The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1886-07-16
woRkINeMENs CLUBS or GUILDS.

Account of AN Experiment Begun in Phil
adelphia Over Fifteen Years Ago.
The Episcopalians of Philadelphia fave
found a practical method Of dealing with
the much discussed question, How shall
working people be brought into closer SYM
pathy with the churcha Their answer takes
the form of workingmen's clubs or guilds,
the earliest of which was established fifteen
years ago An exchange gives an interest
ing account Of the experiment.
The clubs are non-sectarian in principle,
although established under church auspices
and having usually the rector of a parish
for president
The seductive influence Of bar-rooms are
counterbalanced by the refinement of cozy
parlors and libraries OF interesting and USE
full books Billiard and pool tables give an
opportunity to gratify the taste for games,
apart from betting and drinking Lectures
and entertainments, to which the families of
members ars admitted free; benefciaries
and building associations, and classes in
drawing, etc, are among the methods by
which the moral and intellectual welfare of
the members Is promoted
In some of the clubs a cooperative sys-
tam Of purchasing family supplies is in sue
cessful operation. There are initiation and
membership fees to avoid the appearance Of
charity, but these are kept so small as to
be In the reach of all. The Oldest club is
the St Marks Workingmens club and in
stitute, at Seventeenth and Kater streets
1t owns handsome Luilding, and has 415
members on its rolls Among its attrac-
tions are games, billiards and pool, we'll
stocked reading-room, a library of 1900
volumes, and course of free monthly
lectures. A cafe and cooperative store
are in contemplation, and it is proposed
soon to admit women to the privileges of
the library.
The doors of the club are open to young
men of any creed. The Workingmen's
club of St Timothy's parish owns hand
some stone building at the corner of Vas
ser street and Ridge avenue. 1t has large
and well-lighted billiard room, bowling
alleys, game and reading rooms, a large
hall with stage adapted TO dramatic per-
formances, ibrary-room with 1900 vol
umes, comfortable bath rooms, and classes
in mechanical drawing, German, algebra,
etc. There Is to be congress of working
mems clubs at Millville, N. j., this summer,
with the hope of effecting permanent CEN
tral organization.-Chicag Times.
A College Professor BADLY 'Stumped.'
This same Texan told me of taking an
-sastsrn cxsaiago prnfeSxars very learned
pundit, over into the sand hill, near Big
Springs, Texas, to show him the country.
This is barren. indeed, remarked the
pundit Mature never intended that any
thing should grow here 1t is a terrible
curse Of God"
Indeed" said the Texan, come with me
little farther" and he leo the way to
where some little acorn trees, not larger
than Faber pencil were growing Each
little tree bore from eight to ten acorns
Don't you see," continued the pundit,
mature never intended anything shoula
grow here?" The ma jestic oak has only the
size of prairie flower"
aDig down little" suggested the Texan,
at the same time handing the eastern phil
oSophar o. spade. l
The suggestion was accepted and. behold!
an oak tree beneath the surface of the sand
--an oak th0 trunk of which would measure
from foot and half to two feet in diam
eter.
The professor was dumb He changed
his mind about natures intentions, how
ever, and concluded that the place where
these trees grew must have once been q
valley, filled up after ages OF sand storms.
The trees refused to die, and these diminr
tive acorn bearing shoots now seen on the
sands surface are but linus from the parent
oak-Texas Cor Cincinnati Enquirer