Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1905-02-10
OUR BOYS AND OUR PEOPLE.
Something that All Should be Aroused
and Interested in-Some Pert Points.

Something that All Should be Aroused
and Interested in-Some Pert Points.
EDITOR OF THE STAR: Last week |
noticed short paragraph in the
Times Herald about our boys The
gist of it was that the churches might
do something more for the boys and
that the boys are largely growing up
the way it may happen instead of in
the way they should.
We are in hearty sympathy with the
article, only it is not discriminating and
thoughtful as far as it should be. For
examples:
The churches here are all MISSION
CHURCHES, that is to say, not one of
them is wholly supported by our peo-
pie. And moreover, the support that
is Forthcoming from the community is
often grudging and tardy in it's express
sion. This of course makes it hard
struggle for them to meet their ordin.
arg expenses.
AS soon, however, as all our people
awake to the fact that our churches
and schools are the best institutions
we have in any community and then
act on this conviction aud rally to their
support then something will surely
follow.
These are a few of the things:
We shall have Independent churches,
supported by the community in which
they minister to the people and not by
other communities. Then other things
will follow, toe.
The churches will be open seven days
in the week like the saloons, when
some of the support of the last will be
transferred to the first There will be
boys clubs, there will be sewing circles
for girls, free kindergartens, free read-
ing rooms, and like auxiliaries and
forms of practical Christian work.
But, be it understood, all these things
cost at least three things: l) individ-
ual service; (2) time, and (3) money.
At present the churches are limited on
all of these sides, for they have to COM
pete for just these three things with
the great number of lodges, clubs and
other interests.
This is only an exact statement of
the case and suggests the main ques-
tion, "What can we do for our boys as
things now are?'
Much.
Very much indeed il we only get to-
gether.
Someone suggests that we secure the
| Congregational church room and par
lor and fit that up; or another suggests
that we secure the large room OF the
Evans Annex, as that is central and
accessible. We could furnish up either
of these places, light and heat them
and make them a pleasant place of
recreation and improvement for our
boys at not too great cost. Ii all
would join hands, the lodges, the clubs,
the city library people, the churches,
the city fathers, the above plan or
some such would be entirely feasible
and the expense would be nominal
The boys themselves might pay small
membership fee. There would be the
following items in the matter of ex-
pense to meet: Light, fuel, papers,
magazines, some games and athletic
apparatus, rent, and a caretaker or su-
perintendent. This would be about
all. This is merely an outline or sug-
gestion. feel certain, though, we
could do it, because it ought to be done,
if we only could get together and shake
hands on plan. Let us help the boys.
They should not simply go up, but
they should be helped to grow up in
the way we all wish them to 90.
CITIZEN.