The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-27
BOYS TREATED TO
CHRISTMAS TREE.
Delightful Evening at Reading
Room in City Hall
CLUB ROOM DECORATED
Christmas Presents For All the Boys.
Happy and Encouraging Speeches.
An interesting and Fitting
Programme Rendered.

A most delightful Christmas entertain
ment was given at the Boys club rooms
in the city hall last night.
The rooms were appropriately dressed
in Christmas green's, and three large
trees filled three of the corners of the
rooms. The trees were prettily trimmed
and Illuminated by candles and colored
electric lights The Christmas tree proper
was loaded with candy bags. oranges
and apples, with a handkerchief and tie
for each boy.
Promptly at 7:s0 fifty Doys were as
sembled waiting for the doors TO open.
The exercises opened with an anthem
Praise Ye the Father" by combined
choir from the St. Johns Methodist Epis-
copal and the Third Presbyterian
churches. followed by prayer by the Rev.
Arthur G. Burrill Of the Pilgrim Con-
gregational church. Another anthem.
1.-THE Bethlehem Shepherd" was
beautifully rendered by the choir. fol-
lowed by remarks by Judge N. B. Fea-
gin.
The choir rendered the selection. 'Hark.
Hank, My Soul" Mr.. Burrlll spoke to the
boys and then Mr.. Bridges, assistant Sec
rotary of the Y. NJ. c. A., gave a talk
on the birth and life of Christ. illustrated
with vivid stereopticon views.
Christmas Greeting.
Words of Christmas greeting were then
spoken by Mrs. Jeffries, president of
the board OF directors followed by distri-
button of the presents. The thanks of the
club and of the board of directors were
expressed In a resolution offered by Judge
Feagin, and unanimously carried to the
friends who had assisted In preparing for
and carrying out the programme of the
evening
The club wishes to return thanks for
generous contributions of fruit. candy
and oranges.
The Rev. Quincy Ewing for the use of
the electric lights for the tree. and Mr.
Lindsay for Il handsome Canadian spruce
that filled the room with its aroma.
Helpful Institution.
Among the numerous and excellent BEN
evolencies of this city none is doing a
more helpful work than the Boys club.
As It is one of the more recent insti-
tutions of Birmingham the real value of
its work, 1t is generally remarked, is not
fully known. For two years faithful
few of those especially Interested and
alive to the possibilities of such an organ
ization have stood behind tho enterprise
and held on in the face of many diff
ficulties and drawbacks.
TO the faithful efforts of Mrs. Jeffries,
president of the board of directors, Mrs.
Wallace, the efficient superintendent. and
that friends of the boys Judge N. b.
Feagin and the hearty cooperation of
the boys themselves, are largely due what
has thus far been accomplished.
pleasant club room tastefully decor
ated with mottos and pictures. and fur
nNhed with tables and chairs. a piano.
a chest of carpenters tools for manual
training work, and games and reading
matter will give one an idea of the place.
over Fifty Members.
The club now numbers IN its member
ship something over fifty boys of diversi-
fed talents and attachments that were go
ing TO WHSLE from lach Oh tne proper tt-
vironment to give the right incentive and
awaken ambition. A number of the boys
ere learning to read others to write.
Twenty-one who had begun to neglect
school attendance altogether have since
joining the club gone into the public
schools. All are taking a growing interest
in the club and the opportunities for
self development ii offers them. In the
face of these facts and with the need for
enlargement of the work 90 pressing It
seems unfortunate that the meagre
amount required for the monthly running
expenses is yet insufficient to open the
club this winter for its evening sessions
when 1t would be most of all appreciated.
and patronized by the boys.