The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1911-06-16
WHAT A COMMUNITY
OWES TO IT'S BOYS
Theme of Talk by Secretary
Frank S. Mason
OF BUNKER HILL BOYS CLUB
Prominent Community Worker Ad.
dressed Brattleboro People on Com,
mon Sunday Afternoon Threatening
Weather Prevented Large Audience.

Threatening skies were doubtless rcspon.
sihle for the small audience which greeted
Frank ). Mason of Charlestown, Mass, on
the common Sunday afternoon when lac
spoke upon What a Community Owes to
Its Boys, From the time that Principal
T.. H. Smith called the assemblnge To order
until the speaker finished the clouds mdi.
Gated rain aud this probably prevented
many persons from being present. Lett.
singers orchestra rendered several selec-
tions during the meeting and +. c. Adams
sang a solo. George w. Durham read from
the scriptures and Rev r. A. Wells offered
prayer la introducing the speaker Mr.
Smith said that Brattleboro owed Mr. Ma
son an apology for the small audience.
The chairman said that Brattleboro had
been enjoying the experience of planning
something for the other fellow" and that
the people were afforded an opportunity
of listening To a man who could tell them
what the community owes 20 its boys.
In opening his talk Mr.. Mason said that
Bratteb0ro j. confronted with the prob.
lem of doing something for her young men:
that the town is awake TO the responsible
ties connected with the problem: that the
preliminaties have been worked out and
that the time has arrived for serious work
He analysed the community and divided
cials and children. The speaker said that
the boy is an individual without citizen
ship and without power to do for himself.
thereby making II incumbent upon the
community To provide for his welfare in
such n way as will make FOR the building
of character,-physical, mental and moral.
In 'enumerating what the community
owes to the children Mr.. Mason called at
tention TO the need of fresh air and sun.
shine and said that these can be had
through the providing of proper playground
spaces in different parts of the town He
referred to not only the possibility but
the probability Of a congestion OF the popu-
lation of this village within few years
and said that the matter of housing con.
ditlons should be kept continually in mind
as one of the duties of those interested in
community work. He urged the securing
of sites for Fairgrounds with view to
future needs rather than for present use
particularly and said that il must always
he kept in mind 10y community workers
that a boy learns while he plays. He
briefly sketched the standing Of boys in a
community, from 300 years ago when one
was hung for stealing bread. to the present |
day when IN some cities boys are taken in |
TO police court for such slight mis- |
demeanor as throwing stone through a |
window. Though the boy has been given |
stronger position IN the community |
through the efforts of those interested in |
his welfare there remains much to he done,
especially in regard to the enactment OF |
laws. Mr. Mason said there are five phases
of boy life 10 be taken into consideration
by those who would make success of com.
munity work and these phases he said
were the physical. mental, moral. social
and spiritual sides of yonth. lie said |
4 bat Al,
physical needs OF the boy, reading rooms
and a library mean the upbulding of the
mental side and games provide for the so
clal phase The spiritual side is amply II
provided for by the various churches OF
any community
Now, look ahead" said the speaker.
The community ought to provide places
for men and boys who are obliged 20 loaf
upon the street corners. Unless suitable
places are provided for this element OF the
population the question Of what the com
munity can do for its boys and men remains
and becomes a problem which
,annot be disposed of. Mr.. Mason re-
erred to conference he had Saturday
'vening with those interested in the pro-
)osed boys club movement in Brattleboro
md cOmplimented the men back of the
movement for the zeal manifested In
losing he urged the townspeople to "back
up the efforts of those endeavoring to
olive the question of what the community ]
yves to its boys.
Saturday evening Mr.. Mason, who is
ecretary Of the Bunker Hill Boys club of
Mass, met number of men ]
in boys work in Clarke c. Fits. '
fice and told what he is doing with an G
organization of boys in one of the suburbs G
t Boston He also outlined briefly his |
york at the close of the regular service at 4
he Centre Congregational church Sunday. c