The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-04-25

Today in every Methodist church of Birmingham the $75,OO0 campaign will be initiated by the women of the City Mis- sion Board in the interest of the Co., Operative Home for Girls
 Not only Methodists,. but friends who wish to contribute toward such protec- tion of homeless working girls, are in- vited to share in this great movement.
 Strong committees have been appointed to forward the plans, and Mrs. J. B. Fields of Biloxi, Miss, efficient worker who has had experience in this line, will come to Birmingham to open the doors of the home on the corner of Eighth avenue and Eighteenth street.
 Among other ministers nanifesting a keen interest in the success of this move- ment is Dr. P. B. Wells, pastor of High lands Methodist Church. Last Sunday morning Dr. Wells based his sermon on the need for such a home here, and pre- scented such convincing facts on Some thing Worth While for Birmingham that by request of his audience the substance of his sermon is herewith reproduced
 Subject: Something Worth While for Birmingham"
 Text: Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven" Matt. vi:1o.
 "The message for this hour is in the interest of a great movenaent-Something Worth While for Birmingham, said Dr. Wells, while he continued as follows:
 "In considering the text and subject, there are certain facts which must not be overlooked For example: The won- derful niateAa1 progress of the last past century. In the United States, esepecial- ly, the pursuit of the material has been eager. We see an illustration of this in our own city. Our national territory is four times what it was a century ago, nd 411o .f+ 11ofs H,n piled many times. The standard of liv- ing has increased, and the taste for lux ury stimulated.
 'The growth of the American city has been disproportionates We are rapidly becoming a nation of cities. Here wealth is centralized, material agencies organ ized and active; here are the contrasts between the upper and the lower strata of society, and the run1blings of discon- tent. Here are the problems, the possi- bilities, the opportunities.
 Tn the city material progress is at it's highest. This material progress may be our glory--it may mean weakness and de- struction. A city is not necessarily ma terialistic because rich and magnificent It is materialistic when it's intellectual and moral development, are not commen- surate with it's physical growth. 3here must be parity of growth or there will be decay. A solemn question faces us: Has the moral, intellectual and spiritual life of our cities kept pace with their material growth? Is the city virile enough to cope with and spiritualize the tides of physical life that flow on every side? Can Christ save the twentieth cen tury city?
 Tt is indeed solemn question, for it IS matter of only a, short time before the city, electric with activity, will deter mine the civilization of the future. Sol emn indeed, for in the city the church is being tested as never before. The problem of the church is largely city problem And in the city, facing these problems, it is too often true that the home and the church, the two ,grea' agencies for moral and spiritual uplifr are not so vigorous and aggressive as the forces that minister to physical llfe Look again at the city-what do you flnd Keen competition, industrial unrest strange contrasts strikes and fumblings oe discontent,F every form of temptation and organized vice, low wages and hlgl living. Look again-behold the army ol vomen and girls, from country and vii lape attracted by the lure of the grea' city. Many are young, ignorant, mex, perienced. Look, they are mingllng ln tllS life of the city. Many of them find re nunerative ve-work and pleasant surrouha' ings. Many more find hard work, poo' pay, cheap lodgings.
 .sJ et us look at Birmingham:
 "In this city today there are more tnaI s; thousand women and girls who ars engaged in work for self-support. Aooo