The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-08


 Extremely interesting and instructive was the address of Dr. Charles Osborne Oxnam, founder of the Pisgah home, giving in detail what he had found out about the charities of Birmingham yes terday afternoon at the Fraternal hall
 Dr. Oxnam has been Investigating char ities in this city for the past year and during the current controversy between the industrial department of the Saliva tion Army and the police department he has been importuned by many people to tell what he knows about the charities.
 pr. Oxnam began by saying that there are entirely too many charities in l3ir- mingham. He stated that there should be central bureau in charge of three men, a Protestant, Jew and a Catholic, who should have charge of and direct all the charities of the city. However. he said, the present charities now in com mission should not disband and unite in one great charity, but that the central commission should acquaint themselves with all the inner workings of each and every one of them.
 The Associated Charities
 'In every city of any size and conse- quence in the United States" said0 Dr. oxnam, "there is what is called the Asso- ciated Charities. Usually they are in charge of one person called the secretary. The secretary of such an association should be a man of tact, common sense and sympathy and not man full of egotsm, a man from whom egotism does not protrude. so that a poor lone widow Is afraid to approach him; a man who will when he sees her at once be filled with sympathy and talk to her as Christ would; not man who will turn around. eye her in a supercilious way as if she was intruding. asking her where she came from and that he would investigate her and let her know within week or so. That >kind of man is not the man for the place Charity work is love work and not a business.
 Again, the Associated Charities theory is financial failure. It usually takes 50 and 60 cents to give away 50 cents I have not the figures here before me now the secretary of our local Associated Charities it was remarked that 1t took 45 cents to give away 60 cents. Any sound business man in the United States will tell you that such practice in bllsi- ness would land one in bankruptcy in a few days. There is too much adminis- tration in Associated Charities and not enough real charity.
 During the San Francisco earthquake, was in charge of one of the stations at which the destitute were helped. The As sociated Charities had charge of every thing. Hundreds of thousands of dollars were sent into the stricken city to bo given out to the suffering. There was graft of every kind. Not more than 25 per cent of the money sent there reached those for whom .t was intended.
 Hebrew Benevolent Society
 Right here let me say that the or ganization in Birmingham which is doing more good for the fellow who is down and out. bar none. is the Hebrew Benev- olent society. This is an absolute fact, and I can substantiate what I say. There is nothing charitable in Birmingham which can equal it.
 Dr. Oxnam commented on the great work being done by the Young Mems Christian association and the Young Woman's Christian association. He stated that in no sense were they to be crit icised. He said that they were doing ev- erything they set out to do and even more. Hc said that without them Birmingham would be in sad plight indeed. /
 T want to remark said Dr. Oxnam, that where there is criticism, there must be some ground for it. We all know that where there Is smoke, there is al- ways fire, so when anything, no matter what, is criticised, there is some room for that criticism.
 He remarked favorably upon the Boys Industrial Home at East Lake. the Mercy Home, the Girls Industrial home, the Fast Lake orphanage, and other chari- table undertakings in the city.
 The juvenile court of Jefferson coun- ty, he said, must not go unnoticed. That institution is doing more than many people imagine. They have the right kind of man there Judge Murphy has boys heart and sees things the boys way and does things for the boys good.