The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-13
RELIGIOUS BOOK WEEK"

found that the spiritual part of me was becoming atrophied Although l was in excellent health and my success as a judge was being talked about I-my real i self-was drying up, l was becoming a legal machine inside decent animal. My aspirations after higher things, my ideals, my love for God and for my fel- Jews were vanishing. 1 tell you, l can not afford to let my spirit starve while body and mind are being properly nour- ished. l am regaining my real man hood"
 The judge ceased talking and his neighbor was silent.
 ''As the two men shook hands, the manufacturer said: Perhaps what you are afraid of is the matter with me- Give me some time to take stock or myself as you have.
 'The judge and his neighbor met frcm time to time but only conventional top ics were touched upon, until one eve ming Mr. Fields phoned his friend, ask ing if he might run over for friendly chat.
 Seated in the judges study the two men had more than chat; they en- aaped in an earnest heart t-to-heart talk. The host told his visitor of the renewal of his life through literature that appealed to the highest in him. In his concise, judicial language he explained how the Bible and other re- ligious books had acted as medicine to his soul, how the tonic effects or this kind of reading were evident Tn his home life and in his professional work. In detail he described how much better his service for his fellow men had become because he had reas- YOU, neighbor Fields he announced ioyously I not only have recreation, | am re-created.'
 MT. Fields did not wish to deny what the judge said for he had been making some quiet investigations and had become convinced of a change in his neighbors life as well as an inn provement in his work So he said;
 "Tf you will tell me what you read, shall follow your example and hope to be as greatly benefited as you are
 "On a table in the judges study were the books recently read. These were handled and discussed. Then the judge said: Do not read wha- I Do. Send your name to several pub- fishers, indicating the kinds of books you want. They will send you lists of their publications. You can order through the local bookseller, as I do'
 This MT. Fields promised to do, but still he fingered as if something was on his mind. To the judges proffer of further help, he asked. What do you think I can do in this line for sam and Sade?'
 Another earnest conversation fol- lowed The manufacturer since taking stock of himself, had found that he had neglected his eldest son and full with the younger children that the big boy and girl had taken care of themselves. They read much, bu, nothing helpful in ethical and relig> ious development. Seriously the two discussed the situation and concluded that sam and Sadie might be helped by having books suited to their age and needs left within easy reach from which their father from time to time might make attractive quota> tions. Both men were wise enough to know that this meant study of chill dren and books and they realized that there was much to be gained if MI Fields were willing to pay the price here as the judge and the minister had raid it in regard to themselves.
 Before parting the judge and his neighbor decided that no greater benefit could come to ,ne church of which they were interested than to form reading club with simple re- organization and few meetings. the object of which would be to get the best men and women of the congre- gation united in an effort to have the members of the church read more fo. I their own sakes and ;..so for the sake of others. A plan was outlined ac- cording to which number of influe:,- tial men and women might be inter ested in this project and bring it to the attention of others Especial at tention was to be gsven to ways anG means of taking advantage of the de 1 sire of boys and girls to read, so that they might be influenced to form anu continue the habit of reading books helpful in religious development.
 Then the two men each had a wis. ion. It was that such reading clut might be formed in every church oi the city and that these clubs nigh form federation for mNual stud, and helpfulness. with the immediate object of keeping the members n formed of what was being read by oth CTS and oi the effects of such read ing. "'Good night, judge, said Ms