The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-26
CORNER STONE TOBE LAID SEPTEMBER Z Chairman John Ellis is Prepar-
 ing Programme ARRESTED FOR ARSON Two Men Charged With Setting Fire to Grist Mill at Tredeear-Dr.
 T. w. Ayers Reported
 as Improving.

Anniston, August 25-(Speeial)- John Ellis of this city has about com pleted the programme for the laying of the cornerstone of the Odd Fellows home for orphans and superannuated widows, which is being constructed at Cullman. The ceremonies will take place on September 2, and will be at tended by odd Fellows from all parts of Alabama. Hon. R. Tyler Goodwin of Montgomery grand master of the state, will deliver the principal ad- dress, and he will be followed by the president of the Rebekas, the grand commander of the encampment branch, and the department commander of tn @ patriarchs militant
 MT. Ellis is chairman of the board of trustees, and has received a copy of the printed drawings of the architect showing the completed appearance of the home. which will be an exceedingly beautiful structure. It will be of old Spanish Mission style and will be con nected at one end with the chapel which will be situated several yards to the north, by means of a covered walk It is also planned to construct in the future semi-circle of pretty cottages in the rear of the main building.
 Hon. Charles Henderson, president of the Alabama state railroad commission who was in this city yesterday, spent today at Piedmont Springs. MT Hen derson has been making tour of Ala bama Investigating the condition of Alabama waterway traffic and the pos abilities for it's development, the com parison of water rates to railroad rates, etc. While here he promised to call the attention of the commission to the failure of the Louisville and Nash vile railroad to improve the condi- tion of the Anniston union depot in compliance with an order issued by that body last year. He would not discuss Judge Jones' injunction, stating that he has not been served.
 Charged with setting fire to the grist mill of the Anniston Lime and Stone company al Tredegar. which was valued at $500. Warren Barnes and John Buse are locked up in the county jail in de- fault of a $500 bond each Both men are white. They will have a hearing on the 30th.
 A letter was received this morning announcing that Dr. T. w. Ayers, for merly of this city who has been seri- ously i'll at Hwang-hien, North China, Is somewhat better, he being able to sit up part of the day when the let ter was written, July 2S.
 For about six months Dr. Ayers has been suffering severe pain from an at tack of rh eumatism. This confined him to his bed for some time and also af- fected his heart. He is now able to move around on crutches. however, and at the time the letter was written he was en route to Chefoo for a rest.
 Friends of pr. Ayers here are trying to persuade him to return to America In China he has managed hospital, taught a medical class. lectured at Pekin university, superintended Sun day school and done itinerant mission ary work The overwork has proven too much for him -and it is believed he will have to return to America to regain his health. pr. w. J. Willing ham. corresponding secretary of the foreign mission board of the southern Baptist convention, under which Dr. Ayers works, will go to China next month and will talk to pr. Ayers about his health and investigate the advisa- bility of his return.