Omaha daily bee., 1911-01-19
CHURCH GYM FOR PUGILISTS
Use Room Near Pulpit that Once Shell.
tered Sunday School.
JOE COsTER TRAINED HERE
Church Authorities say They Try to
Curb the Tendency, AccOrdinE 90
REV. DR.. McIIsh, the Rec
tor In Charge.

. NEW YORK. Jan. 1S-The Trinity cluo
Of Brooklyn. child OF the aristocratic Holy
Trinity parish, one OF the Oldest end wealth
lest OF the heights, is facing big prob
lem. that being to prevent professional
puglists from using Tor training Quarters
the clubs gymnasium. located in what
once was the churchs Sunday school
room directly back OF the pulpit.
More than dozen fighters, including
some Of the best known New York pro
fessionals. who box i'm the star bouts before
New York clubs, are daily engaged in get
ting themselves into condition at the club,
which, outside Of the gymnasium, was once
the home Of the late Rev. DR.. Charles H.
Hall, Holy Trinity rector, and now is a
memorial to that distinguished churchman,
an intimate friend Of Henry Ward Beecher.
The latest OF the prominent fighters TO
get himself into winning condition in the
gymnasium located under the same roof
as the church is Joe" Ccster, the skillful
and good looking young boxer, who made
such a fine showing in Brooklyn Monday
night against abe" Attell, the feather
weight champion, as to astonish ring ex-
perts as we'll as the champion himself 1t
was the Trinity clubs punching bags,
medicine ball. chest weights, dumbbels and
boxing gloves that gave Coster the skill
and the strength to rock Attells head with
jabs and nearly knock the champion out
OF the ring with a savage left swing.
Tendency that way"
Asked whether he was aware of the
fact that a number Of professional pugi-
lists were using the Trinity clubs gymna-
stun for training purposes, and whether
he approved of It, Holy Trinity's rector,
the Rev, j. Howard Melish, said:
II am afraid there is a tendency that
way"
The clergyman who is noted for the
breadth and llberslity Of his views, which
have taken the church to the people OF
Brooklyn instead of making them come to
the church, went on TO say that he did
not wholly approve and yet. he intmated,
II might be better for such morals ring
life might leave a boxer for him to
train in church clubs gymnasium in
stead of at a road house
I'VE do not intend to give the use OF our
gymnasium to pugilists for training quar-
ters" he declared. THE gymnasium and
all of our athletic apparatus is for the
use of our members. They may be motor
men, bank clerks prize fighters or capital
lists
so long as club member COMFORTS
himself a gentleman while inside the
club house we do not inquire how he acts
outside or what his business may be- They
are members and entitled to our privi-
| leges"
Dr. Melsh said that for some time he
had known that the club numbered several
! fighters among its members. One of the
few occasions. he added when there had
been. any grounds for Interference with
/ 40 tra{ Of q
done. I'VE try to curb the training a bit -
he declared, whenever any of the better
known boxers get too much of a crowd
about them in the gymnasium at their
! bouts and so give us grounds"
| See No objection.
| Others connected with the club were
quite frank in declaring that they saw
| absolutely no objection to professional
/ fighters being members and using the
| gymnasium as a place in which to train.
we are not trying to make prigs here
! we are trying to make men and good citi-
zens," he declared. I'VE put all denomi-
nations and men of all occupations on a
par in the Trinity club In our member
ship we have Roman Catholics, Jews, tall
ans, Epscopalians and negroes
! In founding the club as a memorial TO
DIR. Hall. we endeavored to perpetuate his
| cfeeus' we endeavored TO promote good
ideas, one of which was to promote good
citizenship by fostering all activities that
tend to better physical health. II a man
wants to, or needs to, be a professional
fighter it is surely better to have him,
part Of the time, under good influence than
to bar him from such a place as this be-
cause of his occupation"
In the same room where the fighters
exercise before a battle, and in which the
dark ecclesiastical panellings that we're taer e
when the gymnasium was Holy Trinity $
Sunday school room are stin in place:
dances are held on Saturday nights Al
these functions some of the most eff,cIen,
members Of the trough house" committee
that preserves order with a strong hand
, are the same men who on other DAYS
train there for ring work