Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-21
GLASS GIVES BANQUET
INFORMAL FUNCTION AT CAL
VARY SUNDAY SCHOOL HOUSE.
Responses to Toasts by Prominent
Churchmen-Address by Prof.
Mitchell Carroll.

The members of the Vaughn class of Cal
vary Baptist Church held their annual In
formal banquet last night in the Sunday
school house adjoining the church. Follow
ing reception the party adjourned to the
banquet room, where, while the menu was
being discussed music was furnished by
the West End Mandolin Club. Mr.. A
Owen Penny rendered several solos and
E. Clarence Rice jr., gave several selec-
tions on the mandolin.
The POSTMASTER, Mr. Arthur Copeland,
called upon the following to reply to
toasts: DIR. Grant S. Barnhart, IA Church
Home" w. w. Green, Our Alumni" j.
W. Bell, Vacation" and B. c. Getsinger.
Happy Hooligan." c. C. Hosmer and A.
A. Protzman were also called upon for
short talks. The principal toast was re-
sponded to by Prof. Mitchell Carroll of Co
lumbar University, a deacon of the church
and constructor of the Vaughn class. HIS
topic was, why do young men attend
church,
There has been considerable discussion
of this theme of Iate years" he said, much
investigation has been made into the aver
age of church attendance, and many ex-
plantations have been given for the lack OF
the presence of young men at church service
DR.. CreSSey in his Interesting book, Inc
Church and Young Men, states that out of
14250,OUO young men in our country be-
tween the ages of sixteen and thlrty-hVe
years, 9G25,Gt0, or 81 per cent of the total,
are outside of church membership, and that
fully one-half of the aggregate number are
wholly outside of church fellowship and in
fuence. From the reports of forty pas
tors he infers an average attendance or
young men equal to about 20 per cent OF
the membership, and on this basis be gath
ers that on the estimated basis of 2J,C3ooCO
church members in the country, there are
nearly G,003,OG0 that do not attend church
services.
But whatever conditions may exist else
where, we know that at Calvary Church
there is no dearth of young men attending
church services"
Continuing, the speaker gave the number
of persons in attendance for the different
months.
Young Mans Golden Era.
There is something about our service
which attracts young men, Why, then, do
young men attend church? To answer this
question fairly, let first consider the
psychological condition of the young man.
This is the young mans golden era in the
worlds work. Never did young manhood
count for much. Salaries for young
men of unquestionable ability and integri-
ty were never so high, and his response
bilities never so great. Young men, too,
recognize the possibilities of life that me-
diocrity spells failure, that success de-
ponds most largely upon their own eXer-
tions. Hence, with the exception of the
few who are contented with sloth and
SenSuality, young men are inspired with the
ambition to be good for something. Every
young fellow deserves above all things to
be a man. Early manhood is, in conse-
quence, a period of struggle, of storm ana
stress. The young man is gradually awak-
enng to a knowledge of himself, of the
world about him, of the spiritual forces
that control man and the universe He
recognizes two tendencies in his own ma
ture one leading downward the other lead
ing upward.
young men attend church." Prof. Car
roll explained, because in the church are
influences. whether fully recognized or
not. which give them strength to combat
the downward tendencies of their nature
and environment, and lead them into a
truer and higher manhood"
The speaker defined the influences as,
.goodfellowshp,' the PASTOR public
worship and the message from the pull
pit.
The Office of Goodfellowship.
In explaining what fellowship had to do
with young men attending church, Prof.
Carroll said that 1t was because Of the
yearning in the heart for association, for
friendship. for living in touch with his
kind. Hence frequently" he said, ut is
the young ladies who first attract some
young men to church. Then, too, some
kindred souls of his own sex frequently are
the first influence to lead young man into
the Sunday school and church."
I'm living church." the speaker de-
clared, cit is the spirit of the pastor that
finds place in the heart of every member
of the church and congregation, and quick
ems the entire organization. If he is a
pastor who grips and inspires young men,
the church is filled with them, whether
members not"
The speaker said that a church is popu-
lar with young men because the pastor is
above all a man and that personality counts
above all things.
"A pastor" he continued who has him.
self passed through the struggles of early
manhood, who knows its problems, who is
in touch with the vital questions facing the
individual and humanity, and who knows
how to apply the gospel to them who is
himself brave and strong and candid and
courageous, is sure to have large follow
ing among young men,
Mr.. ]. Cranstoun Laurie was chairman
of the committee having the banquet in
charge.