The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-21
"Shop Bible CIassts' Will be
 IOaugura'td Soon
WILL HELP THE CHURCHES
Bible Classes VIII Be Organized In Various Portions of the City to Meet In
 Homes.

Numerous improvements are being made in the methods of conducting the work of the Young Mems Christian Associa- ton in this city. When all the contem- plated changes have been inaugurated and are working successfully the system here will be considered model in every way.
 J. S. Bridges, who recently made a close investigation of the work in the religious department of the Cleveland Y. NJ. c. A. is putting into operation several new ideas which he obtained in that city.
 One of the new plans to be inaugurated Is what is to be known as the Shop Bible Classes It is proposed to start series of Bible classes in many of the machine shops, foundries and railway shops. At some convenient place in the shop, where the men are in the custom of congregating at the lunch hour, one of the members of the association will con- duct Bible class for fifteen minutes or half an hour.
 The officers of the Y. M. c. A. have ai- ready been given permission to have the meetings in several of the largest shops in the city, and the plan will be tried in these places this week. After the class in each shop has become well organized 1t is proposed to have it conducted by some employe of the shop whom the class shaA elect This plan will be practicable only where the better class of mechanics are employed.
 Mir Bridges stated yesterday that the purpose of the plan was not to draw members into the association, but to reach large class of educated men who for various reasons do not attend church. The Shop Bible Class has been tried in other cities and has worked admirably.
 Another Feature.
 Another new feature to be inaugurated in the religious department this week is system of "Neighborhood Bible Glasses" These classes will be organized in various parts of the city, and will meet once or twice every week. Some house in each neighborhood will be selected as the meet ing place for the class In that vicinity. For the present no more than six of these classes will be organized, but later the number will be increased. The pur- pose of the second feature Is very sim liar to that of the shop classes. with the exception that in the latter plan the as- sociatlon expects to work not only among the people who do not attend church, but also among the churchgoers. The social feature will also constitute an important l part of the neighborhood classes. 1 A plan of aiding the churches in the district will be inaugurated next week. A committee of ten of the active work CTS of the association will go to the churches in the district and on certain nights, accompanied by several mem bers of the church, will canvass the nelghborhood of the church In the eff fort to increase the church attendance.
 This plan will be given it's initial trial next Sunday night, when MT. Bridges and several members of the Young Mems l Christian association will cooperate with the members of the East Birmingham Baptist church in a canvass of that su- burb for the purpose of bringing out the people. All three of the systems are designed not only to benefit the asso- ciation, but also to aid the churches in the work of reaching the people who are not regular churehgoers.
 Night School Term.
 The Young Mems Christian assocla- ton will begin the fall term early in September with an exceptionally strong faculty. The following are the courses and the instructors: English, Charles A. Brown, principal of the Henley school; arithmetic. A. A. Lyon, prin- cpal of the South Highlands school; higher mathematics, P. s. Haley, for merly an instructor at Auburn; penman- ship and business correspondence. W. N. Smith. principal of Massey Business col lege; bookkeeping and accounting l.. LeMay, bookkeeper for the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company; chemistry, Harry Byrne, chief chemist of the Dmmck Pipe works; electricity, Sam Ashton, of the Birmingham Rail- way, Light and Power company; me- chanical drawing, Mr. Cox, chief drafts man of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railway company; architectural draw ing, MT. Martin, of the firm of Martin 4S Miller. The tuition will be from s to s6 per term.
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