Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-10
THE ALOYs|US CLUB
Model Organization Of Young
Men in the Church.
HISTORIC QUARTERS
ORGANIZED UNDER DIRECTION
OF REV. EUGENE MCDONNELL.
Has Broad Purposes and is Said to BE
Growing in Usefulness-List
of Officers.

Among the many young mems clubs OF
! Washington, past and present, few have
/ shown any more activity than the Aloysius
| Club Of st. Aloysius' Roman Catholic
Church and its predecessors in that parish.
| AS long as st. Aloysius parish has been in
| existence there has been club in connec-
| ton with it for the social and moral bet
terment of its young men. all of which have
| had their full share of influence for good.
| 1t is interesting circumstance that all of
| these clubs have held their premier meet
| ings in the same hall, and that this struct-
| ure is still standing, landmark in Itself
| of many momentous occasions In the his
tory Of clubs at this church. The Aloysius
| Club, with characteristic enthusiasm has
| in a comparatively short existence made
| commendable strides, and since it's organi-
cation in 1904 has grown from member
| ship of forty to 40.
| There has been, as stated, number of
| clubs in connection with st. Aloysius
| Church, the most prominent in this lat
| ter generation being the Young Mems
| Catholic Club which had a highly success
| full career, but owing to the death of many
| of the older men of the organization a plan
| of reorganization was carried into effect,
and it resolved itself into the Young Mems
I Institute. This went out of existence in
| 1897, after number of years of benefcent
| influence In the parish. From then until
| 1904 a regular organization of young men
was not maintained, but instead impromptu
| gatherings were held in the parish half on
| occasions. and in effect there was whole
| some spirit of unity in athletic and other
| affairs.
! On the assumption of the pastorate of st.
| Aloysius Church by Rev. F. X. Fink, ST..
| he recognized the need of more unity and
| concrete good-fellowship among the men
| of the parish, and therefore cast about for
"a or,tx sNfxu hi nI,
| the AloysiuS Club is the result. Rev. Eu-
| gene Mcdonnell, 81, of Fordham College,
| New York, had proved successful in the
| formation of young mems clubs and at the
| request of Father Fink he was removed to
| this city in order to take up such work in
| the interest of the new club at st. Aloysius
On his arrival in this city Father McDon-
Eell entered heartily into the spirit of his
| undertaking, and on the first meeting night
| there were forty enthusiastic men present.
temporary organization was effected and
| committee constitution and bylaws
| appointed, consisting of the following:
| David M Thomas, temporary chairman;
! Robert j. Quinn. temporary secretary; DIR.
William p. Keneally, Thomas ]. Donovan
| Marshall l.. Smith. This committee report
| ed promptly. the meeting being held in the
| same month, and their action was ratified
| unanimously At this same meeting Off
| GERS were elected, and the organization
| placed on a practical and working basis
| Rapid Growth.
| II was decided TO make the organization
broad in every sense, for not only was it
designed for the moral and intellectual adj
| vancement of the members themselves, but
| to take under its patronage the education
| of youth through the instrumentality of
| night schools. This purpose will, it is said,
| De adhered TO-, and since the club has
| grown rapidly in numbers and influence
| thls work Will be resumed next winter with
| greater Vlgor than ever. Lectures read
hnl
| were stated to be particular aim while
| IT was also desired to make the organiza ton
a representative one from an athletic stand
! point.
| The initial election of officers resulted in
| the choice of Rev. F. X. Fink. ST. presi
| dent ex-oficio; Rev. Eugene Mcdonnell.
moderator David NJ Thomas, president;
| Df. William p. keneally, vice president:
THOMAS J. Donovan, second vice president:
Ro5ert ]. Quinn, recording secretary:
| ChaIies Colliere, financial secretary; C.
| Louis Eeklor, corresponding secretary and
| BOARD OF governors composed of NJ ].
Leaay, Vincent Silento, Harry l. Quinn
owen A Hart and Francis T. Hurley
l. is highly interesting circumstance
| that all the clubs in connection with St
! Aloysius parish have had their beginnings
IN the same hall, which is still in use, and
IS hailowed by many happy memories. 1t
| Is row an unpretentious and weather.
! heaten frame structure, about 125x5O and
stands in the rear of Gonzaga College and
Han Here the Aloysius Club has its ath-
| nasium and bowling alleys being complete
and up-to-date in every respect Like its
! predecessors, the Aloysius Club had It's
, origin In this place, which bears 4 unime
| history IN Itself
During war times, when a fair for the
| Denelt OF he church was undc- discussion
| the selection of place to mold 1t was a
| matter of considerable moment and the
! paucity of suitable halls for such a purpose
! made 1t necessary 10 construct a building
It was located on the grounds attached 10
m 90
| west between 9Th and 10th streets-and at
| the time of its construction is stated to
| have been considered a great plec.. of work
| Later ii sery ed a very useful uurDos. as a
| scene of acaucmic and other events and
| on the erection of St Aloysius Church was
| removed 10 that property by easy stages
Even after reaching the square bounded
| by | and X and North Capitol ard 1st
! streets this historic gymnasium was not
! allowed to go undIsturbed but as the sue
| cessive necessities of ground space arose it
| was moved from place to place, vail now
| its weather-beaten but sturdy Tin be~s are
| shadowed by more modern examples of cen
| structlve Skill.
The Old Hall.
| For the use to which the old hall Is put
| at present IT is in a splendid state of pres
| ervation. The Aloysius Club athletes night
ly swing by trapeze from its sturdy rafters
exercisers are attached to the walls, and
the nocturnal practice Of the clubs eff
| cient bowlers makes no apparent dissolu-
| ton of it's foundation or superstructurc.
In addition TO the quarters already men,
| toned, there are at the clubs disposal In
| the basement of the Gonzaga School game
rooms, pool and billiard tables reading
| tables and host of other incdentals usual
| in an up-to-date club for young men.
! The club made its formal bow to its
! friends on October 26, 1904, In the Gonza-
! ga Theater, when dance program was en-
! joyed. Shortly after James Young a
| Shakespearean actor, gave selected read
| ing before the club, and November 3 of that
| year a smoker was given. The Glee Club
| and orchestra are the particular features of
| the organization, and have done much to
! attract many warm friends and admirers
! to the clubs standard.
Members of Glee Club.
| The members of the Glee Club are f. J.
Bergin, w. B. Crawford, o. A. Hart. D. ].
/ Nash, W. /. Plant, w. N Ward, first ten
| orc. II T Rrady f |, Cahill O. B. Corri-