The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-02-02

possible that by the end of the season the
record will approach a quarter of mil
lion.
On the side of the theatrical managers,
the institutes plan of education by the
atre-going is welcomed, so much so that
the incidental expenses are borne by
them. AS a matter of fact 1t has accom-
plished the wonder of wonders in New
York-made the presentation of Shakes
peare and dramas of simple life less haz-
ardous financial propositions Thus the
work has desirable effect on the tone of
the stage in addition to its educational
and pleasureable value to the masses. To
make sure that the productions are of
proper character they are all passed upon
by the institutes dramatic committee.
composed of representative educators and
others, before arrangements are made to
bring them within reach of the institutes
clientele.
The most widely known side Of the in
stitute's activities has to do with the pro-
motion of the public welfare. The general
work of education has been made to count
heavily in this direction. An organization
has been perfected which enables thou
sands of persons not only to express them
selves through representative gatherings,
say upon a question of legislation affect
ing the city or state but by reason OF
thorough training to make the expression
conservative and therefore of weight.
There is a central committee on legisla-
ton which keeps In constant touch with
the work of the lawmakers at Albany.
Among others of this committee are Prof.
George Kirchwey, dean of Columbia Law
School; julius Henry Cohen, chairman
of the Citizens Union Committee on Leg
islation, and ]. Aspinwall Hodge, William
NJ. WINS, chief inquisitor for Governor
Hughess Public Service Commission,
likewise frequently takes hand in the
big mass meetings which the institute
calls In Cooper Union when it Is desired
publicly to approve proposed legislation.
For the matter of that Governor Hughes
himself is no stranger either upon the in
stitute's platform or to the influence for
good which its work exerts. In num-
Der of cases this influence is definitely
accredited with having sounded the death
l1nell of grab" legislation and similarly
with having caused the passage, through
aroused public opinion, OF beneficial meas
ures opposed by special interests. In none
of it's activities does the institute have
political affiliations.
On Sunday nights at Cooper Union is
shown what may be accomplished in solv-
1g one of the citys most seriously re-
garded problems-the dlsaffection OF the
working classes from the church. The in
stitute's religious endeavors are styled a
peoples Church" and such in the broad
est sense the gatherings seem to be. Each
Sunday evening from 1900 to 1000 men and
women crowd into the auditorium (Which
will seat but 1900 and majority are men.
The discussions are ethical; the People s
| Church" has no creed other than an ac-
knowledged allegiance to "a power high
err than ourselves and the principle of the
brotherhood of man, and its platform Is
open to all denominations. Jew and Chris
n to N npir1
OF those of all faiths or no faith. So far
from arousing antagonism from the es-
tablished churches this work has been
heartily approved by q majority of the
prominent ministers of the city and by
all of the hundred or more who from time
to time have spoken from the platform.
A novel feature of these gatherings Is the
privilege the audience has at the end of
every address of asking questions of the
speaker or of expressing individual opin-
ions. The result is that the tenor of the
meetings is toward practical pointing
along the road to better things which can
be followed by believer and non-believer
alike
The institutes building on Stuyvesant
Square serves as the center to which arc
allied the smaller clubs and where all
activities are related and centralized
through committees. One of the most inn
pOrtant OF these is the 1eueraIe CIVIC
council which Is made up of representa-
tives of the Institutes various clubs and
subdivisions and practically all the active
civic organizations in the city as well. In
effect it is an organized public conscience,
since through it the machinery of public
opinion may be started when 1t Is neces-
sary to take concerted public action.
The educational work, as has been said,
is carried out through public lectures and
club instruction in smaller classes cover
ing a wide range Of subjects. In all In
stances, especially so with regard to the
Cooper Union lectures, only men ranking
highest in their respective fields are en-
ployed to instruct. College presidents and
professors who during the day serve in
the greatest schools of the country, in the
evening appear before the institutes gath
erings of workingmen. AS in the "Peo-
pies Church." the privilege of the floor
follows the set address and professor and
student meet upon the common ground
of the brotherhood of man.
In addition to its educational and civic
work the institute has an important So
cial side. The largest of its clubs has
about 400 members, who rent their own
quarters, which are every night the CEN
ter of formal or informal gatherings. For
many of the members whose homes are
in the gloomy tenements the cherry, clean
ly atmosphere of the club is most po-
tent attraction.
What Professor Smith and the thou
sands embraced in the institutes activ-
ties are looking forward to is the day