The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-20
GLAD INSTITUTES
 ID BE HELD HERE
Steel Men Write to Manu-
 lecturers Record
WANT TO SEE THIS CITY
Committee Will Meet Either Here or in New York in Short Time and Outline Plans for Entertain
 ment of the Delegates


 interest in the forthcoming meeting in this city of the American Iron and Steel institute could be given than that by the Manufacturers Record, published in Baltimore. The editor of that paper, k H. Edmonds, has for years shown his faith in this district. He has devoted four pages of the latest issue of the Rec ord to the meeting of the iron and steel men in Birmingham. After appropriately referring to the institute as one of the most notable organizations in America the Record prints scores of letters writ ten in reply to a query sent to the va rious members. In every instance the prominent members of the institute ex- press their great qualification over the an- rcunced intention to hold the meeting here. In the letters it Is pointed out by a vast majority of those replying that the southern industrial section is known first hand to only a few of the members of the institute and that visit to this city will not only be interesting from the point of view of attending the sessions but will be of further interest ry reason of the unfamiiarity of most of the men with this section and the op- ottunity of seeing what Birmingham has to offer
 The letters sent to the Record invariably point out that 1t was unusually timely to have one Of the meetings in this section as the meetings have always in the past been held in New York and Chicago. It Is held that the meeting here will sub stanti6lly indicate to the world that in Birmingham may be found city which can make bid for the meeting of the foremost associations in American busi- ness life.
 In addition to the efforts of the Manu- faoturers' Record to assist in makipg the meeting here successful and fully ad- vertising Birmingham on account of the meeting. there has been great deal if satisfaction over the comments of Hol- land, the Wall street writer, whose let ters appear daily in The Age-Herald as well as prominent papers all over the country. In recent article Holland sts ted that no more important meeting was to be held in the country than the American Iron and Steel institute in Bir- miEgham during the two last days of Oc- tober
 In connection with the meeting here in Oototber of this body of men 1t Is under stood that the entertainment committee of the institute will meet either here or
 in New York within the next few weeks and outline what entertainment will be arranged for the members. The details of the entertainment are always left to committee from the institute. There will be some local members of the Insti- ute designated to serve on that commit tee in all proba hllity. It Is expected there will be appointed committee of local prominent men to assist the committee from the institute in entertaining the visitors.
 At this time it is difficult to say how many of the members will attend It has been stated that between $50 and 400 will attend. Later on 1t was stated by Hol- land that something like 1900 visitors .,ll tt,.a ( tr hA., ky the local members of the institute that the meeting here will prove to be the most successful as well as the most interest ing ever held by the institute.
 ~-~~~~-~-~~~~~-~~~~~ ~~~~~~-~>~~~~~>~>-~~~-~-~ Christ investigated" before He helped. It is true that He did not investigate as we do. He knew what was in man, and 1t was not needed that He send representatives to inquire into the con ditions of these unfortunate lives. but He had perfect knowledge with which to work, and He used that knowledge in His working.
 Now one of the bitterest criticisms that our morning paper has made of our local association, is that large percentage of it's money Is spent for what is called personal service" and a small portion given directly to the poor But if this criticism can be made of the local association, then 1t can be made with far greater force concerning the charity of Christ. for never did Christ on any occasion give money to the poor. He always rendered personal service and only personal service The ideal of indistcrimnate charity is that we shall help the poor The ideal of scientific charity is that we shall help the poor to help themselves, and this Fagain was invariably the attitude of of lnot give money to the blind. He gave them sight that they might earn money for themselves. He did not give the null titude in the wilderness enough food to last for week or month or year He gave them enough to relieve their hunger and to restore their strength that they might get back to Capernaum and provide their own food. He did not give the lame men gold. He gave them strength that they might earn their gold. Peter and John met the lame man at the temple gate. and the lame man asked for aims. The re- ply of the apostles was, silver and gold have I none, but such as l have give thee. In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, rise up and walk" And then Peter took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he walked. There was no gift of money, but the gift of personal service. that the lame man might be made able to help himself
 Now, this is exactly the ideal of tho Associated Charities; and 1t is the ideal that the press, or at least part of 1t, has unsparingly condemned, and yet it is the ideal of Christ and Christ's apos- ties. The love that we know for our fellow men comes from; came from Christ. He was our teacher Tn the school of fellowship and mutual help, and so we must learn of Him, and do as He commanded. He has set as the example of the most perfect charity, the helping of the poor to help them selves, and if the day ever comes when the local association deserts that ideal and espouses the ideal of indiscriminate help that this local paper seems to advocate. then and then only will the association be undeserving of the sup port and sympathy of Christian men.
 Early Church and Poverty
 So much for the ample of Christ. Now let us see how the early church met this problem of poverty, for they were faced with it as Christ was, yet lacking the perfect Knowledge of Christ that enabled Him at once to test the worthiness of the object. The early church established poor fund, as we have seen in our text. "As many as had lands and houses sold u em and brought she price of the things tfat were sold and laid them down at the apo stle's feet" And then we note the principle of distribution. Distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
 Now Christ had been able to discern the need of men at glance. It was not so with the church when 1t came to work