Evening star., 1904-03-17
WILL OPEN APRIL 25
PLAYING SEASON OF THE SUNDAY
SCHOOL BASE BALL LEAGUE.
Directors Decide to Sell Sustaining
Membership Tickets to Obtain
the Necessary Funds.

president of the organization, during the
course of which the final arrangements
for the opening of the season of the
league were made. The directors of the
league desire 1t to be known that here
after under the terms of the new consti-
tuition, the league is to be known as the
Sunday School Base Ball League. in order
that the name of the organization might
be as closely associated with the Sunday
school directly as possible.
Question Of Finances.
The most important matter taken up
for consideration last night was the
question of financing the organization.
This matter was one of the subjects of
disagreement and Of friction last year.
1t is claimed that many persons who at
tended the games of the league and de-
rived great pleasure from them were
noticed to move away when the time
came to take up a collection. None of
the officers of the league favored the
collection scheme, but last year, under
the system of organization that prevail
ed, that was the only way in which 1t
could get the money absolutely necessary
for the support of the games. The di-
rectors Of the league desire that 1t should
be well understood that the organiza-
tion Is being run in the interest of pure
sport and to bring young men into the
church. and that no money received for
the support of the game under the sys-
tenn which has been agreed upon will
De devoted to any other use than the
promotion of clean base ball in the Dis
trict under the auspices of the twelve
churches represented. There is to be no
missionary or church collection, nor is
voted TO any other church purpose.
Season Tickets to Be Sold.
After considerable discussion as to the
method to pursue this year that would do
away with the collection system and at the
same time insure the league enough funds
for its support. the directors adopted a
proposition to inaugurate system of sus-
tanning memberships in the league. A sus-
tanning membership will cost 81 for the sea-
son. and in return for the payment of this
dollar the sustaining members will be given
a button which will entitle them to admis-
sion to all the games of the league and to
seat on any of the stands as soon as the
stands are built The stands will be re-
served for sustaining members and ladies'
and they only will be admitted The at
tendance at some of the games of the
league last year was as high as 5000, and
the average attendance was about 1000. If
the league could obtain 5000 sustaining
members In the District of Columbia the
financial success of the organization would
be assured and greater and better accom-
modations could be provided for the spec
tators than are even now contemplated. In
case not enough sustaining members are
secured and it becomes necessary to re-
sumo the old collection system those who
are members will not be requested to make
a contribution.
Ladies will al all times be admitted to the
stands and to all parts of the field not re-
served for the players. The stands this
year are to be incloSed so that the league
can exercise some supervision over the
number and character of the people who
obtain seats Last year the stands were all
open and were often filled with unauthor-
lied persons long before the commencement
of the game so that the people who sup
ported the league were compelled to come
early or stand up s
To Give Up the Constitution
The league intends this year to assume
more financial responsibility than it did last
season. For instance, 1t intends to furnish
the balls with which the games are played
and to do what it can toward placing all
the clubs on firm basis. Each director
promised that he would do all in his power
to require the teams of his church to obey
the constitutional provisions regardless of
the consequences to the team. BY this
they mean that they will require all men,
bers to attend the Sunday school their team
represents for so per cent of the sessions
during the season of base ball and will re-
quire that no person shall become men,
ber of the team who has not attended at
day school for the months just preceding
the opening of the season.
The league has under consideration the
proposition to dispose of the score card and
SCI edule privilege. 1t is expected that
something toward the general expense fund
car be obtained in this manner The
league is prepared to receive a proposition
from some enterprising advertising man
for this privilege. Within the past two or
three weeks several offers of cups and
trophies for the teams and individual play
ers have been received. Business men have
been active in behalf of the organiZa ton,
and the directors have extended to all such
friends their sincere thanks for the sup
port given. The representatives of each of
the churches represented at the meeting
last night reported that their churches were
most enthusiastic over the league and it's
work Every church has paid it's necessary
subscription to the fund that was started
for the preliminary expenses of the season.
There was not the slightest hesitation, and
several of the directors expressed the be-
lief that they could have obtained more
money had it been necessary.
At the close of the general business of the
meeting a report from the committee on
grounds was received. This committee
stated that several offers of lots are under
consideration. but that no decision has yet
been reached.
Season Will Open April Is.
The committee on schedule reported that
its work was complete, and the schedule
was submitted and approved by the board
1t is rot possible to obtain the schedule
for publication as yet because several
changes will have to be made, but the sea-
son will open Monday, April %. and it is
said that the first game will be played by
the st. Adams Episcopal and Mt. Pleasant
Congregational churches. both new mem
bers Of the league. 1t could not be learned
today what other teams will play on the
opening date.
The members Of the board attending the
meeting last night were: President George
A. Provost, Treasurer James E. West rep
resenting the Gunton Temple Memorial
Presbyterian and the Mt. Pleasant Congre-
gational churches. respectively; Dr. Mil
lard F. Thompson, Sixth Presbyterian
Church: Edward M. Weeks St. Adams
Episcopal Church; T. Walter Fowler, Mt
Pleasant Methodist Church; J. T. Kelley,
jr.. Fourth Presbyterian Church: Mr..
Doyle. Gurley Memorial Presbyterian
Church: F. W. Bolgiano, Foundry NJ E.
Church: E. 8. Farlee. Wesley Chapel NJ E.
Church.; A. L. Dietrich, Mt. Vernon Place
M. E. Church. and Irving p. Townsend, St
Stephens Episcopal Church.