New-York tribune., 1907-02-17
MONDAY SHOP MEETING
II Feature of Y. VI. c. h. York
Meeting 1cith Success.

visitor at the underground shop of the sub
way at 130th street and Broadway was sur
prised the other day to have the noon lunch
hour marked not by the raucous factory whistle
but by the strains Of Handel's Largo" played
on violin. The shop workers, the visitor no
ticed, gathered quickly about platform inlpro-
vised from a handcar, on which young girl
playing with much care IL her au-
dence was a group of select critics The work.
men. toll stained. sat down around the player
and began eating their noon meal. Other must
cal selections followed great applause. Next, a
man mounted the platform and began telling
his auditors about book, "The Tale Of Two
Cities" One of the workmen rose and trans
lated into Polak what the speaker telling
in English. Toward the end, the talk about the
book seemed 10 become religious. but in a way
acceptable 10 Jew or Gentile-of any creed or
no creed 1t a talk about the kingdom Of
God, and the meaning of love for fellow men
shown in Sidney Cartons sacrifice. Moro
music followed, and in fifteen minutes from the
start the meeting was over. The men. however.
wanted more music.
Inquiry as to what the meeting was about re-
vealed the fact that it was one of a series of
MONDAY shop meetings which have been given
by the West Side Young Mems Christian Asso-
citation in many places in the last year and a.
half. Other similar meetings. introduced by
singers or instrumental music of various kinds.
"a
shops at 14Sth street and Seventh avenue, and
at 9Sth street and Lexington avenue. Factory
meetings also have been held IN tho works Of
the Auto-piano Company. the Koher & Campbell
Piano Company, Weser Brothers piano factory
and In the Patterson box factory. At these
meetings volunteers translate the brief address
into the languages understood by the polyglot
audiences. One of the translators, workman
in a subway shop. speaks seven languages. and
has been valuable and willing assistant.
The meetings under the direction OF c. T.
Powlison. religious secretary OF the West Side
Young Mems Christian Association. In speak
ing of the work. Mr.. POwlison said:
These meetings are in no sense sectarlan--
they are not conducted with any idea of nduc-
ing the to Join any specific organization
They are entirely democratc-the workers are
under CompuisiOn whatever to listen TO the
speakers If the men want TO come, we are
glad 10 come; II they don't want lis, have
no wish 10 force ourselves on them. Our sole
object is to bring TO men who otherwise might
not search for II, the idea OF larger life-or
ethics OF the Kingdom OF God-so presented as
10 give no religious offence to any one, We do
pend for success on the ability of our speak-
eTs, and send the best have for TIE
workingmen next to college men, make the
most difficult OF audiences They are deep
thinkers, and they want ideas. We give them
speakers who have ideas-Alexander Irvine.
himself formerly working man; the Rev.
George L. McNutt, the dinner pail man: the
Rev. William Wilkinson the Wall Street preach
eI. These speakers know their men, and hold
their interest. That the men like the music
and talks is shown bZ their cordial request for
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