The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-05-01

f Wide open will swing the great doors of Walker Memorial Methodist church at Arlington Place. West End, at Il o'clock this morning In warm welcome to the membership and to the many visitors who will join in the first service of praise and thanksgiving ever held in this new house of worship.
 Dr. B. T. Waites, the pastor. will preach the initial sermon in the new aud- itoriun. Special music under the drec- tion of Walter K. Slack will be an attrac- tive feature of the programme that will be of further interest in the reports that will be given by the eight teams who have been so enthusiastically in- terested in the building of the new cf urch. A cordial invitation is also ex- tended the public to attend the evening service at 7:30 o'clock, when Dr. Waites will deliver one of his eloquent messages gleaned from his experience while vis- iting the Holy Land.
 APPRECIATION
 As visitors gather at this first conse- cration service of Walker Memorial church, they will recall that the imposing new edifice is not only an acquisition to Birmingham in it's dignified architectural design and workmanship, but that it is also a monument to the fidelity of a con- gregation who, though not leaving the calls of the dark war period unheeded, still had courage to continue the rear ing of these walls. To the initiative and courage of this people has really been credited the beginning of a big build
 ing programme among Methodsts of the district estimated at sl0o0.ooO, With one accord the members of this leading church offer tribute to whom tribute is dne' in unanimous appreciation of the able leadership of A. c. Montgomery, the chairman, and to J. B. Farrell, the secretary-treasurer of the building conn mittee, who have been untiring in their efforts iff~ and out of season toward the accomplishment y"whereunto they were called" Engaged with them in this eff fectual service were other members of the building committee, numbering C. L., Hagan, L. s. Evins and Dr. w. c. Gewin.
 Expressions of appreciation are also heard on all sides to MT. and Mrs R. S. Munger whose gift of the $10000 lot at Arlington Place, in addition to cash contribution of $15,00o toward the new auditorium inspired the membership to overcome difficulties that seemed insur- mountable as they went steadily for ward in the work of the accomplishment of the task before them.
 M U NGEh Glf lNoT lNED The gift of MT. and .Mrs. Munger was really itself inspired, it has been said, in admiration of the spirit of Walker Memorial membership during the cen- tenary campaigns
 In response to the centenary call of 1919, under the leadership of J. Hunting ton Howell, a pledge of $11 800 was made by the members, who sacrificed their own long cherished desires for comfortable housing in order to respond fully to the more urgent missionary call from the Methodist church. south. Witnessing the fine spirit of this homeless congregation and homeless pastor, their willingness to respond to sacrifice to the needs of others, Mr. and Mrs. Munger, with char asteristic sympathy and generosity, pre- sented the initial gift that inspired fur ther sacrifice on the part of the con- gregation in the erection of the church valued at $125,O00, and the home for the pastor, built by the women of the Mis- sionary society at a cost of 5000.
 Though Walker Memorial audito-