The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-31
TO THE EDITOR
DIR. Eaves' Ministry

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
Allow me FIRST to thank you most near'
lily. with your Admission correspondent io'
the generous bouquets presented In you
columns this morning, a pleasant birtnoas
giftl ,,,a odd
bowever. that l am not secretary pu
treasurer of the Pastors union' Nei'
much less onerous duty. -
Concerning Colorado, let me say 700
that much of my time was spent III liz
mountains seeking health as wei as SCI
vice | have the pleasantesl meiioi
os nastorates in the mining towns o.
Creede and Silverton, the generous hosPi'
| tally of those breezy, large-hearteo wes.
ern folks, and such work as hian n'a
do. This is one result OF varieu eApo.,
ence. That go where one will ne snai
ana the purest folk, the sons and the
daughters of God, large-souled ana nopie'
minded. 1t is astonishing to Know no"
good humanity is. Nowhere Is II petter VI
more lovable than here. THE lines nave
fallen to me In pleasant places. very
gratefuliv yours, GEORGE EAVES
Birmingham. July 3d. 1910.
work of Associated Charities
To the Editor of The Age-Herald'
birmingham. The man, the hour ana the
onnortunity for once have met the man
Ia Mr.. William McGrath, the opportunity
40 tha work of the Associated Charities
and the hour Is now.
Rv chance 1t has been my privilege re-
Gently to be brought closely enough III
touch with the work the Associated Cnar.
tiles is doing, to learn something OF "na'
ire ofSicers aspire to do, and / believe that
11pderStOOd the DuD-
lie will see to 1t that they ara enapleo
upon the fitness of those at the head OF
to carry them out.
The success of my undertaking depends
II for the work In hand. AS preparation
for this work, Secretary William NC
Grath beings to it trained intellect, a
broad knowledge of human nature an
unusual amount of intuitive perception
and a determination to dedicate his life to
the service of his fellow men. BY pro-
fession he is both q lawyer ana civil
engineer.
Several years ago Mr.. McGrath reached
Cincinnati from Canada, the day before
Christmas, to find his father, who Is canon
of st. Pauls cathedral there, almost over
whelmed by the letters to Santa Claus
written by the children OF poverty
stricken parents. With the Infinitely ten
der spirit OF the Master. the Rev. Nc
Grain naQ ans WCiCo ONSAy aSssSe -
yided gifts for every child. Mr.. Nc
Grath undertook to distribute these gifts,
and in this way came In to an under
standing of the seamy side OF life. lie
saw the soualor and misery of the homes
the children were in, heard from the
mothers tales of anguish and want
For some years he worked with the AS
ISOLATED Charities in Cincinnati, so brings
to the work here an experience Of great
aeg. ic RI
the association here remedial and not
simply palliative. When family applies
for help the first thing ascertained Is how
1t happens that they need assistance
While giving immediate relief in all de-
serving cases the effort Is TO find what
will remove the cause of their disability
and then apply the remedy. 1t may be
in need of medical attention that has In
capacitated the wage-earners of the fam
ily. 1t may be lack Of proper tools and
materials; oftener still, It 10 lack Of
knowledge of where to apply for work
Employment is always obtained for those
who can work. Whatever the cause the
effort is to remove 1t, so that n hen the
association completes its work with q
family that family may be self-sustaining
When II is not possible to make them
wholly self-sustaining the idea is to put
them on pension basis. For instance
fuel furnished. then whatever they can
earn can be devoted to their daily needs
In this way the burden Is lifted some
what, and the family Is encouraged to
greater effort toward self support. The
great object is to prevent pauper1sm
whenever possible.
To carry out these intelligent plans
the cooperation of the men and women
of thts city is necessary. When an ap-
| 20 al ic n n the
N need is sent to the Associated
Charities Mr.. McGrath and his co-workers
will ascertain whether or not the case is
one of genuine need. If. instead Of the
indiscriminate giving of money to mendi'
cants, the money were turned over to the
Associated Charities and the mendican'
sent there for relief, the donor could be
certain that every cent was made to &c
the utmost amount of good, and moi
squandered for drink or drugs, and the
business men and housekeepers would BIZ
relieved Of the necessity Of responding tc
the never-ending demands for help.
AT present the working force Is INSULT
cient to carry into effect the construc-
tive work necessary to be done to 10
establish the families on a self-respectine
and self-supporting basis To achieve this
eninently desirable result. the co-opera-
too of volunteer visitors Is needed There
are several of these now engaged in this
praiseworthy effort, but the service Of
more are needed and needed at once
There are many men and woman herr
who will contribute some amount-fron
30 cents to s100-to forward this under
taking. II they will realize that now
is the appointed time, and will signify
how they are willing to help, 1t will IA
cilitate greatly the preparation for the
winters work.
While I have no connection with any
organization or enterprise here. as res
ident, whatever concerns the best inter
ests Of the town appeals strongly to me
Very truly, RUTH STuCkETT.
Birmingham, 27Os Tenth avenue, south
July q, 1910.
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