Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-23

win be put In the grdand Tor the base bags.
etc. Everything VIII b done to make
the diamonds up to data, The ground has
hard. wire netting bacKstops have been
erected behind the catchHrs position. The
plans for the base ball season on this lot
are experimental entirely, No team will
been secured from c5lcnsI symons for the the
game. It Is desired that uniformed teams
shall occupy the grounds only. The inn
mense space gives plenty of room for three
saf ae 70 Ds s she other s
stated the use Of the grdpnd for base ball
rames IL an experf3nent II everything
works smoothly for the Aext month. 1t 3
very likely that tho games will continue Al
or any unforeseen damage is done to the
grounds the games viii be stopped and
the diamonds laid out elsewhere.
The south diamond of the three on the
white Lot has been given to the Sunday
School League for its exclusive use. No
other team can secure this ground and the
league has promised to- play game every
day during the month its permit runs. The
Sunday School League is an organization
OF base ball enthusiasts in twelve of the
principal churches in the District. Including
the foliowing; .s Mount IIeasans conSrsga
Chapel NJ E., Foundry M. E.. Wilson Me-
mortal Presbyterian. Guriey Memorial Pres
byterian. Gulron Temple Memorial Presby-
IL, IL. II
M. E. South, Mt. - Pleasant Methods t,
Fourth Presbyterian and Sixth PresDy-
terrain The organization of the league was
the result of the success OF similar league
which was formed last year, principally as
an experiment with six or eight OF the
churches. The work OF the league during
the last season was such that wnen time
came for the base ball season to open TINS
year arrangements were perfected for
new organization of the churches this year
on the firmer fcundat ton. With this object
in view board Of b Mas Of tse
old league and applications for membership
from other churches were invited AS soon
as a sufficient number OF the appifcaIioEs
were received and directors were apo mt
ed an organization OF the board was Ell
fected and business was immedlateiy
.opened. 1t was decided to have a twelve
club league and after muen eon a.ad t sin
of those are from the old league anu the
six others are the six clubs whose appn-
cations were received first
One Of the difficulties OF the league iast
wear was in the financing OF the enterprise.
THE organization Is not formed Tor
money-making purpose, but TO get young
men into the church ana 20 ihte.es, a.io. =,
which money was secured last year was
by collection at the various games: . Hs
method was most unsatisfactory 70 sne
hoard of directors and was very unpopu.
lar with the spectators and supporters OF
the organization. A great zeal VI 49,
lion was given to this matter this year
and the conclusion was may rTa. sn that
any person contributing dollar TOT the
ieapue's support would be entitled 70 u
sustaining members certihcate ana JUL
,rbe button admits the wearer 70 the
stands to be erected at the Mount Pieas,
ant grounds, and is a very pretty Pisce ~,
work 1t is made of ceiiutoio, GOVERN Wiz
enamel. In the center is a white iozenge:
on which is printed the name ana Ute Oh
the league. About the edge of the iozenge
is a gilt border, broken at eacn sloe, win
a decoration on the principai Q. me -. al,
lean flag Ladies will be admitted 10 all
Glands and seats free, whether they are
sustaining members or not
No member of the board of directors is
player or team manager ms ma go 'n ns
board a deliberative body in every sense OF
tha word and 1t is believed, will help the
game considerably. The rules regarding
membership of the teams are very rigio.
No person will be permitteo 10 pay VII g.,
any team who has not been member IN
good standing of the Sunday school ne
represents four months before the pesln-
ming of the season. and who has not at
SUNDAY school during that four months
during the playing season ANY player VINO
does not comply with these rules Will De
dropped from the league This is declued
change in the rules OF last year, ana was
made for the purpose of holding the league
down to actual bona hdel Sunday school
members. The primary object OF the league
Is to bring young mehs into the cnurcn. II
is claimed that the cffircff which furnishes
entertainment of sort that appeals co the
physical is also betterb adapted to look
after the spiritual wants Of It's members.
The churches of this city have always con-
tanned a large number of enthusiastic base
ballists, but conditions have been such that
the relations of base ball to the church
were not SO clearly defined as to permit
them to indulge their tastes In such man
ner as would help the church, although
this did not permit them to refrain from
playing enjoying the game. few bold
spirits last year made the experiment OF
bringing the game into the church, and 1t
succeeded beyond their hopes. Last year
the rules were rather elastic. Players of
any kind were admitted to the teams, and
sometimes, it has been whispered, the play
ers were professionals engaged for the pur-
pose.
It is to eliminate the possibility of the
recurrence of even rumorS of professional
ism that the stringent rules of the present
league have been adopted This year 1t
is proposed to make the matter Sun
day school proposition entirely. That the
directors were wise to make such a rule
is shown by the fact that a number of
candidates for the various teams joined
the Sunday schools after the first meeting
of the league last winter. and that the
churches which will be directly benefited
from the league have all had increases In
attendance at the Sunday schools
The league this year will have two prizes
for the champion team. One Of these Is
handsome silver cup. the gift of The Even
ing Star Newspaper Company. Last year
The Star presented the league with cup
of similar kind. and 1t was presented
to the team which won the largest number
of games. The cup became the property
of the team winning it and occupies ,.ace
of honor in one of the ante rooms in the
church represented by the team. This year
the cup will also become the property
Of the winning team. and will be presented
at the end of the season. An annaal
presented to the league by large Arm OF
sporting goods manufacturers. This trophy
will be contested for annually, and WIN
only remain In the possession of the win
ming team during the season succeeding the
one in which 1t was won
The members of the board of directors
of the league have worked hard and faith
fully to performed the labor assigned to