The morning times., 1895-10-02
GOOD NEIGHBORS' CLUBS
Civic Center Ought to Move to
Establish Them Here.
Prof Gregory Outlines His scheme In
a Letter to DR.. Kent-One In
Every Four Blocks

The meeting of the Center Council Of
the Civic Center, which was TO have
been held yesterday afternoon al Foundry
Church, was postponed on account OF the
absence of many of the merlbers from the
city.
President John M Gregory is still abb
sent from the city, but is expected to
return shortly During his absence he
has given the work of the Civic Center
for the coming season serious attention
and made some excellent suggestions TO
the chairmen of several of the most im-
nortant committees His letter to Rev.
DR.. Kent, pastor OF the Peoples Church,
the full text of which is given below.
will be read with much interest by the
public, especially those directly inter
ested in the establishment of a free Ii
brary and reading rooms He writes as
follows:
MY Dear Doctor: September is here
and tells of the work to be done by our
Civic Center 1 have engagements which'
will take me out of Washington Mondays,
for several weeks, and so may interrupt
my meeting with the Center Council, but
l shall do what l can to push the work
forward 1 have written TO Chairman
Willis in regard to several matters which,
/ think his committee should be ready TO
push for ward. and 1 have planned letters
to some other chairmen. l know that
you will do whatever your hands Iinu
TO do and with all your might.
II have been glad to see the movements
pentiiug among the labor unions in refer
ence to a library and reading ROOM This
is as you know, in the line or one OF my
favorite projects. But one library is not
enough, unless it has branches in differ
Of ba nt nv all
means, have one good library, rich in all
that our artisan classes need to read; but
let us have branches, with reading rooms,
so that each maa will find within easy reach
a place where he may spend his evenings
pleasantly and profitably.
My ideal is an artisans or good neign-
bors' club in each four blocks of the city,
with a room large enough to seat an audi
dience of at least 100, fitted up with two
or three tables for readers and for games
withoutgainbling, and with smalp PLATFORM
for familiar scientific and other lectures,
and room for sociables, and with smaller
room for smokers, all to be warmed and
lighted every evening of the week and open
to both men and women, for the home
sometimes grows duh and tiresome to the
wives as well as to the husbands, all under
the management of the club itself, aided,
perhaps, by q grand central committee from
all the clubs, from which they might be
supplied with lecturers and various enter
tainments, as also with reading matter.
Il have thought that if your committee
and those Oh adult education and on popu-
lar recreations could unite in this par
ticular work, we might establish five such
Good Neighbor Clubs this season in the
different sections of the city as examples,
and perhaps models
"A sma Il fee of five or ten cents week
for membership would give feeling Of
ownership and furnish, probably, all the
funds needed at first. II such clubs could
be established all over the city they would
furnish the opportunities we need to bring
all plans of municipal bettermcnt home to
the people.
"How does the plan strike you? Is it
feasible?
II want very much to see you and talk
over the winter movements. I shall be
glad to hear from you, when you get time,
to learn what you are doing and planning
for the common good
"Yours, for God and humanity.
JOHN II. GREGORY"