The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-06-29
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

1 Nothing She is all right This great ! district of ours has had new baptism of patriotism.
 The heart of the great city has been touched with pity for it's sons who are to sacrifice their lives on the fair fields of France
 The response to the Red Cross fund was the spontaneous outporing of wealth into the lap of need. It showed that the | citizens of this community are not com mercialized, but ready to give willingly in aid of any worthy cause.
 
 And now that we have done so gener- forget the needy here at home The cry of the children at our doors must be stilled. We must care for their wants and we are going to do it.
 The action of the board of revenue in cutting off the gifts to various charitable institutions came like clap of thunder out of a clear sky. I'm not going to dis cuss just now the many questions-legal, social, political or religious-which may have influenced them. That will be an- other story.
 It brought grief and consternation in many circles. It seemed to many that the bottom had dropped out of tho coun- tvs bucket of charity and that the spring had gone dry and that there were signs of a long financial drouth.
 I confess I was stunned and shocked, but it may be all for the best. It will do good if it makes us better acquainted with the needy institutions and puts them more specifically in our hearts.
 
 It gives us a good chance to take stock and see just what we have and just how our money has been spent, and just what we want done in the future. It's an op- portunity to think some social problems through.
 Do you know more churches fail from lack of heart than from lack of head, that the lodge has grown faster than the church in America because it has more visible brotherliness?
 
 It is being said in many quarters that the church's crown of brotherhood has passed to other organizations; that the lodge has taken it's crown of comradeship and fraternity; that the labor union has taken it's crown of sympathy and care for the rights and interests of the poor; that the state has taken it's crown of ministry to tho unfortunate and afflicted.
 
 People have different viewpoints about charity The church has solemn duty to perform if she walks in the footsteps of the Master The state, if 1t meets the requirements of an enlightened public opinion, is also obligated to care for the dependent.
 I know one thing, the people of Bir- mngham either through the churches or the city and county are going to find a way to keep alive our worthy charit- able institutions This is a foregone conclusion. Here in the Magic City unobtrusive men and consecrated women, intent not upon fame but upon deeds of love. have not cared for publicity, and have rather discouraged reporters and trumpeters choosing to work quietly and in silence. The time has now come to let the pub lie know of their sacrifices.
 The institutions which they have or ganized have been busy with binding up the wounds of the broken-hearted, nursing the sick, caring for the aged, watching over the young, and so lowly and silent has been this self-forgetful ministry that we have helped but little and given 1t scant space in our thoughts and little praise
 Now the aroused public conscience of this great city is going to bring to mind the history of the worthy institutions, some of which have been ignored and others traduced, and portray and show in an unmistakable way their useful and varied activities.
 And also an effort will be made to ac- quaint the public at large with the mem- bers who, in spite of indifference yes. in the face of opposition, stuck to their posts and built up creditable establish ments. Let no one think for moment because just at present our charities occupy the place of stepchildren that they are going to long be left to the care of indiffer ent stepmothers. When Thomas Carlyle, the dour old Scot. was nearing death and his friends were trying to comfort him, the old Scotchman with memories of his childhood turned away with sob. saying, Its mither I want.' And Birmingham is going to see to it that the little ones left in her keeping, who so sorely need ''mothering'' shall have mother. have faith enough to believe that the Christ-men and Christ women; yes, and the Jews. too, who not only care for their own, but are ever ready to help others, are going to see our charities placed on sound foot ing.
 Here is chance for Jew and Gentle, Protestant and Catholic. white and black, to make self denials in the self-sacrific- ing spirit of Him of the manager the cradle) the garden (the place of suf- fering); and the cross (the place of vic tory) Let us never forget that we are to