The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-06-23


valuable kind of religion but it is to
be feared that too much of the latter
kind exists for the good OF the
churches. Nevertheless there is great
reason for encouragement in the prog
ress that is being made in making
this world better place for the men
and women, and little children who
have to live in it. While suffering
and mise-y and crime still exist in
enormous volume, great deal is be-
II ing done every year to reduce these
evils and every year shows ncreas
ing gains for the forces of right
eousness.
While we are more familiar with
the work done in this country than
| elsewhere, it is interesting and val
liable to consider what other coun-
tries are doing. In Birmingham,
England, the home of Joseph Cham
/ berlain, fifty-three clubs for boys and
girls have been organized, thirty
seven for junior boys twelve for ju-
nior girls and four for senior boys,
the last named class having a mem
bership of 1,400. and the number is
increasing rapidly.
Boys and girls camps were held
and it is stated that lis is impossible
to speak too strongly of the good in
Ihuence which the summer camp eX-
ercises over the children; it enables
the helpers to get INTO closer touch
with them, and moreover gives them
glimpse of orderly healthy, we'll
disciplined home life.
I In report on the work done in
Birmingham, Vice Consul Arthur V.
Blakemore says:
The Street Children's Union was
i formed about four years ago to bring
personal influences on the slum chill
dren while still impressionable and
capable of responding to character
forming influences. This is done by
dealing with children in groups suf-
ficiently small to help establish init
mate relationships with those who
are trying to aid them. A network
of small clubs each with three or four
# helpers, are given charge of 20 or
80 boys or girls. Admission to these
clubs is limited to children under 10
Years of age, but they stay on until
they leave school and are ready to
enter upon regular employment when
they are gradually transferred to a
neighboring senior club, where under
somewhat different conditions. the
personal relationships already estab-
lished are maintained and develop
ed"
The Country Holiday Association
sends from 1900 to 1000 poor chill
dren into the country for two weeks
every year, preference being given to
sickly and the poorest children.
Those who can afford it contribute
from few cents to one dollar a week
toward the holiday
There are six first class and six
second-class municipal swimming
baths in Birmingham the latter being
> reserved two mornings week for
: school boys and one morning a week
for school girls.
= Pentland's Robins is an associa-
ton which provides day outings in
the country for slum children in the
summer, a visit to a place of enter
tainment during the winter, and at
, Christmas time Christmas trees.
} This association is supported wholly
] by voluntary contributions and many
thousands of children are benefited
annually.
Five or six years ago winter clubs
with free admission were establisher
2 in the poorest and most congested
2 parts of Birmingham, and the move
| ment has proved immensely success
! Iul For this purpose the Birming-
i ham corporation loans the four swim
e ming baths that were ordinarily clos
t ed during the winter months. The
= four clubs thus formed were attended
q last winter every night by 1000 or
1900 persons and more than 100000
= games were played. A small charge
is made for some OF the games
o Saturday evening concerts, attended
q by 500 to 600, form one of the most
popular features of the club work.
r The Sunday Lecture Society pro-
4 vides Sunday evening addresses by
popular lecturers, upon any subject
o of interest, not political and not re-
O ligious, and music. Admission is
free; but the society has about 60C
mebers paying 60 cents and there is a
4 collection at each lecture. These lee
lures are held fortnightly in the Town
4 Hall of Birmingham, and in ten coun-
7 Gil schools during the winter. Al
q twelve meetings in the Town Hall
n 25,500 people were present and at lie
E meetings in the council schools the
o attendance was about $4,000.
. Thus it will be seen what an ad-
, vance has been made in the last few
4 lyears in making life pleasanter, more
> healthful and more wholesome. I'm
Il lproving physical conditions is long
step toward improving moral condi-
lions and is a very practical kind OF
o Christianity.
A TOWN SCRAPBOOK.
In q recant editorial under the can