New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-27
NOVEL CHURCH ENTERPRISE.
THE REV DIR. EGGLEsToNs ENDEAVoR
GLIB

ATTRACTED 10 A OHNhNh ramon -
SHOOTING GALLERY AND OTHER FORMS Oh En-
JoYMFNT-A CHURCH WITHOUT A CREED
Mich attention has been attracted OF late 10
,,o pev DR. Edward Eggestons Church Of Christian
Fndeayor in the Eastern District OF Brooklyn ana inc
peculiar methods Of church work there employou
Among the novel enterprises in connection win tS
church which established upon an independent lo
alton and has affiliations with no sect the ono tha' nS
become most widely known is the Endeavor Cluo' lhs
is composed OF young men, some OF Whom
are while others are not, members OF the cnurch
The attractions which it furnishes are various los VI
social enjoyment, library, variety oil interesting
games and a shooting gallery. At one time u was pro
posed TO provide billiardabe for the members such
innovations on the part OF a church, whose pastor
Known 10 be remarkably liberal in his views, have
naturally called forth considerable comment ana cru
cism OF an unfavorabe nature, while the church ltse
having cut loose from all creeds, has been alluded TO- III
the religious press, the First Church OF the NO.!
Ambiguity" and has been sald 10 DC cOnpOso" Vi P
ualists and inhdels.
wishing TO ascertain tho peculiar features OF the En-
deavor club and TO learn upon what principles II was
conducted. and what methods il employed, q TRIBUNE
reporter called recently upon the Rev DE- Esses'o"'
and sought his views the subject The Doctor was
found at home in his pleasant library surrounded d!
hooks and writing materials. Sitting in a great arm
chair which played part in one ms carrier ho'eS' NC
chated pleasantly Of his church, the CLUB his SUNDAY
school, and the other forms Of work in which he Is en-
gagged " No man las large plans LOT "OIA t""H - O
said and takes more interest In his Work. REQ
nile think that have accomplished great deal but II is
nothing to what could do" The reporter spoke OF tho
Fndeavor Club and inquired what it was
"Weu" began DR.. Eggeston, perhaps 1t is BEST al
the start TO say what is not II isn't Young Mch
Christian Association. 1t has never sung hymn or
had prayer at any OF It's meetings Ii is not mooeh
halt or sugarcoated pill but is exactly what 1t preends
TO be-a social club for the amusement and pTont ol
young Bat 1t is club intimately connected WIN
the church. and in under its guardianship
Not that the church preends TO exercise any authority
over It, but as OF the leading members OF the church
are private members of the club, and as the prop
orty interest in the library is vested in the
church trustees tncre is enough ballast to heep
things straight. As to Limitation OF membership
there is none. Any acceptable TO twohirds OF the
club can be elected. gentleman not member OF the
church is received the same footing as one who Is
We have no socaled associate membership We thnk
Il an insult IN any social organic to offer man
second-class place the EndeayOr Club there Is no
secondass car for the uucOnvCrtcd We meet men as
men, simply and frankly Any member Of the cuO may
hold office if he gets votes enough The active pare
pa ion Of the pastor aud other leading church members
IS "A guarantee Of the tone and drift OF the club Bat
officers OF the church take pains TO refuse ONCE III the
club desiring that the club shall be IN the hands OF
other and younger men,"
IL response to question 20 the size OF the CLUB the
cost Of membership, ETC.. Dr.. Eggeston replied;
There were aboJt seventeen members at the orgonl-
zatop OF the CLUB I'm October, 1876. The membership
increased rapidly however and for the past SIX months
there have been about 100 members Or late there
tendency increase You'd this number. OF course III
free social OrsaI.z tiOn like this, some fal out ana
Others come in The expense OF membership is Zee Of
81 cvervsi months The club meets in connected
with the church which was formerly called tho church
paior THIS opens Of the auditorium OF the church
Since the club has RENTED it, and furnished with libra
r. shootnrgalery, games portraits OF authors ec II
IS moro commonly called the club room, or library"
"What about the clubs library and the shooting
gallery Z" was asked.
There was an Old library which had pretty much
fallen into diSuse" the response. II contained al
those heayenlymnded books that nobody reads such as
'The Saints Resi- and Bakers Can TO the Cucon-
verted' At least nobody reads them who is not already
good enough for translation TO the saints rest The
old library also contained about 400 good standard re-
lgious aud miscellaneous books but no novels This
library f to the Clue, which has added about 400 good
readable books including all the standard novels and all
the best recent works of fiction, but has carefully ex
cuded all trash We need thousand more books, but
we have 10 money to bay them. There were 2.4O0 |
books drawn from this library in thrtythree |
weeks. The library is free TO members OF the !
club and also members Of the Girls Society, an asso-
citation Of young ladies' whose Objects somewhat similar
to tLat Of the club This society also contributes to the
support the library. All others arc admitted TO Its
privileges, the payment OF 81 a year
1--WE preferred shooting gallery 70 billiard table Tor
two reasons One is that a billiard taolo IN church
parOr would trouble tho sense OF proprety OF some OF
our good people the other, that only two play at
billiards az once while fifteen twenty often engage IN
match the gallery. We think far better that young
men without taste for reading. with such TASTE
who crave excitement should find recreation in shooting
with paror ride in This admirably fitted gallery than
III playing cards or billiards in saloon"
"Do you think il proper that a church should furnish
such amusementSr
Isis proper the Doctor saidn reply, chat church
should by hook and by crook No man dealing
with youac men in peris Of great city should stand
IN tbc manner of saving them Dr. John Hall says. /
nsh amusemeuts than To keep grocery. Very good III
NV vourC men could only be saved by my keeping
grOcery would open tO-mOTrOw-a dry grocery, I
mean. When i To labor with an unsteady
c6aD who is going astray don't have To visit him in his
boardng holse and set my umbrella aud hang up
10y hat like q spiritual constable. can 90 and shoot
with him awhile ana then get him a ana tel
hun what funk o. his habits OF say whatever the Oc-
WHAT else does the clubdol"
who adyerti,es ia the Wanted columns % THE 1RB-
UNE; is always ready ITO make itself generally use
around the house. 10 rents and for two good
pews in the church These nave plates bearing the |
name Endeayor Club They belong to any member OF
tile club who chooses 20 them, and are generally fun
OF young men have no sttings OF their own. The
members 81 the club hold debates but they often dis
quesons-tha j., the members do not assign reSu-
lar deDaters but they undertake 10 SIT subject very
interesting discussion on paupes gave rise to what we
our Sunday-schOOl scholars and poor people |
about their affairs. This commission has placed |
months Ii meets every week after the Sunday-schOO |
closes receive scholars VINO may want assistance and
their teachers IL keeps an advertisement OF situations
wanted standing in tho local paper. II sent about
dozen sick children 20 the country, last summer ana II
seeks IN way u help the great multitude OF poor
and Ignorant people VINO come 70 Us as sAeep NitouI
shepherd Ia sundayschool we have an ordinary at
tendance OF thousand scholars We PROBABLY |
have children and Young people under our care, in
proportion 10 our chuIch nenbeIslp, 'hdn aiy o.ncr