The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-27
', M, [, A, METHODS PUT IN OPERATION First Shop Bible Class 0rganiz- ed at |. 6 N. Shops PURPOSE OF THE PLAN NeIghborhood Class Will Be Formed Friday Night at Home of Robert
 A. Gllbert-Shop Class
 Success.

The new methods recently adopted by the Young Mems Christian association in the religious department are being put into operation. The shop Bible class system was started last Friday afternoon, and the neighborhood classes will be begun next Friday night.
 The first shop Bible class was held Friday afternoon at the Louisville and Nashville shop. and was said to be very successful. J. s. Bridges, director of the religious department of the Y M. C.. A, taught lesson from the Scripture and conducted the services. Walter H. Ma kin led the singing.
 The meeting was held at the noon hour while the employees were off for lunch. Over one hundred men listened atten- lively to the services and the promoters of the movement say they are greatly encouraged at many expressions of ap- proval which were made to them by the employees of the shop. The services can consume only thirty minutes. and for this reason the lesson is limited to ten or twelve minutes MT. Bridges states, however, that an interesting and instruc- tive lesson can be taught in that time.
 Other Glasses to Be Formed.
 As soon as the class at the Louisville and Nashville shops is well organized similar class will be formed at the shops of the Alabama Great Southern Railway company. As soon as the class at the last named place is put on it's own sup port one will be organized at another shop, and continuous chain will be formed.
 The meetings of the class at the Louis vile and Nashville shops will be held in the blaming room, and sufficient facilities have been provided for the accommodate ton of the members of the class.
 MT. Bridges when speaking of the work yesterday, said:
 ..The object of the movement is to in terest men in spiritual things and in Bible study, and eventually to get every man that can be persuaded to enroll in the church of his choice We hope to enlist a number of strong men in the classes, and I believe that in a short time we will have several classes in shops here, and all of them on a firm footing. The meetings will be held every Friday at noon. and l believe that we will reach great many men who do not attend church and finally succeed In bringing them into some church.
 Neighborhood Class.
 The first of the neghborhood Bible classes will be organized next Friday night at the home of Robert A. Gilbert. near Gilbert station on the Gate City car line.
 These classes will also be conducted by MT. Bridges, and it is thought will do as great work as the shop classes, but in different way The plan to be adopted is first to interest the members of the association and others who take an in- terest in religious work, and then through them reach the men of the neighborhood, who arc not Christians.
 The object of the nelghborhood classes can best be given in the words of MT. Bridges, when he said yesterday:
 Purpose of the Plan.
 We propose by the neighborhood i classes to create more general interest in church work, and at the same time | promote the study of the Bible in the | home. Through the nelghborhood classes, 1 the shop classes and the mems meetings we hope to reach in time nearly every [ self-respecting man In Birmingham. This | end cannot be attained in a few months, l or even a year. A number of strong l leaders who are willing to devote several | hours each week to the work, must be ! found and trained. The association here i Is on a strong foundation and in req sonable length of time will accomplish 1, the purpose of these classes. The plan ! when successfully carried out will be a | great help to the churches. The asso- ciation is Just beginning to effect the | purpose for which 1t was formed, when l it succeeds in aiding the churches in the | work of gaining souls"
 The Gilbert class will take up a syste- matic study of the "Idfe of Christi on a chronological basis. It is intended to make the meetings as informal as possi- ble, and emphasize the good fellowship feature which. the officers state. has been an important feature In the success of the association.