The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-11-03
SEES The PITFALLS
Cheap Shows. Profanity and
Cigarettes TOpeka's Menace.
Report on Social Conditions Is
Compiled.
FEW MEN AT CHURCHES
Only 81 Per Cent Attend in the
Capital City.
The Total Attendance Is Fifty
Eight Hundred.

Profanity cigarettes and cheap
shows are the peculiar temptations 70
which boys OF Topeka are particularly y
subjected, is the opinion OF L. y
Whittemore, assistant state supefln-
tendent of public instruction.
This; is brought out in report
which forms portion OF the soclal
survey of Topeka, which secretary
Cuy T. Justis has been experimenting,
and which was sent off to the national
Headquarters of the Men and Rehgloh
Movement today
The portion of the survey that deals
with the churches, shows that IN TO
peka and Oakland there are SO places
of worship, including 8 prominent de-
nominations, with membership III
the Protestant churches of 1921, OIL
witch 5.563 are women; 3.451 men;
no bows between the ages OF Il ana
IS and 1883 girls between the same
ages. several churches did not give
their figures and perhaps z,oVO couiu
be added to the total
The churches are distributed among
the denominations that reported aS
follows: Baptist, 5; Catholic =
Christian. Z: Congregational, 4; DUNK
Presbyterian, 10; Christ, Scientist,
United Brethren, 2 Unitarian, 1; sew
enth Day Adventist, /; Lutheran, o
M E. Is: Mormon, /, (Oaklana-l
The total attendance in the sunday
schools Of all but few of the small
Protestant churches is $500, OF Whlch
81 per cent only are men.
The attendance Sunday morning
at church services at the Prolest an
churches. with the exception of a few
of the smaller places of worship, is
$500. the percentage of men being but
Al OF this number, 1875 are members
of labor unions; $50 members OF
lodges: 16 are Socialists
IN the last year SAT, 600 has been
spent by these churches in the actual
maintenance of the respective
churches
The total enrolment in the Sunday
schools, according to the reports Is
2.235 men and boys and 3,071 women
and girls 1t will be seen that the
women and girls predominant IN every
instance.
There are II churches in the city
which at some previous stage of their
existence have enjoyed larger mem
berships, while 8 churches now nave
tFe greatest total enrolment yet re-
Perhaps the report submitted by
Superintendent L. D. Whittemore is as
interesting as any other division OF the
survey It deals with the boys of the
city entirely.
while Mr.. Whittemore considers
cheaD shows one of the degrading efe-
ments in the life of the boys of the
city, he admits that there IS some
good in the moving picture show Ihe
general character of the films SHOWN
saws he in the report, sis varied, but
not generally Objectionable. The re
deeming features are those films that
are Instructive and those which furnish
wholesome entertainment
THE amusements in the parks are
moi s11pervised as we'll as they should
be- continue sthe report. The atti-
tude of the police towards the use OF
the streets by the boys is liberal; still
these places are not much used.
There are IA parks in the city,
which include 169 acres OF land' anu
the careful supervision of the play of
the children is something that should
be encouraged"