The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-01-28
Mr.. c. S. Ward Talks Abouf Campaign
For Young Women's Christian Association
What Means to Birmingham Accomplished in the
Past Seven Years Which It Has Taken Other Cities
Sixteen Years to Do-Mrs. Maebelle Soss Cecil's
Beautiful Work Visible Throughout
It's Existence
BY DOLLY DALRYMPLE.


for ten days or two weeks:
rs the. young man safer and her
big-heatred citizens by their generous
subscription to the Young Mems Chris
tian association have shown their eager
desire to respond affirmatively to this
question. They had barely recorded
their wonderful answer before the in
desire to look after the welfare OF
the girls. To be sure that the strange
girl'' in our midst had thrown about her
the gentle influences of the home she
left behind. They thought of the sister
organization, the Young Woman's Chris
tan association, and the strong men and
women of our community have come
forth nobly and said: I'VE will place
this work for young women upon a
such effort behind 1t this will surely be
done.
The work of this organization in gem
eral commends itself to the thinking pub
lie. The first organization came
into existence at the close of the Cri-
mean war under the gentle influence of
Florence Nightingale's beautiful life and
it was patterned after the older organ
ization-the Young Mems Christian as
sociation. 1t may consequently with in
cidental changes be said of the Y. w.
c. A. as has been said of the z. NJ.
C. A., that 1t is "a high grade, low
price girls club-Christian but non-sec-
TARTAN"
IAN organization in which physical cul-
ture is believed In and promoted"
"A night school for young women who
are In business by day. A high grade
day school at nominal cost"
"A home for young women away from
home"
"A place for the young women to find
friends and make herself friend to the
girl who needs friends"
Its social life, libraries, reading and
rest rooms, gymnasium, classes and all
other practical advantages, are open to
all young women of all faiths or of no
faith"
The breadth of the association is great
indeed its influence is felt all over the
civilized world, and there are associa-
lions in the United States, Canada, Nor
way and Sweden, Germany, France,
Italy and India London Is headquarters
for the world. Germany alone has more
than 5000 members, south India over
1000. The United States has possibly
/ eclipsed all others in the growth of the
work. Associations have been estab-
ished in factories and colleges, in cities
and in rural districts until the import
ance of the undertaking is firmly en-
| bodied In the mind of the people.
The esteem in which the work is held
by those who are In position to know
is one of the best evidences of the hold
| the Young Woman's Christian associa-
ton has established.
Margaret Songster says the following
| concerning the association:
ct am thankful that In some slight way
have been Identified with the conse-
Grated work and bright ideals of the
Young Women's Christian association"
| So much for the estimate Of the world
regarding this movement.
! The local work is equally as dear to
the hearts of Birmingham people.
Always associated with the work of the
Young Women's Christian association
here is the name and personality OF
Mrs. Maybelle Sloss Cecil, to whose I'M
| firing efforts and earnest endeavor much
of the success of the work is due. From
a little Sunday school class in which she
seven years ago which today has assumed
the aspect of one of Birminghams largest
and most important enterprises. -Four
months later the organization was en-
abled to take definite shape with the
late beloved Mrs. Edmund Taylor Talia-
ferro as its president, while two months
after that it's doors were thrown open
to the girls of Birmingham. Mrs. Cecil
during all this time has labored faith
fully for the success of the work. and
Birmingham. delights to pay tribute to
this noble young woman, whose lifework
| for her fellow sisters is a beautiful ex-
ample Of Christian faithfulness and
glorif1ed womanhood.
| Since the work began seven years ago
there have been unnumbered ways in
which 1t has commended itself to the
+, kind hearts of our people. Even it's
struggles cheerfully passed through, its
trials willingly borne. has placed 1t more
surely In our affections. Not once, until
the move into the new quarters. has the
work been In debt, and yet at no time
previously has 1t come openly before the
public asking for assistance.
Our citizens have responded to quiet
requests for aid. With all this, a grad
ual and most wonderful development OF
the work has come. Two years after the
launching of the work the boarding de-
partment was started. A year following
the Travellers Aid work (Which has as
its aim the assistance of girls in traveD
was begun with one secretary. The next
year the Terminal company, which had
made this possible, volunteered a salary
for another worker, so satisfactory had
been results obtained.
In short, the work has opened depart
ments which 1t has required 10 years
for cities larger than Birmingham to
| realize.
| This has all been done with imperfect
dence ION Niazuma avenue was but re-
Gently completed and for the first time