New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-10
MAKING GENTLEMEN.
DR.. Rmnsford Shoes One Way OF
Doing 1t.

Every single organization we started was an
earnest effort TO meet the needs of the people"
says the Rev. DR.. Rainsford. writing in THE
Outlook about his work at St. Georges Church.
in this citv AZ have been criticised for starting
a dancing class; that was new thing not many
years ago. did it because found that the girls
were going bad dances. Then, when we start
ed the dramatic society, people said wanted
to St. Georges into theatre My boys and
girls want to go to the theatre; they ought to CO.
The drama has a great influence; that influence
will increase. not decrease; it has an immense
place human life, and started the dra-
matte society they lake up good plays, and it is
a great success. At first, when we started the
dancing class there were always three or four of
the clergy and half dozen ladies present 10 look
after things; the boys would spit in the
and throw cigarettes the floor; now there is
nothing of the sort; you could not find better be-
havor in Sherry's. and there often clergy
or deaconesses present. Ten years ago. if one Of
these boys met in the street he would scarcely
notice me; there is hardly one who does not
take off his hat when he meets me. and l have
never asked them TO do it. Boys like brass bands;
they want to join organizations. and started
the battalion; have 120 in the battalion St
Georges sent seventy-one men TO the Spanish war
four killed. battalion is great power
for good.
so about the saloon question. People said I ad-
vocated the saloon-church saloon. never said
anything of the kind. As a matter of fact. what
did say was that there was nothing more harm
full than light regard for law. A law that can
not be enforced IS curse in the community, and
therefore 1 advocated having the saloon open part
OF Sunday. Ten years ago before Mr. Jerome
touched this thing, 1 talked about it in the pulpit
and on the platform: I would to God there were
saloons, but, since they are here, you have no
right to pass law which cannot be enforced. There
is nothing so destructive the well being Of
community as a light regard for law Your Puri-
tan who insists passing his own peculiar law
is the ally of the bad element in the city. as has
been said often in The Outlook" His stupid
insistence to pass laws that cannot be enforced is
disastrous; there be nothing worse That
is what l said over and again.
IT have studied the needs of the people and have
tried meet them l wish rich men would give
the people more opportunities for pleasure-innocent
pleasure I do rot specially ndorse Mr.. Carnegfe's
gifts to libraries Libraries are good things. but in
New-York there things need more. We need
pleasure houses far more in New-York; places OF
amusement that will not degrade. For instance
have had a good come to me and say, Next
week is the anniversary OF our wedding. and want
10 give q little dinner and dance TO my wife and
be- friends Do Won know any hall 1 get?
And I cannot tell him where TO CO. My boys and
girls wanted TO dance / wanted place for them,
and had 10 bring them right into parish build
ing: but II is not the proper place There Is not
room enough. The church ought 10 meet the social
needs OF the people. and the social needs OF the
peopIe of the tenement district of New York are
not the social needs of the people In Maine VII
Iage nor even the social needs OF Baltimore or
Philadelphia II a would minister successfully
he mus; have his finger on the pulse OF the COM
munty where he Is snd know now II beats iha'
is the whole thing
"ginca there is no provision for social life in the
tenement house district except the dark alley and
the street try meet this condition BY providing
social life here under right influences. The gym
aAsiuu the cooking and sewing schools are al