The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-10-22

meeting and It'll We Meet Again
BY DOLLY DALRYMPLE
You have heard the old story about
how the little acorn grew up into the
great big branching oak tres7
Acorns have a little way of doing
like that. and IL is true as we'll of
all the things In which the germ OF
life and growth are vitality implanted.
Not SO many years ago-l0 to be
exact-a little group of Methodist
ministers wives in the Birmingham
and Bessemer district gathered to-
gether and formed the "Susannah
Wesley circle"
Tho very name spells Methodism in
it's most beautiful and appealing
form-for Susannah Wesley, as we
all know was the blessed mother OF
that most blessed man--John Yves
ley-the very foundation stone of the
Methodist church. and the first wom-
an who ever occupied Methodist
parsonage.
Like the little acorn that grew into
the sturdy oak. so the little group
forming the "Susannah Wesley cir
Gle" has grown into a large organ
ization of IS or more members, in
Guiding the wives, widows and super
animated Of the Methodist ministers
of the Birmingham and Bessemer
district.
Just a few days ago had the
pleasure of talking with Mrs. n X.
Matthews. the lovely wife of DR.. N.
X. Matthews. the beloved presiding
elder of the Bessemer district, about
the Susannah Wesley Circle.
1t happened that she was among
fha an or mora r,ep,harv =
the hospitable home of Mrs. w. E.
Morris, wife OF DR.. w. e. Morris. pas
tor of the Woodlawn Methodist
church, on Tuesday afternoon, when
the last meeting of the circle was
held before the converting of the
North Alabama Methodist conference
early in November.
THE meeting" said Mrs. Matthews,
"had it's touches of pathos, for there
we were, none of us knowing where
the bishop would send our husbands,
and whether any of us would meet
after conference with the happy lit
tie coterie which now makes up the
Susannah Wesley Circle"
Accompanying Mrs. Matthews In
her little visit to me was Mrs. w. G..
Henry. wife of DR.. Henry of the Elev-
enth Avenue Methodist church.
Mrs. Henry is one of the most &C
complished musicians, by the way,
that Birmingham has ever had tho
pleasure of honoring, and she like
Mrs. Matthews felt the possible pang
of parting with many members of the
circle to whom she has become
greatly attached.
Latchstring Always on the Outside
THE latchstring of the Methodist
parsonage Is always on the outside"
said Mrs. Matthews, land 1t Is often
lifted. How We meet the emergency
cannot be explained. but ii is always
met, some how, some way"
During the war when Mr.. Herbert
c. Hoover was teaching people how
to economize and live on next to
nothing. someone suggested that q
Methodist minister's wife could tell
people more than Mr.. Hoover.
1.-THE average Methodist minister's
wife can just go to the pantry shelf
and make up a meal. somehow, and
Methodist minister and his wife with
seven or eight children are living on
$1,000 q year You will always find a
good meal, SO Hospitality offered and
so sweetly given"
Cora Harris has written some
amusing things about the life Of a
Methodist minister's wife, and along
the line Of how poorly paid the coun-
try minister 10 (and nobody knew
better than she, being the wife Of a
Methodist circuit rider). and one of
the most amusing things she ever
said was:
at Timothy had had q wife and
two children when he was pastor of
the church At Ephesus. and had re-
ceived only SO during the first three
months of the year. as I have known
many country pastor to do. doubt
IL Paul would have come along as a
presiding elder and taken 50 or 81 Of
his share"
Yet with all this. there is never =
murmur from Methodist preachers
wife; only sweetness and sunshine
and beauty and devotion to be found.
And the greatest pride each has in
her own husband. thinking that he
breaches the best sermon. his work is
the best and his reward is to be the
best of them all.
Happy spirited women!
Object Of Circle
"The object of the Susannah Wes-
ley Circle" said Mrs. Matthews. As
for the wives Of the ministers to get
better acquainted with each other
and for each to throw into the lives
OF the others. sunshine and JOY!
our meetings (heid once month)
do not consist OF set programs, ~ 1t
were; ministers wives have to sit
through too many programs to ar
range additional ones. but our meet
ings are just informal and compan-
ionable and permeated with h spirit
of comradeship and good fellowship.
Always our devotional exercises are
beautiful and helpful. q preface to
the Joyous meeting to follow.
Our pleasure has been to honor
many wonderful women who belong
to our circle, among Thorn Mrs. Harry
Whitehead. who was our first presi-
dent and one OF the organizers of the
Susannah Wesley Circle. Her hus-
band was the editor Of the Alabama
Christian Advocate At the time.
which brough her to Birmingham m.
whore she has made SO many friends.
Another honored member among the
many Is Mrs. X. l.. Britain, mother