSE OF CHARITY A Monster Meeting at the First
 Methodist Church. MET A LIBERAL RESPONSE Twenty-Five Hundred Dollars Subscribed to the
 Building Fund of the Mercy O Home.

The call for union meeting at the First Methodist church on Sunday night, in the interest of the building fund of the Mercy Home, met with a hearty response rom the people of Birmingham.
 The beautiful church was crowded to it's utmost capacity, many being compelled to stand. As a result of the meeting the mag nificent sum of s25OO was raised for the worthy cause.
 The noble women who are at the head of the institution feel confident that the re- maining $2,5Oo will be easily raised, and that ere long a beautiful 'home" indeed will rear it's head as a monument to their efforts and to the charity of Birmingham.
 An Inspiration
 An insipration to the sympathy and char ity of the audience was the presence of eleven of the helpless little inmates of the Home. who filed into the church in charge of Mrs Ramsey the excellent matron or the institution, and took seats near the rostrum, which had been reserved TOT them.
 The musical program, which was m charge of Prof. Charles c. Washburn and Miss Belle Mccoy, was most beautifully rendered. and the melodious music was in excellent keeping with the spirit or the meeting.
 The exercises were opened by Rev. L. s. Handley, pastor of the Central Presbyte- rian church. who invoked the blessings of God upon the meeting and it's purpose. Rev. John Barbour, of the South High lands Presbyterian church, read the scrip tural passage describing the scene where Christ introduces a little child to an as- sembly of his hearers and tells of parable of the shepherd and the sheep that was lost out of the hundred.
 Addresses.
 Rev. A. B. Curry, pastor of the First Presby yterian church, was introduced by Rev. G. c. Kelly, of the First Methodist church, who acted as chairman of the meeting. Rev. Curry made earnest ap- peal for the Mercy Home. He dwelt upon the purpose and work of the institution. He said.
 "In the name of humanity, in the name of our self-interest, which would avoid the expense of the rearing of much crime to be fed and housed in jails, we are bound to care for these little ones. At this home many fallen woman has been re- claimed and held until her relatives have come and taken her back to their bosoms. Here the naturally sympathetic heart of woman has been touched and she has been regenerated And on what little expense is this work of humanity done"
 He referred to the economy that had been practiced, and read from the annual report of the officers to show that the daily cost of keeping each person was g cents.
 Rev. John G. Murray, rector of the of ha ipfr His address was eloquent and to the point He believed that the state and city should lend liberal aid to the institution. He re- ferred to the saving that would accrue to the city and state if they would care for the homeless children and prevent them from becoming criminals. He called upon the moralists to aid the cause with sub scriptions. He said it was, above all, the duty of the churches to give literally. They were the most interested after all, in the prevention of crime by caring for the Homeless and rearing friendless children in LAe right paths.
 On behalf of the vestry of his church he subscribed $500 for the Church of the Advent, saying that his church proposed to practice what it preached
 Rev. B. D. Gray of the First Baptist church was the next and last speaker. He indorsed the object of the meeting and pointed out the necessity of the home. He referred to the incident of the girl, whose mother was put in jail and the child left to the cold mercies of the world. He had understood she had a safe place for the night and on the following day learned she had been spirited away. He practically illustrated his point by asking, "Where is that poor girl tonight? Several were moved to tears the speaker referred to this incident so near at home.
 \ Touching Hymn.
 The little tots from the home then mount ed to the choir loft and lifted their plaintiff little voices in a touching hymn that went to the heart of every person present.
 Dr. J. W. Newman, presiding elder of the Birmingham district, asked for subscrip- tons.
 He reported the following as already made:
 Amounts.
 Church of the Advent yestry, $500.
 City of Birmingham, $250
 County of Jefferson, S250.
 Ladies Aid society First Presbyterian church, sloO
 The following were added: R. S Munger, s1Ql Robert Jemison, sl00; Rufus N Rhodes, $lJ1; pr, J. w. Newman, s25 William Sears of Eutaw S25; pr. J. D. Gibson, $5: k. T. a. h erA