The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-05
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

I am called upon to make many com- mencement addresses, but do not know when have enjoyed making one as much as the one I delivered in Montgomery on Tuesday night
 It was the seventh annual commence. ment exercises of the Alabama Masonic Home graded schools. It gave me an op- portunity I had long wished for to visit this really splendid institution which is justly the pride of the Masons< of the state.
 I had passed it a number of times on the trains, and once drove by it in an and look it over. So when an invitation came from Superintendent Thigpen for me to come down and have part in the closing exercises I accepted with very great pleasure, and right glad am that at last I can say good word for the home from personal knowledge.
 Just from cursory view of the hand some buildings and knowing in meas ure the large number of men, women and children cared for in them confess that I was afraid that upon investigation l would find it thoroughly institutionalized, which, to me, is most unfortunate either in caring for old men and women, or for children.
 The bane of some of our great orphan o i, tba hoe hoo hot fhaV crushed out the individuality of those in. trusted to them, and made of children rather dependents than converting them into self reliant boys and girls. I want to say right here that the Alabama Ma sonic home is as free from the taint as any large place of its kind have looked into, and I have studied many of them
 
 Now great buildings are all right if they are made subservient to the primal welfare of the child but they can become menace if they rest too heavily upon his rights. The best institutions are those which track closest to the home. 1 was glad to find from Superintendent Thigpen all through his assistants gen. uine love for and desire to throw around the children the benefits and restraints to be found in families instead Of the discipline to be found in reformatories.
 
 I am a great believer in having child life surrounded with as many beautiful and attractive things as possible. My heart always yearns for the little ones doomed to spend their existence in the sordid atmosphere of ugly tenements and nauseous streets. I can well understand Theodore Roosevelts tribute to Jacoo Riis as the first American citizen, for ne brought sunshine to the disinherited chil- dren of New York
 Now the buildings of the Alabama Ma sonic home are attractive architecturally. They are bright on the outside and llgn' within. and what is better are ideally lo- cated in a grove. The central ouiloihs is impressive in appearance, the homes on either side are commodious the hospital is m to date. and the school building one of the best in the entire state. From nbvsical standpoint the plant is in every way fit.
 Then the scenes about are rest1ui' Ine farm in the rear gives homelike appear ance. and the fields in front afford the "long view" The property IS well SLUT ated inst on the edge of a lovely resi- ds,oe section. and the beautiful country home of Judge Henry D. Clayton, with us broad acres almost cornering on It, slNes if a proper setting. It can De reacheo from Montgomery without having to go through any squalid quarters
 haven't time here to go into the trans formation which has been wrought uioer mv friend G. H. Thigpen, who has been in charge since January 1st. have known him for years as an educator Of note' anu an administrator of ability. But a man could possess both of these qualifications without being fitted for tbe job Of super intendent of a Masonic home; but he mas the third requisite, for he loves boys and eir,s and has a keen love for his fellow man.
 The thing which struck me most was not only his love for his work. but that it was shared by his wife, and all the other workers. It was really refreshing to hear each one, connected with the in- stitution bragging on it and on having place which brought them great joy, the ioy of serving. I found it in the dormi- tories, in the dining room, in the kitchen, in the hospital and in the school I could devote the whole column to the school and then not tell half there is of worth about 1t. I never saw such interested teachers. After seeing their radiant faces and hearing their enthus' iastic talk about the pupils I was not surprised that they staged sure enough entertaining programme. I sat an inter. ested spectator as the tots went through | their marches I applauded at the fine choruses I exulted in the boys as they appeared in their work uniforms, wearing wide brimmed straw hats and averalls. was astonished to hear such young girls play so creditably on the piano. l Just word about the school building and the auditorium. It is said to be a model one, and am ready to believe 1t. I took special pride in it for hanging on the wall in the front entrance was the life size picture of Colman Blach. It was placed there because of his untiring eff