The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-01-20
MERCY HOME IS DOING GREAT WORK fficers' Reports Show Condi-
 ton of Institution AVERAGE OF 80 CHILDREN industrial School for Girls Is New Feature of Work, Which Is Re-
 garded of the Utmost
 Importance.

The interest in the reports or the Mercy home officers, which were submitted sey- eral days ago. testify to the progress of the work and the standard of excel lence maintained in it's administration.
 It will be remembered that the election of officers resulted in the reelection of all President, Mrs. c. B. Spencer; first vice president, Mrs. W. H. Jeffries; seo- ond vice president, Mrs. c. H. Estes; sec- retary, Mrs. W. H. Stockham; treasurer, Mrs. James Weisel. Mrs. Spencer, in dis cussing the work, said:
 ''It is interesting to note the growth and changes in the work of the Mercy Home through the years, and how 1t has been adapted to the needs of the community. That it has been possible to do this should be deeply gratifying to the managers. some of whom belonged to the original board organized in January. 1891.
 "In the beginning we undertook to do the work of foundlings home, an or phanage, an industrial school, rescue home and a home for aged women-quite an ambitius enterprise-but we did all of this practically for number of years. and it was the open door for the unfor- tunate and distressed of all classes. The Catholic orphanage at East Lake was the next institution to engage in the work for children, and has cared for many be- sides those of its own church. Later the Salvation Army opened rescue home and we discontinued that department after carrying it for 12 years. This change was not simply matter of expediency. but it was better that It should be done separately, and also that there should be no overlapping of institutions and the public asked to support two when one should do the work
 Next came the Boys club with their active work for small boys and the chil- dren's home work This has relieved us in some ways. but none of these things has lessened the number of admissions and applications to the Mercy Home. On the contrary they have increased year by year until our capacity has been taxed and overtaxed. Again and again during the past year we have recorded a family of so The building erected for a hospital has been used as an annex, and though it was fortunate that it could be so used instead of for sickness, we know that this is questionable action and might cause great inconvenience and confusion. the home is that 1t now takes the place of house of detention for the city. . necessity for the fast increasing popula- tion A place to take care of the women and children-that ever drifting changing crowd who come and go. and go and wait somewhere until an absent husband or brother or friend is located and arr arrangements can be made for their relief.
 So much temporary work sometimes tends to Encouragement. as there can be no visible results. and yet it may be as necessary to provide for these emergency cases as for others, and probably it means more to the poor. neglected little child to be properly bathed and combed and dressed, and for the hopeless broken down mother to have a comfortable bed and good food just for a day or two than we can imagine or understand, and so I say the Mercy Home has adapted itself to the ever-changing needs of the commun- ity.
 Industrial School for Girls.
 "The wisdom of this policy has been demonstrated, for as these various changes have crowded out some of the original work. we have been led to reach out along other lines and in ac- cord with the best thought of the day to establish an industrial school for dependent girls from 13 to IS years of age. Since the last annual meeting the Mercy Home board has organized board of directors and advisory board (the latter composed of prominent men) for the Mercy Home Industrial School for Girls. The county Board of Revenue. recognizing the need of such an institution. contributed a beautiful tract of land adjacent to the city, and sufficient funds have already been se- cured to start the first building. It Is proposed to build on the modern cot tage plan; girls will be taught house. keeping, laundry work, sewing, etc. each department separate and under the supervision of a competent trained worker Classes will be taught along with the industrial features so that certain amount of education may be obtained.
 Another year we expect to be able to report it as one of the most valua- ble philanthropies of the state.
 Last year I recommended the build ing of a laundry, but as the industrial school is now under way this will not be necessary, and I ask you to con slider the plan of enlarging the capacity of the home by converting the hospital building into a boys department. and building a small story hospital on the rear of the lot. This must be done or we must strictly limit the num- Der of admissions. for to take more than can be properly cared for is neither kind nor wise.
 Aid for Incurables.
 Three years ago I called your att