New-York tribune., 1896-04-21

ana at once introduced new and practtcal moth
ods He hired long hayoft over a stable. and
converted 1t into a chapel and he began a svs
tematic course Of room-to-room visitations by
which he was brought into contact with every
man. woman and child in his parish Not salts
he'd with the ordinary methods of sunday
schools. mothers meetings and similar parochial
agencies. he organized mems club and made
1t the centre Of his religious activity II was not
long before the stable loft was abandoned and a
new building erected. II was q unique church
There was an upper room where services Of a
Ritualistc order were conducted but the lower
Hoors were used as gy mnasium for the mems
club, and as free lodging place for tramps Ad-
Joining this ecclesiastical gymnasium has been
erected large lodging-house where small
charge is made for rooms.
FATHER JAYS CLUBROOM
Father jays clubroom Is bright and cheer
ful place In the evening There Is nominal
membership fee Of penny a week. but 1t is
practically free to all comers 1t is crowded
at night with motley assemblage Of men and
boys. who take exercise and find recreation in
their own way. The main clubroom and the
large room. below are fitted up with all the APP
pliarces Of gymnasium--parallel bars, rings and
all the other familiar apparatus. Then there are
reading-desks card tables. and conveniences for
feature Of the place, and. indeed the chief attrac-
tion. Is the boxing ring. Night after night it
Is occupied with young who put the
gloves and spar with each other. Boxing Is the
favorite amusement of the lower classes In Eng
end 1t draws and boys into this church
club when all other inducements would fail TO
attract them. Hence Father Jay has introduced
II. under proper restrictions. and ati .bCtes much
OF the success Of the club to what he considers
a reasonable concession to the popular taste for
amusement The walls Of the club adorned
with photographs of the best boxers who have
been connected with the organize ton.
The face Of the good vicar lights up with a
fine glow of enthusiasm as he conducts his
visitors around the gymnasium and points out the
pictures Of his boys in gloves who have
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 when they join the
army navy find their way to the Colonies.
and every foreign mail brings letters from them.
l was reminded, while he talking about
these graduates from his boxing-rng and club.
of the story told of General Gordon's 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. AMI
with whom he carried active correspond
ence
There are no policemen in this church club,
although the members may have been thieves.
pckpockets degraded criminals with beset-
ting temptations TO revert to their former call
ing Father Jay stands the door to greet
every one who enters and there Ia a lay worker
with him every night. The rooms fill up. but
there is no disorder Boxing, gymrastic exer-
cises. card playing and games are all in progress
at once; and there Is undertcne of cheerful
ness and merriment pervading the club. II at
any time there is bosterous uproar or an angry
word, single gesture from the big. muscular
priest sufices to restore Ordcr. He moves about
among the groups, but does not enter into IA
miliar 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 Ritualistic chapel In the upper story
a LoDoING-HoUsE AT NIGHT.
After 10 o'clock the emptied and
then filled UP again The trs mps from the
streets come in for a nights shelter and they
receive it II they are neither intoxicated
too filthy to be allowed to mingle with the other
dodgers. The hunks are first filled up. and then
every foot of floor space is occupied with men
In their blankets. Ten thousand dodgers OBJ
tain free shelter II this place while in the build.
ing adjoining more decent accommodation with
paths and facilities for cooking Is offered at
nominal price. For four years and, indeed, un
I'll his health broke down, Father Jay slept high
above his tramps In a box with glass partitions
the ceiling 1t a lookout whence he
could command the situation II there was any
disturbance at night. The atmosphere was foul
from the presence of the untidy shiftless tramps;
but he always at hand to control the loig-
ers, If they proved quarrelsome Early in the
morning the rooms were cleared, ani the round
of parish visits among the sick and poor began;
and this work would hardly be over before even
ing when the clubrooms were again filed with
gymnasts and boxers from the streets-with
young men who would have been In saloons ana
gaming houses III Father Jays hospitality were
withheld.
This is practical church work. and 1t has been
a great lever for good in that forlorn and un-
healthy district OF London. 1t has been supple
mented, too. by admirably managed charities
like Lady Jeunes free soup kitchen, where 'oO
children from the Board schools are fed at noon
In central dining-hali These children are not
likely to get a warm meal in their poverty stricK,
en- homes. They have bowl OF savory soup ana
half loaf Of bread In this free soup kitchen;
and not a little Of the bright color In their faces
comes from that one simple but wholesome and
nutritious meal which they get between study
hours. with refined ladies TO wait upon them ana
to listen to their grace song Lady Jeune's coun-
try holiday fund also enables many OF these
children to have three weeks vacation In sum-
mer
THE CITY TAKES A HAND.
There is no lack OF practical religion and works
Of mercy In this benighted quarter OF Shoreditca;
but 1t not until the County Council, alarmed
by the rapidly increasing mortality. adopted
treasures for condemning the Nichcl-st. section as
ursanitary and for rshousing the population OF
the whole area that there any substantial
progress toward permanent Improvement CT
Father Jays parish This work is now In prog
ress and will cost more than $2.O00.0OO. The
ground has been cleared; the rickety novels