The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-22
FEDERATION HOLDS
 ANNUAL MEETING Opening Exercises Last Night at Margaret Allen School SOME BRILLIAN ADDRESSES Mrs. R. H. Pearson Delivers Welcome Address--Response By Mrs. J. D.
 Wyker of Decatur, AIa.-Mrs.
 Goode's Annual Address.
SOME BRILLlAN ADDRESSES

The tenth annual meeting of the Ala bama Federation of Women's clubs was called to order last evening at 8 o'clock by the president, Mrs. Rhett Goode, of Mobile. Through the courtesy of the Misses Allen the sessions are being held in the Margaret Allen school on Highland avenue. The spacious recreation hall was handsomely decorated in palms and in the purple and yellow colors of the feder- ation. Chrysanthemums In the gold and lavender shades yere used In the decora- ton.
 A brilliant feature of the opening exer- clses was the music, which was under the direction of pr. L. N. Bradley, the or ganist and choirmaster of the St. Mary's on-the- Highlands quartette, including Miss Jackson, Miss Cole, MT. Lee and MT. Marks sang "Blow Ye Gentle Freezes, Blow" with fine effect. The singing of a national hymn by forty-five young girls from the Margaret Allen school was most inspiring. pr. J. ". Stagg gave the invo- cation and there were the usual addresses.
 On behalf of the clubs and Birmingham Mrs. Robert H. Pearson welcomed the visiting women. Her address was notable for it's cordial words and particularly for it's reference to the Boys Industrial school, which the speaker declared should claim the support of Alabama club wo- men in stronger degree than at any time in the past.
 Mrs. J. D. wyker of Decatur, for mer president of the federation, respond ed to the address of welcome. Mrs. Goode made her annual address, which covered the work of the year and pointed to years of further usefulness. The club women also heard an address from Miss Neale Knowles of the Camp Hill Industrial school.
 The audience was brilliant one. In addition to the many visiting women there were members of the Birmingham clubs and a number of gentlemen present Mrs. Pearson's address was as follows: Address of Welcome. The following was the welcome address delivered by Mrs. Robert H. Pearson: Madam President and Ladies of the Fed eration
 Tn representing the women's clubs or Birmingham, it gives me very great pleas ure to welcome you tonight. "This, l believe, is the third time you | have met with us here in annual session, and 1t seems to me most fitting that we should be honored by your presence | three times as often as our sister cities, | because we count among us so many clubs, each delighted to claim you as guests and all joining most heartily and enthusiastically in the invitation extend- | ed.
 1T remember on one occasion there was some motion to the effect that the Fed | eration meet only once in two years. That motion, I am happy to say, was lost. | For assuredly these annual meetings, bringing us together from all parts of | the state. fulfil real need and minister | most emphatically to the good Of us all. l This coming in close contact with one | another, once every year, for the inter- | change of thought and mutual counsel | cannot but serve to stimulate our think l ing, to broaden our purpose and to deepen within us that feeling of sisterly affection without which we could not hope to do effectively any good work to which we are pledged.
 .I think Birmingham was among the | first cities in the state to organize a. | Woman's club. and since that time ten or | more have come Into existence, with an l average membership of twenty-five, all earnest, wide-awake. progressive women interested in everything that concerns l the welfare of the city, from the News Boys club to the Boys Industrial school, l this latter an institution which should be l the glory of our state.
 Surely 1t should be our pride to re- 1 call and to bear record that this insti- | tuition, the Boys Industrial school, would not exist today, but for the indomita- = l ble courage, energy and patience of a l philanthropic woman, our friend and fel- | low-member of this federation, Mrs. R. D. Johnston.
 To her hundreds of mothers of way ward boys owe, and will ever owe, debt | of love and gratitude
 l We who have been near her and | know of her unremitting efforts. her | struggles and difficults in laying the foundation upon which this school stands today, look upon her achievement as noth- l ing less than marvellous. She has fought her battle unshrinkingly. seeking neither applause nor praise, in spirit of rare | self-dedcation to noble work: but now | that the battle Is fought, let not the greatness of the victory leave us unmind- full of the victor. Let us with heart and | mind bestow in full measure the praise l and the applause, not sought and there- fore the more richly deserved.
 we are delighted to have you visit this | Boys school, and be yourselves eye-wit- nesses of the grand work so we'll begun. | We are hoping for your personal inter-
 
 ation will acknowledge its claim upon her, and that you will all keep it ever In remembrance and give it the help oi
 both your money and your prayers. Ii such alone shall be the result brought about by this annual meeting, certain
 ly we shall not have come together ir
 vain
 You have important matters to con-
 sider; your time is limited, and, there
 fore, have bound myself to brevity. Blu,
 ask you to believe that there is all
 warmth of welcome in every syllable have uttered, straight from my own heart
 and the hearts of those I have the honor
 to represent
 Response of Mrs. Wyker.
 The response to the address of welcome
 by Mrs. John D. Wyker of Decatur, ex-
 president of the Alabama Federation oi | Womens clubs, is as follows:
 Madam President Mrs. Pearson, Mem
 bers of the Federation, Ladies and Gen. | tlemen:
 Tn the name of the federation thank
 you for this cordial welcome.
 Fifty years ago Howe in his Advice | to Wives wrote:
 CA wife, domestic, good. and pure,
 Like snail. should keep within her
 door,
 But not like snail with silver track
 Place all her wealth upon her back
 "Since that was written the world has moved on and we have moved with it. and | can say: