Evening journal., 1900-02-22
THE CHURCH SOCIAL
HOW TO MAKE IT ATTRACTIVE
AND SUCCESSFUL.

1T Is a shame" says a well known
church woman. TO think that people
must be fed in order TO get together FOR
a social evening. but. II you don't do
II. you might just as well close your
church doors except FOR Sunday SER
vice" This sentiment is voiced by
many Others the general impression
being that a man. no matter what his
degree OF plety. or religious persJa-
sion, is pretty sure TO stay away from
a church sociable unless he can be
lured there by the prospect OF a square
meal. This part Of the business Is all
ways managed by the ladies' society
connected with the church, and i-
wolves a tremendous amount OF labor
The end usually justlhes the means.
however, as all the provisions being
contributed by the parishioners every
cent Of the proceeds is clear profit.
A church entertainment which shall
attain its primary object Of promoting
sociability between old and young, and
at the same time prove a financial sue
cess, Is q problem which grows more
and more difficult OF solution every
year In the first place, there must be
a supper. This Is just as important a
part OF such an entertainment as II IS
Of a children's party.
Salad suppers. chafng- dish auppera,
turkey. chicken-pie, or oyster suppera
are always we'll patronized, for each
housewife Is always called upon for
her particular speciality In the way Of
cookery, and one OF these delicious
meals at 20 cents head couldn't be
duplicated at a first-class restaurant
for less than a dollar
The literary part Of the program is
generally managed by the young peo-
pies society, and experienced church
workers win say that It Is much more
successful II the young folks are put on
their mettle so to speak with no in
terference or overlooking on the part
Of their elders. For fairs or large en-
I tertainments. nothing is so popular just
J now as to employ a palmist This sci-
ence has made such headway within
! the past few years that even The small
E places have one or two professionals
whose services can be engaged at five
. dollars for an afternoon and evening.
= or three dollars for the evening alone.
E The palmist Is provided with a sort OF
j. mystical bower. where she gives five-
minute interviews az twenty-five cents
n head, and a fluent talker can impari
" enough information to her credulous
= listener. in that length OF time 70 pro-
j. vide thinking matter for a month.
Then there are short farces. banjo
concerts candy pulls-whlch latter
amusement In these latter days must
include the making Of q kettle OF fudge
u -tableaux. spelling matches and al.
most every novelty which a vivid i'm
agination can possibly suggest. TIT
fishing banks have proved quite popu
~ lar I'm some churches Two young men
dressed in approved sailor costume
preside over the banks" which ar
" made OF improvised scenery represent
r ing the edge Of a stream Fish pole
'n are provided. and the audience are In
as vited to pay fve cents each to try thei
~ luck. The lines seemingly fan into Ga
a. water. but really drop back Of IN
scenes. where an assistant attache
anything. from q dried herring TO
~ package OF chewing gum, TO be draw
71 up By the expectant angler. This give
~ q couple OF hours Of solid fun. beside
- netting a neat little sum, and the even
'A Ing can be wound up with an impromp
tu concert. a unique entertainer
'i was given recently by the sewing SO
4" cicty OF "a small Universalist branc
~ church. the 30 members pledglng them
E" selves to earn a dollar each for sur
y. plies. taking two months for the under
ll taking At the expiration Of the TIM
hu an experience meeting was 20 be hei,
III at which they were to relate IN rhym
the methods employed TO raise IN
III amount. though the strain Of compo'
~ ing q poem proved too great for abot
~ half of the members. who basely IN
- vented all manner Of subterfuEes
evade that part Of their contract tt
.
ny some racy poetic efforts which display
{ ed a hitherto unsupported talent. m
~ gem Of the collection was a song wit
rs jingle refrain, composed and set
- music BY three Of the members. VII
"e tunefully set forth their combined e.
periences IN a manner which brougl
'e1 down the house Ten cents admissio
was charged. the vestry being packG
n- with admiring friends Of the poetesse
hs and the evening closed by serving /,
ist cream and cake at fifteen cents a plat
'e- Old folks concert. at which the pc
~ formers appear in costumes Of y
ln oldcn time" and a carnival Of Dickei
On characters are usually popular. Moth
niS Goose parties always take, as the fle
III afforded by these nursery rhymes Civ
unboundcd scope for merry making
As church worker gives a graphic accoui
~ Of one Of these affairs where the hit
- the evening was made by Mary and h
i"' little lamb. A popv young ma
dressed in girls clothes as a COUNT
,ps maid, ably carried off the part Of Mar
D while her lamb was reluctantly impe
SH sonated by his devoted bull terrie
sewed up In white woolly cloth. al
Vi wearing a blue satin stock collar su
~ mounted by an enormous bow OF ri
- bon.
iey Several years ago there was s
~ ries of entertainments laid out by
'ie Baptist church. and committee Of o
young man and one young woman W
"a appointed to have charge Of each OF
81 Each couple was given fun power
~ carry out details, and the forthcomii
ON performance, in every case. was to
OF kept a dead secret until it was give
9Ne Naturally the different committe
ion M were all striving to outdo the others
i" III the way OF novelty, and one OF the q
'ei fairs caused quite a commotion. T
first number on the program consist
OF Jean Ingelow's Songs of Sever
which was rendered IN an eminent