Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-01-11
STARTED IN CHURCH OF COVENANT
Dr.. HamIin Tells the History Of the
Pioneer Organization.
Many SOCIAL FEATURES

marked success is the banding together OF
the men of the congregations into what is
known as mems clubs
| These clubs. while in direct touch with
the church. and. Of course. more or less
religious in their aspects are not char
acteristically so. They combine in many
il not all respects the social life to- be
| found in organizations Of a similar nature
outside the church
| They have almost the same rules and
| regulations governing their membership
| and conduct of affairs They have regular
meetings at stated intervals which are
made as interesting as possible for the
members Not infrequently their meetings
are addressed by well-known lecturers,
scientists and men Of letters on live topics
| of the day. On certain stated occasions
they hold public receptions to which the
members of the congregations incidentally
| connected with the clubs are invited to
| listen to interesting programs of music, wit
| or Grafton. generally combination Of all.
A buffet supper Is generally served to the
| members and their friends at the conclu-
sion Of these meetings.
The idea of organizing mems clubs in the
| churches originated, it Is believed, with the
Rev. DR.. Teunis Hamlin, pastor of the
| Church of the Covenant, In this city, and
| the story of their genesis is better told per
| haps in his own words. In conversation
| with an Evening Star reporter he said:
Il am under the impression that am the
| originator of the idea Of mems clubs in the
| churches, and that the Mems Social Club
| of the Church Of the Covenant was the pio-
neer of such organizations in this country.
| At all events no one else has so far claimed
| the honor, and until they do we will take
| the credit to ourselves.
About eight years ago. continued Dr.
| Hamlin, II conceived the idea of bringing
the men connected with my church into
closer social relations than had hitherto ex-
| listed. With this ultimate object in view
invited number of gentlemen to meet me
fho Nhirpn of he ant or. a
| tain evening without divulging at the time
my object for bringing them together.
Men Not Acquainted.
| 81 think 1 invited about twenty Of the
leading men of the church. and when the
evening in question arrived all but one
were present. 1t was interesting to listen
then to the conversation between them.
while they were seated in a sort of a semi
circle in one of the rooms of the church
waiting for me to disclose the object or
the mysterious meeting.
| 1T was apparent from their talk that
many were not acquainted, some not know
ing even the names of those who sat next
to them.
do you attend the Church of the Cove
nant?" asked Mr.. Brown inquiringly OF his
neighbor. Mr.. Smith. Yes; do you? l
thought 1 saw you here few Sundays
ago. and SO on. 1 only cite this to illus
trate that In large churches it is very pos
sble for men to belong to the same congre-
:
contact with each other. They enter by
different doors, occupy seats perhaps ur
opposite sides of the church. and conse'
:, quently never touch elbows while worship
ing at the same shrine 1t was to Obviate
J just such social conditions these that
1 had call ed the men 1 have referred te
\ | together.
From the drift of their conversation l
Z | saw that something must be done to bring
] them into touch, and my preconceived idea
{ of forming a club or social organization
( among them was made the more manifest
When proposed the idea 1t met with In
5 slant favor. 1T was just what they had
\ been looking for they all agreed. l seized
the opportunity and before we adjourned
the Mems Social Club of the Church of the
! Covenant was an established fact
I'VE began our social rehabilitation If
may so term it. with twenty-five members
J The minimum age limit was thirty. Since
5 that time the club has steadily increased in
I membership and interest, until now we
proudly point to $50 names on our roles
This has all been accomplished. as l said
: within the last few years. We found il
more desirable for many purposes to reduce
the eligible age to twenty-five. however
and this has proved to be good move
The Age Question.
Zone idea for fixing on this age. and not
4 | allowing younger men to- join the club, was
not to conflict with the Christian Endeavor
r and other societies in the church that are
t composed of younger people. This club.
. wish to impress upon you, Is distinctively
a mems club. and only members Of the male
sex are eligible to membership. They must
d also be connected with the church.
: Everything connected with the institu.
|. ton is conducted strictly on the club plan
e Applicants are proposed for membership
:. | voted on and elected by the members The
q men Of the church take great pride in the
g club. Those wishing to become members
8 seek US. We never seek Them and it is
8 this fact that keeps up the esprit de CORPS
of the organization. and has made it wha
d it now is. 1t is distinctiveiy social or,
n ganization and religion is never brought
i into its meetings directly.
n THE club is governed and controlled by
:. three committees, religious, philanthropit
b and social. The function first and second
of these supply religious reading materia
Chapel in Georgetown, which Is supported
I by the congregation Of the Church of tn,
h Covenant. 1t is the duty of the socia
\. committee to arrange for the meetings o
! the club and the entertainment of its mem
befs and guests These meetings are hel,
y once a month. during nine months of tn
, year. The meeting Is not unlike the meet
/ ings of other social organizations in it
l. business aspect.
e. But it differs from many in the varie,
;. and attractive musical and educationa
10 features for the benefit of the members
l. The latter feature we try to make as en-
E pertaining as possible. and well known lee
q. turers and men Of learning contribute t
= its success
Hamlin. will be addressed by Mr.. Georg
KEENAN, the eminent lecturer and Siberian
traveller, who will give, / am sure, an in
teresting talk. Other noted men who hav
addressed the club on interesting topics ar
DR.. David j. Hill, assistant secretary O
state; Prof Emley, Andrew d. White an
Alexander Graham Bell. The latter, / re
member. gave us an interesting account o
how he invented the telephone. a talk
have never heard of him giving before o
since, certainly not in public.
81 ffnp tfae na6 -. pfnf
per to the members and their guests, 70
each member Is entitled to bring a CUES
to the meetings The invitation cards ar
always gotten up in an attractive but nea
form.
''Once a year the club gives reception t
the members Of the congregation, which
always an interesting event.
1.-The church Is beautifully decorate
with flowers on this occasion, and the mt
sic unusually fine.
Some Onicers.