The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-11-07
SETTLEMENT WORK
OFFERS BIC FIELD
DR., HenckeII Tells of All Saints
Mission
NEED FOR NEW BUILDING
st. Mary's kindergarten Started Work
Several Years Ago Which Has
5roadened and Become impor-
tant Feature of Effort.
NEED FOR NEW BUILDING

The people of Birmingham will have
the opportunity Tuesday of helping the
only settlement work ever systematically
done in Birmingham, and the only real
charitable work ever done in Birmingham
by one individual church, except the Ro-
man catholic-the All Saints mission of
the Episcopal church.
C. Henckell. the minister in charge OF
the work, gives an interesting resume
of the great good which has resulted for
five years of close contact with the peo-
pie. Dr. Henckell. while directing the
Birmingham Dental college. has been
able to give up half his time to this
work, and from It's beginning has been
closely related to its success.
Five years ago. said DR. Henckell.
when questioned yesterday "the Rev. J..
w Canty Johnson assisted in the Or
ganization of the kindergarten associa-
ton of st. Mary's parish at Twenty-nnth
street between Avenues r and G. After
opening the Sunday school and church
services were held In the same building
"At first the very poorest class of
children, few In number, attended, but
we got In touch with the families and
had the privilege and opportunity of up
lifting people who have since that time
become independent.
1.-The influence of the mission has been
felt in homes where more was needed
than money or food. Among many incl
dents might mention that one Christmas
ever several years ago, when with money
provided by a gentleman to buy fruit.
nuts and candy for children who would
have no Christmas stocking | raped at
a door. The father came out and l soon
explained my mission He said that he
and his wife had just been thinking about
Santa Claus but had nothing to give
their children.
After leaving the presents the father,
with tears In his eyes, thanked us for
the kindness, and told me that he would
try to be better man. His children
and family got in touch with the Sun
day school and church and year ago
when l passed through the same neigh
borhood the father called me in, showed
me bank account, and said that if it had
not been for the little mission he would
never have pulled through.
IT might relate many Instances along
the same line, and I know that the work
done has proven a great blessing to in
Vulnerable people.
1.-The kindergarten gradually forced us
into settlement work. Mrs. White. who
&c, In, ol,a ririto H.
dren of both Sunday school and kinder
garten, and any other homes where need
is to be found She has taken many
cases to specialists and physicians who
give their service free OF charge, while
most of the medicine is furnished by the
association.
The present building, an ordinary room
of about % feet by 40 feet is terribly
crowded, containing at different times the
church service, the Sunday school, the
kindergarten and three clubs for men,
boys and girls, besides gymnasium appa-
ratus for special work. Social gatherings
and ice cream festivals are given where
whole families meet and spend an enjoy
able evening.
With three assistants, the 80 present
students are carefully attended. They
come almost entirely from the laborng
people, the backbone OF the nation.
The proposed building, soon to be
erected at a cost of about $4,000, will
include a gymnasium, shower bath for the
boys who cannot get the advantages OF
the Young Mems Christian association or
the Athletic club. There will be rooms
for mems and girls clubs with reading
and game rooms and other advantages.
My opinion is that every Christian or
church ought to enter into this work of
uplifting and assisting the moral condi-
lions of the community. In the east there
are numerous institutions of this kind
whose duties it is to raise people from
their conditions. People in need are the
most sensitive on earth. You cannot treat
them as paupers you can lead them up
ward"
DIR. Henchell told of the life which the
Rev. w. N. Claybrook has given to the
work, both in time and energy and in
sisted that work of this kind to be sue
cessful must be done in the name of
Christ. UNLESS back of it is the power of
Christ, it will prove a failure and not
perfect cure he said.