The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-08-07
SUNDAY SCHOOLS
DESERVE PRAISE
Ball League Has Furnished
Splendid Sport.
OFFICERS EXPRESS VIEWS
Tell The Times Why the Experiment
Has Been Such a
Success.

Nothing has been more significant in
Washington athletics this summer than
the great success Of the Sunday School
Athletic Association Baseball League.
This league was. until Friday. COM
posed Of twelve clubs. and now has
eleven, ST. Adams having dropped out.
It's games have been witnessed b. thou
sands and the ambitious schedule OF
two games a day-one on the White
Lot and one at Mount Pleasant-has not
proved too much.
Baseball of the best and cIeanest sort
under the most favorable conditions has
been furnished the lovers Of decent
sport. and the officials of the league are
to be warmly congratulated upon the
success of their experiment.
The president secretary. and treas
urer have prepared statements for The
Times on the aims and ambitions Of the
league, follows:
President G. A. Provost.
My views regarding the maintenance
Of the baseball league under the auspices
Of the Sunday schools. may be summed
up in few words.
Il regard the enterprise as an expert
ment, bur one which seems warranted.
as a step in the right direction.
Many young men of the age Of our
players have been accustomed to ath-
letic sports in their schools and colleges.
and some have become proficient. At
the close Of their student life they are
loath 10 give up their sports. Here
then, seemed TO be the opportunity for
the Sunday school.
The league was formed 10 enable
young men 10 indulge in their favorite
pastime. the playing of the great Ameri-
can game, under the very best Influences
and environments possible.
we have made an attendance a Sun
day school OF at least six Sundays a
condition precedent TO becoming eligible
10 play ball, and then a 80 per cent at
tendance during the playing season is
required TO maintain eligibility.
our records show something over 200
eligible players certified as such by the
sJHeer.utendents Of the schools, and
every Monday morning a report is made
by the superintendent To one Of our d.
Tectors, showing the attendance Of each
member OF the teams on the preceding
Sunday.
These young men. therefore. are
brought under good Influences, and who
shall say but that the teachings Of the
faithful. hard working Bible class in
struc;ors OF these yOUug men viii show
for good IN their lives.
In addition 70 teaching religious
truths the mission Of the church Is
clearly 10 do anything and everything
which viii tend TO correct abuses, and
elevate the moral tone OF the people in
the interest OF highest citizenship.
Il believe IL TO be as important, II not
more important. 10 put this principle
into operation in dealing with men in
their sports as IN their more serious Oc-
equations. This Is what we are doing,
and IL follows that II by our efforts we
are instiliiug principles OF honesty. fair
md daranrz- and ] haffaK-a We a ~a
and, what Is more. that the young men
feel that we are then We are working
in the right direction, the experiment is
warranted. and the management is
amply repaid for the time and labor
spent"
Secretary ]. E. West.
THE constitution Of the Sunday School
Athletic Association states that the OBJ
ject of the organization shall be the
promotion Of healthfuI athletic exer-
cises for its members, and an auxiliary
70 the Christian work for the young
men connected with the Sunday schools.
For more than nifty years che Young
Mems Christian Association, with its
three objects-the development OF the
young man spiritually, mentally, and
phySically-has demonstrated beyond
question that the conduct OF athletic
work and sports IN connection with
Christian work Is conducive 10 good re-
suits. Many thousands Of young men,
who possibly could not have been other
wise reached. have been thus attracted
to the various assOciat. ons throughout
the country. 1t is safe 10 say that all
have been helped by tn" Influences with
which they came in contact, and many
thousands have In this manner been
brought into the church and made bet
The marvellous growth Of the Y NJ G.
A Is proof OF this. In the United
States there are thousands OF these as
sOCiatiOnS many OF which occupy mag
nificent buildings, representing the in
VeStment of many millions. Here In
Washington as elsewhere. our best
citizens, show, by giving their time
and money that the GOOD accomplished
justifcs the effort ana sacrifice.
SO IL might be said that the Young
Mems Christian Association has paved
the way for development OF activity In
line OF athletic work in connection with
the churches and Sunday schools.
with the latter, the movement Is still
in an experimental stage. Within recent
years gymHasiums have been construct
ed for use in connection with church
work in some or the large cities. During
the last wear the Fourth Presbyterian
Church. Of this city, has opened gym
uasium, which has proved very popular
with both the young men and ladies', as
well as the children Of the Sunday
school The new Mount Pleasant Con-
gregational Church, NpOw nearing com
pletiou, IS provided with q commodious