Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1911-04-18

churches open some of our worst prob
lens could be solved, such as that Of
the low dance hall and the girl and
the boy who wander about on the
streets.
The girl to be found at night on
the street now is usually there be-
cause there IS nothing else for her to
do, or else because there is nowhere
else for her 10 go. She works all day
and at night she looks for relaxation.
She lives in a small room. When she
meets her gentleman friend, too often
she is Obliged to entertain him by
walking the streets with him or on a
bench in some public park.
This is all wrong.
THE business of the church society
today is to keep their buildings open
from early morning until 10 in the
evening and to provide a matron who
shall oversee the men and women who
.congregate there. Indeed would ad-
vocate the setting up of moving pic
ture apparatus and a moving picture
screen in the churches. 1t would be
indeed work for humanity. In addi-
ton to this, l heartily indorse any
suggestion which proposes that om
churches be better lighted
Too many of our meeting places Of
worship are now poorly lighted, witt
the result that there is a depressing
influence which has a tendency to keer
people away from them. The empty
church discussion would be ended i
We would open up our churches anG
take in people, help them to affair
simple pleasures and be happy.
81 feel that there could be no more
helpful inducement offered to attrac
women who work in the shops ant
factories and stores, after they are
through work, than a we'll lighted
church where the seats are comforta
BILE, where there are tables and chair!
and benches and games and music an(
pedhaps moving pictures.
Our religious institutions would, il
fact, be accomplishing a tremendous
amount of good in this way. Worker.
in behalf of humanity know that thu
danger of the street and of the indis
crimnate amusement places is create.
to the younger people than to the old
er ones.
The Baraca Club which I founded
in Brockton is doing a great deal O
good.
1T is an up to date Bible class.
1T has its athletic, its literary ant
its social committees. You can enteI
the club as one interested in athletics
Soon you will find that there are othe,
things, such as the literary entertain.
ments, that attract you. You Iikewis,
eventually come to be fond of study
of the Bible.
"A young man member is enjoying
the baseball games, and at the same
time on Sunday he is also growing
more and more interested in the
study of the Bible.
THE young women also have their
Philathea Club, an auxiliary to the
Baraca Club. They have their meets
and their athletics as well as the
young men, while their study of lit
erature and the Bible is also carried
on
These groups of young men and
women give different entertainments
for one another, which, of course
means the bringing together of the
men and Women of the church. Young
men have joined perhaps half hearted
ly and in less than a month have been
actively interested in the work.
When the churchgoers realize that
it is their duty to make the church in
teresting, to have interesting plays and
attractions, they will be serving God
as they should
I'VE do not consider seriously
enough what keeping the house Of
worship means.
TOO many matches between men
and women are the result of mere in
atuation. Young people come together
by devious ways, meeting in the
streets and in parks perhaps, and
then without coming to know each
other well they marry.
They perhaps do not have the least
real understanding of each other. I'll
IS thine duty of the church people not
only to provide their churches for
such meetings, but also to give their
and aid in overseeing and