Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-01-16
SWEET CHARITY WORKERS.
Annual Reports of Officers of
Mercy Home.
WHAT is MOST NEEDED
Is "a Place for Permanent Headquarters Ninety
Two People Assisted by the Noble
Women-Rescue Work.

The following annual reports of the
officers of Mercy Home will prove inter-
esting to the charitably inclined citizens
of Birmingham:
PRESIDENTS REPORT.
In the year that has so quickly passed
since our last annual meeting the Mercy
Home has been, as in former years. the
only open door in the city for dependent
women and children.
1t has received from the public the
same kindly interest and financial sup
port, and the bond of confidence between
the patrons and the board of managers
has, we trust, been strengthened with
each succeeding month.
1t is a cause for congratulation and
thankfulness that we close the year free
from debt.
As we had reached the limit of our ca
pacity one year ago and had not seen
our way clear to undertake building
home of our own, nor deemed 1t wise to
remove from the present location, l can
not expect an increase in the number ad-
mitted nor in the average of the. family
But more temporary help has been given
than ever before, and some of the most
interesting and gratifying cases we have
ever been permitted to assist have come
to us this year. Homes have been found
for the waits that have drifted across our
threshold, and have proved like bless
ing to the childless home and the home
less child
AN INSTANCE.
One of these little ones, who left Ma
ma Ramsey and the home with her doll
in her arms, is the delight of a pleasant,
affluent home in the southern part of the
state, and the letters received from this
one repay a thousand fold the care and
often perplexities in this department of
the work.
RESCUE WORK.
The rescue work has gone quietly on
with blessed results and many weary
hearts have turned to Him who taketh
away the sins of the world, and who
answered forever the question, Is re-
formation possible? when he said to her
who stood before Him silent and alone,
Go and sin no more"
Have we felt aggrieved when occa-
sional anonymous articles have appeared
in the daily papers derogatory to this
work, or when we have been questioned
concerning the expediency of 1t by q
flippant, busy tongue, let US remember
the servant is not greater than his Lord,
and where the Master has led we can
follow.
In October we had the pleasure of en-
tertaining for a few hours one of the
greatest Christian Philanthropists In
this country Mr.. Charles N. Crittenton,
of New York. 1t was considered red
letter day for the Home to have this
Cody man in our midst, with his earn
est words of commentator, his service
of prayer and song, and the personal en-
enlargement and cordial handclasp gov
en- to every member of the family. We
believe too, that the visit will result in
substantial aid to our work later on In the
carrying out of his plan to establish
Rescue Home in every state In the union.
INCORPORATION.
Through the kindness of Mr.. James
E. Webb, the bill to incorporate the
Mercy Home has been prepared and is
now In the hands of friendly MEM
Der of the legislature, who will see 1t
safely through as early as possible
This bill not only provides for the hold
ing of moneys and real estate, but also
empowers the directors to have appren-
ticed to them and by them to others,
minor children according to the laws OF
the state.
FOR THE CHILDREN.
In this connection 1 may mention that
your president is in correspondence with
the probate judge of St. Paul, M1nn
relative to securing the text of their ex-
cellent laws for commitment of children,
with a view to having similar laws en-
acted in this state. In this believe we
have the cooperation of the United
Charities and the various church or
phanage societies to good effect, and
greatly facilitate the work.
PERMANENT HOME.
The East Lake and West End Land
companies have each offered the home
The Elyton Land company has also prom
ised a lot if we can find in their availa-
BILE property, a satisfactory location.
We must make it our definite purpose,
and focus every effort to build mercy
home this year, 1897. We invite every
member of the advisory board to join
with us, and ask each one of our own
and the members of the organization
represented by us, to join forces to bring
this to pass. l am sure it is unnecessary
for me to dwell on it. Those who know
anything of the work realize the great
need of our owning home suitable for
the ever-growing demands upon us.
What ought to be done, can be done.
Will not every citizen of Birmingham do
something in this matter at once?
Early in the fall the Pastors union
offered to call a mass meeting of the
people for the express purpose of rails
ing building fund
A meeting of committees from the
Pastors union and the home board de-
cided that 1t would be best to postpone
the meeting until after the election, and
no further action has been taken. We
feel sure, however, of their sympathy
and readiness to help, and attribute the
delay to their engrossing work for the
anti-gambling bill.
REFORMATORY BILL.
In the late agitation of the reforma tory
bill-we feel as though we were renew
ing an old friendship-no one knew so
of this kind as those working among the
class to be reclaimed by it. The reforma-
tory has frequently been discussed in our
meetings, and also in the State Woman's
Christian Temperance union, for num-
Der of years, through the efforts of Miss
Julia Tutwiler, who has done more for
the convicts in Alabama, and conse-
quently knows more about them, than
any woman in the state.
THE MATRON.
cannot close this brief resume of our
work without again bearing testimony
to the excellence and efficiency of our be-
loved matron. With a rare fitness for the
situation, and a heart of love for all hui
mainly, she surmounts all difficulties,
and waste places in human hearts and
lives blossom under her ministrations.
The work of the various committees has
been praisworthy and conscientious to
the last degree.
The harmony and love that pervades
all our Intercourse has made the labor a
pleasure, and with thankful hearts we
lay the work of the year at the feet OF
o,rr loving Heavenly Father. whose love