The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-06

lHoSS Wno Tor years have worked side by side with Mrs. Spencer in the Mercy Home and the Industrial school were proud to be able to do her honor at the annual meeting of the school Wednesday afternoon, February g.
 The meeting was regularly sched- uled as the annual meeting and taken advantage of to unveil the tablet, en- Sraved on which were the words, Mar tha Spencer, Administration Building
 After the meeting had been called to order and the regular routine of busnessi dispensed with quickly, in cluding reading of presidents report, secretarys report and others, the meet ing adjourned to the front of the build ing, and although the weather was bit terly cold, and the group of teachers and girls of the school assembled to listen to beautiful invocation by the Rev. P. w. Clark of Woodlawn, and an addr ess by sydney J. Bowie, who spoke in high praise of Mrs. Spencer's devo- tion and splendid work to the helpless and needy children. The tablet was unveiled by the two oldest girls in the school pictures were snapped, con- gratulations exchanged, and the party happy and cold again entered the com- fortable and cheery living room of the school.
 Before the simple exercises were continued Mrs. Spencer asked for the privilege of addressing the meeting for a moment saying: q think I might say thank you About 25 years ago, only one other woman and myself did the work. Every day somebody would say: Well, how is it today?' and my enthu- siasm lost me my identity in every aAfh ing left but homeless children? No, l thought this means that those chil- dren are taken care of and now l know that if l ever mean anything to any one it will be that 1 have helped to take care of the harmless, helpless children"
 The students of the school sang "America," and the exercises closed with d benediction by Rev. W. S. Poynor. rector of St Andrews.
 It is probably that most of this com munity know Mrs. Spencer, she has so long been associated with the civic life of this city, but on such an occasion she can be reintroduced to the public
 PIONEER WORKER
 In 1882 Mrs. Spencer came to Bir mingham with her little son, Charles NJ Spencer, then a baby, and was soon identified with the social life of Bir- mingham and it's work. Later she be- came leading factor and pioneer as charitable and reform movements came into life. In 1891 she became state president of the w. c. T. U. and served for 12 years. In 1895 she voiced the first protest against child labor. In 1892 Mrs. Spencer became president of the Mercy Home, and has served the institution through the 23 years of it's life. Mrs. Spencer is still the homes honored and beloved president.
 BIRTH OF THE SCHOOL
 The first year book of the Mercy Home shows the very simple way the institution was started. "The home first opened it's doors February l, 1892, in a small, inconvenient house, with less than a dozen pieces of furniture" This is quoted to show the wonderful growth in less than quarter century of this splendid work that now not only stands a monument to the city, but has also it's child to foster, the Mercy Home Industrial school.
 The report of 1909 says this in ref ererce to the school, then only consid cred. We have been lead to reach out along other lines and in accord with the best thought of the day to estab- fish an industrial school for dependent girls from 13 tor IS years of age" The 1910 report shows the next step-the work of the school begun. The first building. about complete modelled after the plan of the Philadelphia school. at an approximate cost of $20,000. The