The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-19
BIRMINGHAM BOY WORK IS NOTICED City Is Doing Her Part in
 Forward Movement THE BOY PROBLEM As Men and Religion Forward Move ment Sweeps Over the Country
 Boys Are Most Eager to
 Take It Up
THE BOY PROBLEM

 l ing through the continent of North America, that one of their principal lines of instruction and inspiration should be that concerning work for boys and work with boys.
 That this boy question Is a question of tremendous interest to the thoughtful people of every community is shown by the fact that in city after city all over the vest where the campaigns are in progress, nothing is attracting more attention, and it is uppermost even in the eastern cities, where the campaigns will not be held for months to come.
 More than 1000 active business men were present at Men and Religion Forward Movement dinner recently given at De- troit The chairman of the dinner struck the keynote of the entire Detroit cam paign when he declared, We want the boysw and a programme was soon aft erward laid out which, if carried to its conclusion, may mean much for the fu- ture prosperity and wellbeing of the city of Detroit.
 Boys By Hundreds
 At about the same time when the men of Michigan were considering the boy problem there was a great gathering of boys themselves at Trenton, N. J.-4o0 of them, and all under IS. They came as representatives of grammar schools. high schools. preparatory schools, and other organizations throughout the state, and were assembled in a state conference to discuss from various viewpoints the re- lation of the adolescent boy in the effort for better boyhood, and also in what way they could have part in the Men and Re- ligion Forward Movement.
 The state committee of the Young Mems Christian association took the initiative in bringing together representatives of tine numerous organizations which work with boys, and more than 10000 youths and young men were represented. Fully one half were from Sunday schools. Boy Scout organizations, Brotherhoods, Knights of King Arthur, Knights of the Holy Grail, Boys Brigades and other societies. At a great banquet, held in the First Presbyterian church, various questions were discussed by the lads present, the discussions following addresses by older men on such subjects as ''The Mind of a Boy,' and, The Preent Day Demand for Older Christian Boys in the Com munity.'
 It is significant that few days pre- vious to this conference of older boys In Trenton, N. J., great meeting of boys of another class was held in Grand Rapids, Mich, when more than 1000 youngsters, who sell newspapers on the streets, met for their first happy hour" of this season. The little chaps filled the main floor and the gallery of the auditorium and overfiowed upon the stage. There was not girl or a woman or man in the audience. Noth- ing but active, alert earnest little "newsies."
 Work in Birmingham
 From Trenton and Grand Rapids to Birmingham, Ala, Is a long jump, but far down there in that southern state the boy problem is just as prominent as it is in the north and in the east. A recent issue of the Birmingham Age Herald says that work for boys in con- nection with the Men and Religion For ward Movement was begun at g. meet ing which was electrified by a straight forward talk given by an 18-yearo boy who declared that what the boys of Birmingham need is that we give them Jesus Christ" This lad who spoke is a member of the Clean Life class" of Birmingham, and following his declaration as quoted above, he said: There are many boys and many kinds and classes of boys. They are naturally divided into street boys, bus mess boys and school boys, but an- other diviion which is even more nat ural is the saved and those who are unsaved.
 The boy of the street Is just as good hearted as any other fellow He appre- ciates what you do for him and he will appreciate 1t if you will bring Jesus to him. That is the real need of the boys of Birmingham.
 The excuse of the working boys is that he keeps late hours at business and is too tired on Sunday to come out. We must make the Sunday school attractive so that it will fill the boy with zeal that he may come out and enjoy the blessed privilege of worshipping his Savior.
 Boys want to have a good time, but l believe in having a clean good time. That is the way to make a strong, true Chris tan. The essential thing is to give them Jesus Christi
 Judge Black of Birmingham spoke of the importance of the silent years and ad- vanced the Boy Scout motto, Be Pre- pared
 Campaign of Education
 As result of this meeting of boy teach CTS and leaders it was decided to carry the campaign of education and inspiration into every section of Greater Birming. ham during the next few weeks. The section meetings will be attended by men teachers of boys, prospective mer teachers of boys and the boys themselves The programme will include practical sug- gestions for work with boys as we'll a. entertainment for the young fellows. This is the greatest work in tn, world" said Chairman John Taylor, wht presided over the meeting. "A boys lift | is worth more than a mans life, becaus, there is more of it.
 | In the course of an exhaustive review of the eight day campaign of the Mer and Religion Forward Movement, tn. 1 Grand Rapids, Mich, Press consider, carefully just what impression was mad, upon the city and the surrounding. towns l According to this unprjudiced secular lnewspaper, vast results have been ac complished, and though 'flnis has beer written upon the programme of the rous ing meetings and stirring addresses onl, the beginning has been reached in tn, {! forward movement in Grand Rapids.
 Effect on Grand Rapids | "Never before in Grand Rapids or 1T the state of Michigan has religious movement of this magnitude been insti l tuted and at this time there appears lit l tie doubt that it's effects will bring am pie reward to the men who have worked so hard in making it the success 1t hal l proved"
 As a result of the eight days cam pajgn Grand Rapids has walked up t, the importance of the boy problem an. 1 the foiioM.ng resolutions have been adopt l ed as a line of work to be carried ol 1 by hoys. under the guidance of youth 1 and young men:
 1 First: That local conference be helt annually for older boys in Grand Rapids
 Second: That an older boys trainin l class be organized.
 l Third: That each church organize it