The Portland daily press., 1896-05-02
FATHER JAYS CLUB.
b oxing. Etc, Downstairs: vestments and
Incense upstairs.

incense upstairs.
I.ondon Letter to New York; Tribune
Consultations are unsatisfactory. In
order to be more definite, I shall describe
briefly the work which is done by zeal
GUS vicar and by humane almoners OF
charity in one of the most dismal quarters
of London. For several generations q
congeries of alleys and slums back OF
Shoreditch Church has borne the reputa
tlon OF being one of the foulest plague.
spots in the metropolis. The houses were
old and falling to piec.s; the streets were
narrow and dark; the drains were clogged
and the lodging rooms uninhabitable;
and the death rate has been four times
as great as the remainder of London. In
the three Nichnl streets were more habit
ual criminals than in any other district
of the city, and the whole neighborhood
was the haunt of the most ignorant and
degraded poor. Yet this horrible section
was within ten minutes walk from
Bishopgate station or the Bank of Eng
land.
| LNoAA0A coyB uAo VlCtaI VI 1lUly 4IlulUy
Church, Shoreditch, has about 5000 peo-
pie closely packed together within the
narrow area of his parish. Ten years
ago he entered upon his work there and
at once introduced new and practical
methods. He hired a long hayloft over a
stable, and converted it into chapel,
and he began systematic course of room
to.room yisitatlons by which he was
borught into contact with every man,
woman and child in his parish. Not
satisfied with the ordinary methods Of
| Sunday schools, mothers meetings and
similar parochial agencies, he organized
q mems club and made it the center Of
his religious activity. 1t was not long
before the stable loft WAS abandoned land
a new building erected. 1t was uniq ue
church. There was an upper room where
services of a Ritualistio order were con-
Quoted, but the lower floors were used as
a gymnasium for the mems club, and
rs free lodging place for tramps. Ad-
| joining this ecclesiastical gymnasium has
been erected a. large slodging-house where
a small charge is made for rooms.
Father jays olubroom Is bright and
cheerful place in the evening. There is a
nominal membership fee of a penny a
week, but it is practically free to all
corners. 1t is crowded at night with a
molly assemblaRe of men and boys, who
take exercise and find recreation in their
own way. The main olubroom and the
large room below are fitted up with all
the appliances of gymnasium parallel
bars, rings, and all the other familiar ap-
paratus. Then there are reading-desks,
card tables, and conveniences for games
of various kinds. But the most notica-
biz feature Of the place, and, indeed, the
chief attraction, is the boxing ring.
Night after night it is occupied with
young men who put on the gloves and
spar with each other. Boxing is the
favorite amusement OF the lower classes
Of England. 1t draws men aud boys into
this church club when all other induce
ments would fail to attract them. Hence
Father Jay has introduced it, under
proper restrictions, and attributes much
| of the success of the club to what he con-
siders a reasonable concession toIthe popu-
| lar taste for amusement. The walls Of
the club are adorned with photographs of
| the best boxers who have been connecte
with the organization
| The face of the good vicar lights up
with. a fine glow of enthusiasm as he con-
ducts his visitors around the gymnasium
and points out tie pictures of his boys in
gloves, who have won prizes in boxing
competitions, and afterward been aided
in obtaining employment at home and
abroad. Father Jay does not lose sight
of the men whom he helps to better their
condition in life. He writes to them
wnen they join the army or navy or find
| their way to the colonies and every for
eign mail brings letters from them. I
was reminded, while he was talking
about these graduates from his boxing
ring and club, of the story told of GEN
eral Gordons map at Gravesend with
| pins fastened In it at various seaports to
represent the boys whom he had rescued
from the slums and sent away to sea- and
with whom he carried on an active cor
respondence.
There are no policemen in this church
club, alth ough the members may have
been thieves, pickpockets or degraded
criminals, with besetting temptations to
rever to their former calling. Father
Jay stands near the door to greet every
one who enters, and there is lay worker
with him every night. The rooms fl
up, but there sis no disorder. Boxing
gymnastio exercises card playing and
games are all in progress at once; and
there is On undertone of cheerfulness and
merriment pervading the club. IT at any
time there is boisterous uproar or an an
CRY word, single gesture from the big,
muscular priest suffices to restore order.
He moves about among the groups, but
does not enter into familiar conversation
with any one. He shakes hands cordially
with every member entering or leaving
the gymnasium, but he is always the
priest, whose chief functions are to be
performed in the Ritualistio chapel in the
upper story.
| After 10 O'Clock the rooms ara emntied