The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-12-08

the entire theatre-going people in
the homes of Mankato.
DR.. Buswell said that it could be
taken up gradually, and everybody
must help by throwing open their
homes. People are becoming so
dwarfed intellectually that they can
not furnish other amusement than
cards and dancing. Some of the
positions taken in the dances are
such as lead not only girls but boys
to their eventual ruin. This is a
matter so serious that it is most
important. The speaker told how
different women had entertained large
numbers OF students so successfully
that all present long remembered it.
Men who take up personal evangelism
should shut their ears to stories
that are at all off color.
DR.. Buswell said that he would
return to Minneapolis on the after
noon train, rejoicing that the con-
vention had the determination to
meet the problems, and could do so
with the wisdom, power and persever-
ance of the spirit of the Almighty
After another song. the subject Of
Boys Work. was taken up by Rev.
Ernest Fagenstrom of ST. Paul, who
spoke upon it and later conducted
conference. This subject was not
taken up until after four p. m, as
the public school teachers had eX-
pressed a desire to be present
Mr.. FagenstrOm said that 1--WE
sometimes lead the boys into wrong
doing by following a niggardly policy
toward them financially You should
visit all the theatres before shooting
off about them,' he said. They are not
all bad, but most of the moving
pictures may be. The thing to do is
to set about it and make them good,
for the boys like to see them
Ashamed of Many Fathers.
The speaker said that he was
ashamed of many fathers, some OF
whom are harsh and unsympathetic
The boy of today is involved in
cataract and turmoil equal to Niagara.
1T is the Christian church that we
must look to, to help the boy. Most
boys are lonesome in the church,
but not in the community. Organize
boys and girls department in
the Sunday school. There should be
officers to provide the things that
boys want, with a librarian who will
provide books that will interest boys
who have red cOrpuscles in their
blood, not the effeminate kind.
Boys get SO everlastingly tired OF
hearing Don't, don't, don't, dinged
into their ears that they begin to
wonder whether there is anything that
they are permitted to do The Sun.
day school can have cabinet, with
one representative from each class
All the necessary things can be done
with limited equipment. If one church
takes an advanced step. the others
should not oppose it, but should du-
plicate it. Then branch out and feder-
ate the clubs, but all comes from
the Sunday schools. Let there be
stated opportunity for socials
why do not the boys marry the
girls in their church, asked the
speaker. 1.-The church socials are
such dreary things that the boys go
elsewhere for amusements, and meet
girls there. The social events must
be made interesting" he said i'm
answer
The speaker said that his plan
would work best in the smaller vii
lagos, replying to a question from
a village doubter
Rev. Fagenstrom passed around
slips with pointed questions, for the
audience to answer, and gathered
these up, with numerous answers
some of which he read and COM
mented upon.
Some of the Questions Asked.
What are the duties of pastor
toward his f1ock?" I'm your judgment,
what per cent of boys are attending
the Sunday SCHOOL," What is the
duty of the church to it's boy mem
bers" Name one good book that has
helped you in your work with boys"
''Why are boys more confidential
with their mothers than their
fathers?" why are there more
women than men teachers?' How
does your brotherhood interest itself
in the practical work with boys?"
What do you understand by the word
'adolescence'?" How far should COM
pulsiOn be used in having boys go
to Sunday SCHOOL," were some OF
the questions.
The speaker wished that every
was Christian, that he
could come and explain sex problems
to the boys, the same as he enters
the home when there is sickness,
rather than let the boy learn from
other boys who may be bad.
Some of the men in the churches
are adopts as teachers, and should
take Sunday school classes 1t is
to make the Bible in
teresting to boys. Parts of it might
be explained and made interesting,