The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-22
CH|LDREN'S AID SOCIETY FORMED BY THE BOYS CLUB Will Do Relief and Remedial Work Among Children
 of the County
PROMINENT CITIZENS
 ELECTED OFFICERS
New Child Welfare Society Organized Yesterday to Take Over Part of Work Formerly Done by
 the Boys Club

Perhaps the most far-reaching and SUD stantial gift to. the children of Birming ham and Jefferson county during this sea son of good cheer will grow out of meeting held yesterday afternoon in tn Chamber of Commerce building, when th Childrens Aid society of Jefferson count, was organized, with 8 board of trustee composed of some of the most influentia citizens of this city.
 In this the dream of those faithful one who have labored for years against grea odds for the child welfare work of thi community was further realized, and thu work was put on a sound footing.
 s. E. Thompson President
 s. p, Thompson becomes the presiden of the new organization, with the follow ing as members of his board: Mrs. c P. orr, first vice president; J. Franl Rushton, second vice president; Leo K steiner, treasurer; the Rev. $. T. Slaton secretary: pr. J. D. nabney, John r Tillman, w. G. Oliver, George B. Ward J, T. Stokeley, Zach l.. Nabers. J. T Doster, Mrs. Margaret s. Rhodes, Mrs Sallie II. Pearson, Mrs. J. B. Reid ane Mrs. M. w. Searight.
 The new organization takes up a brancf of the work which has hitherto been done by the Boys club, and has been launched at the suggestion and through the friend ly cooperation of the Boys club. It VII fake over the County Detention home or Avenue c and Fifteenth street, in which the juvenile court holds it's sessions, and beginning January 1 will launch pro- gressiye children's aid work. It's ob1eci as set forth in it's constitution is;
 Object of New Club
 "To help, care for and protect the de- pendent and neglected children of Jeff ferson county, Alabama, first, by furnish ing to them such material aid as their needs may require; second, by providing for them intelligent, sympathetic, personal service.
 ''To study and investigate the, causes ana conditions which create or contribute to the dependency and neglect of chil' dren. and to work for and advocate sucf
 
 suppress such conditions In Jefersor county.
 ITO aid in the promotion of cosopera' ton among social agencies affecting enlr dren<1and youth"
 At the meeting yesterday the society was organized, officers elected and plans made for the coming years work MT Thompson has gone into the work With his whole heart, and in discussing 1t he said. q feel that there can be no greater or more important work than caring for children whose needs are so evident. l intend to give it all the time and atten- ton that l possibly can. We have a fine board of trustees, and am sure Will re- cc.vc the support of those among the cit izens of Birmingham who are interested in child welfare
 Closely Related to Boys Club
 .Judee S D. Murphy of the juvenile court has been actively aiding the Boys club in the formation of this new organ jzation, and inasmuch as the juvenile court has Jurisdiction in cases of depend enoy and neglect, the relationship or tne court and this organization will be very close.
 The Boys club, in turning over this branch of it's work, issues the following statement to the public through US pres ident, Mrs. l.. J. Haley:
 sSrbe Boys club needs no Introduction to the people of Birmingham-the very generous support given it on Tag Day being evidence that the public Knows and approves it's purpose and methods. "Organized some years ago to do worf emopg the newsboys of the city, the activities of the Boys club grew and in creased until it added to It's list the mes senuer boys, then working boys in gen eral. then all boys, and finally both boyi and girls. And when the organization thus became general clearing house for the neglected and dependent children of the community 1t changed its name fin 1908 to the Boys Club and Children'' Aid society.
 Put Bill Through Legislature
 "If was about this time that the organ ization realized that many Of it's eifort' for child betterment would be futile un less there was some legal way of deal ing with delinquent parents as well al delinduent children, so it set to wori to get through the legislature a bill ere atine a. juvenile court for Jefferson couh fv Mainly through the efforts of thu Rows club this bill was passed in 1911 and since then this organization has don the <children's aid work connected witt The juvenile court; has furnished the cour with A clerk and two extra probation officers; and as agents of the county ha managed and equipped detention home where the children who come under tn jurisdiction of the court are held whil their cases are pending.
 Three separate and distinct lines pocial activity have thus been carried on And this one organization has been do ing the work of three, viz: boys clu work proper, a juvenile court and proba tiony system work and a children's ali society work.
 New Organization Formed
 "Realizing that the time has now com when the juvenile court and probation work can take care of itself, and wish ing to concentrate it's efforts toward tn accomplishment of the specific work fo which it was organized. the Boys clu has promoted the formation of a separat organization which shall be known as tn Childven's Aid society. and which shal fa1xs over the child-placing and othe wors connected with the juvenile cour hitherto performed by the Boys clut This society has been organized, nos makes its bow to the public, and tn Boys' club bespeaks for it the co-opera ton and support of all Boys club friends
 Present Status of Club
 s.Frou now on the Boys club will q strictly preventive and character build ing work; will inaugurate the Big Broth ers movement in various sections of tn cjfv. will help to establish d playgroup and recreation system; will run a boys employrnent bureau; will conduct a sum n,er camp for working boys; and vii at all times cooperate with the home, tn school, and the church in looking afte the mental. physical and spiritual need