Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-08

IIOut VI LIE otAScs Wits O6Hln0 them W0S
massed choir, and to one side were
piano and the quartet. In every way the
endeavor was made to have the audience
feel sense of personal participation In
the meetings.
The subjects treated during the twenty
meetings covered a wide range. For
Illustration. one night was given over to a
discussion of the public health of the
city. Physicians told of the fight on
tuberculosis and other diseases, and the
health ofiicer threw upon a screen pic
lures of local bad tenement conditions,
accompanying them with timely warn
ings. The problem Of unemployment oc-
cupied one evening, the speakers being
an unemployed man who told of his
search for work: a large employer who
told how difficult it was to provide work
in a time of business depression. and
speaker who explained in detail just what
the organizations of betterment in Ro-
chester were doing to cope with destitu-
ton.
Gov. Glenn Makes Address.
A debate on what to do with the saloon.
between the attorney Of the German
American Alliance. who advocated more
stringent regulation, and former Gov.
Glenn of North Carolina. who recon-
mended prohibitions; two evenings of dis
cussion upon phases of socialism. two
evenings given over to explanations of the
labor movement. one of them addressed
by Raymond Robins of Chicago; two
evenings to phases OF school work. with
pictures. and, finally, two evenings of ear
nest heart to heart talk about the
churchs place and work in society, with
urging to outsiders to get in and push.
One Of the first things discovered was
that faith without works did not impress
congregation of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. And
oyn1n mt h,1rn nnnnPd
This consisted OF an office In which the
man seeking work could leave his name,
address, claims and references. Where
possible the claims and references were
investigated. Employers were asked 70
draw on these waiting lists and some were
persuaded as social service to make
temporary work for especially needy ap-
plicants. No charge was made by the
were registered and more than 100 men
were placed at work This required some
paid help additional to the secretary, but
the expense was small Out of this simple
plan of a free intelligence Office for the
unemployed is now growing a movement
to federate the charities of Rochester and
focus all betterment activities into CEN
trail clearing house of information.
Attendance Inspiring.
The attendance was inspiring and the
interest keen from the beginning. The
smallest audience on the stormiest night
was larger twice over than the average
Sunday evening audience in any church
Of equal capacity in the city. and on most
occasions people by hundreds were turned
away. No way was found to measure
accurately the proportion OF non-chuRch-
goers, but careful estimate places 1t at
so per cent The total attendance ex-
ceeded 10000; the number Of separate
persons ministered to is reckoned at 10000.
Inspired by this example, number OF
churches put new interest into their even
ing services and gained In attendance.
SO far as known the attendance In no
church was depleted.
The Ministerial Association. at first nn-
decided. at length Endorsed the p. s. e.
plan with emphasis. and sent to the final
meeting representative on Its behalf to
give greeting and testimony, and to In
vite ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS in the audience to
connect themselves with any church most
convenient to them, an invitation since
accepted in number OF instances.
In some respects the most hopeful thing
| about this series Of theater services was
the keen interest and pride taken in them
by the labor organizations.
One of the labor leaders wrote: I'VE
have demonstrated that men in different
walks of life can meet and act in the
| best interests of the entire community
without treading on any ones toes. Mem
bers of our committee have become
broader. more enlightened and more char
liable in their opinions. 1t has been
demonstrated that member of the pull
pit can be a leader of men In all walks
| of life"
Beginning frankly as an experiment,
the Peoples Sunday Evening has SO sig
nally demonstrated its place and work
| in the community that 1t is to be con-
| tinued and enlarged. The decision to this
effect was unanimous among ministers
/ a nd roan0herS ~ the advisory too
and 1t was confirmed with enthusiasm
| when submitted to the final audience.
Moreover, as a means of keeping in touch
during the summer. ministerial visits are
/ to go on. and there is to be at least one
picnic in a park. Later the hope is that
a way may be found to cast this useful
ness into a form of permanent orgahza-
| ton. perhaps league for social service