The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-01-15

The members of the First Presbyterian church are delighted that their pastor, Dr. J. S. Foster, has arrived and will occupy the pulpit tomorrow morning, preaching his first sermon to the new charge since accepting the call
 Dr. Foster arrived yesterday morning from Petersburg, Va, and tomorrow will assume the pastorate of one of the largest churches in the southern Presbyterian
 
 however, Jim Bludsoe was about my Idea of hero. Since then my ideas about heroes have changed and have come to the conclusion that man does not have to be reckless and careless in his ways to die for his friends and thereby become a hero, but he may live for his fellowman and be just as heroic"
 Mir. Percy then spoke of the different types of men who were heroes, paying glowing tributes to Gen. Robert D. Lee and. Gen. Stonewall Jackson. He said that he had no doubt that all such men, were they living today, would be mem- bers and supporters of institutions like the Young Mems Christian association.
 Depends on Young Men.
 ''The future of growing town" con- tinued MT. Percy, depends upon the character of the young men Of that town Every young man, whether he be able or dull, whether he be brilliant or com monplace, wpo stands outspoken for what he believes Is right Is valuable asset to any community. And on the other hand, every man, whether young or old, who stands for the low and the unclean Is tainting and corrupting influence. So the proposition of today is the best de- velopment of the largest proportion of young men.
 "rhs young men who are growing up today have better opportunities than the boys of other days and there ought to be larger proportion of better mon among them.
 '"rhe young man who spends his lel- sure in athletic pursuits is in a whole some and splendid atmosphere. We all know what good influence means and there is not one of you whose head Is streaked with gray that has not suffered from some evil influence.
 This Y. M. c. A. organization stands for the better environment of tho young men of this community without regard to creed or religion. It's doors are open to all young men of the community and these men are invited to come in and breathe the wholesome air of a clean place.
 "There is little trouble in throwing good influences around your boy while he Is at home, but when he gets big enough to go out himself there Is vast change. When he first buds into man. hood he feels the desire and the curiosity to know people outside of his home com mutiny. Then of all times he needs 1nsti- tutfons which throw around him the best influences. and you all know, whether you be prohibitionists or anti-prohibitionists that you would rather have your boy In the Young Mems Christian association than in the back of saloon playing pool.
 Boys Away From Home.
 There are numbers and numbers of boys in Birmingham who are away from their homes. They have been spurred on by ambition and they have come to this boasted town to seek their fortunes. There are hundreds and thousands of them, and they are the men who are to make the future Birmingham. When their work Is done they want pleasure. now, if you do not furnish for them wholesome pleasure, don't forget that there are always people who are seeking to furnish for them pleasures that are not wholesome and they do 1t only for what money they can get out of 1t.
 considering this, are the business men of Birmingham not willing to help these young men who need your help and en- couragement?
 birmingham has recommended itself pretty highly. We all speak well of our selves to our visitors and when 1t comes to real, sheer utter boosters, I don't believe we have a worthy rival on earth. We talk of our coal and iron as If we, and not God Almighty. had put it here.
 Haven't we been the greatest lag gards on earth. We have now done enough to insure the material progress of this great city of ours. There is no room for pessimism and we now really do not need to boast. But while we have been pushing forward there is raw material which we have been shamefully slow to develop. I speak of our real, thoughtful, valuable man hood.
 "This manh ood has been, in the past, largely engaged in the pursuit of i'm diyidual fortune. A few years ago we were all hanging on by our eyelids and each one of us was wondering how long the other would hang. Since that time many of us have achieved for tunes and success. So our city has ceased to be one of poor men because we all count with pride the number of millionaires we have in our midst.
 But what have we done collectively? We have worked for those whom na- ture has made dependent upon us, but the beasts of the field do that. Really. what have we done for the community? Look for our monuments of philan- thropy and charity. and where do you find them? There have been some few brave spirits who have struggled for their fellowman. One brave woman, almost unaided, placed home for wayward boys at East Lake. This in- stttution is q credit to the state ok