The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-05-16


TER
complished by the committee, but
there is still opportunity to do more
work in this line.
Games Played.
The checkers and chess games
have been much in demand during
the winter months, and a tourna
day The billiard and pool tables
were used by 1927 persons since
September 2, and the receipts for
the year are $293.10. The bowling
alleys were open during the month
of February and part of March, and
played, and three contest games
held The receipts were $S0.05. The
alley will have to be repaired before
fall and put in shape to serve the
demand which is growing for the
game.
Religious Work.
There were twenty-five mems
Bible class meetings with a total at
tendance of four hundred four, aver
aging over thirteen per meeting.
The class did not begin to COM
pare with last years class in num-
preciated by those who attended.
Rev. r. w. Hobbs took charge of
the class, and we are greatly in
debted to him for his efforts be-
cause he is a real teacher. A class
in life problems was started, and
met in ten sessions, with a total
attendance of fifty-four The mems
meetings on Sunday afternoons were
led by local men except three meet
ipgs, at which Mr.. Price of Owa-
tonna, Mr. Peck of Minneapolis and
Rev. Briggs of Owatonna spoke. We
conducted twenty-three meetings
with a total attendance of six hun
dred ninety-seven.
The extension work carried on by
the federated churches held one spe-
cial meeting for reports last fall,
when Mr.. Osgood resigned as execu-
tive secretary.
THE work is continuing nicely.
Mr. Watts has taken charge of the
country work and is working up in
terest at the various points served
The work has been recognized and
President Cooper is now at the head
of the department. We trust that
the same hearty cooperation will be
enjoyed in the future as in the past
between churches and laymen. The
foreign work has not been presented
for number of years, but we hope
to make a place for it in this year
The religious work needs more vol
unteers and every man that claims
to be a Christian ought to feel the
responsibility of his influence over
his brothers.
Educational Features.
There has been no special educa-
tional class work conducted by the
association, however the organiza-
ton stands ready to serve any group
of men who wish to take up any
study and support it. The lecture
course was not promoted last year.
but there is strong sentiment for
it this year. We hope to have
good, strong course. The Civic club
held nine meetings, with an attend
ance of one hundred five Supper
was served at each meeting and pa
pers on topics of special interest
were read and discussed The. Choir
Of!
Mrs. II. A. Patterson has met six
teen times with an attendance of
seven hundred ten. Plans are near
completion of rendering Joan of
Arc" the last of this month This is
an exceptional accomplishment for
Mankato and should be patronized
by all those who enjoy the best kind
of music. The reading room is well
supplied with local and other news |
papers. The best kind of magazines |
and periodicals are on file and kept |
up to date. This room is now pat |
ronized extensively by young and
old
SociaIs and Receptions.
Two entertainments were given .
for the membership and friends Re-
ceptions were given for the secre- /
tary and the physical director and |
their wives at New Years time, and |
open house was conducted for the
Commercial college, normal and high /
schools and for the various classes in
the gymnasium. Entertainments were
also given on Thanksgiving day,
Christmas day and on Washington's
birthday
Boys Work.
The boys work has not been
pushed this year in any sense as it
should have been. We need special
effort on this line to enlist boys in
the Y. M. C. A. and direct them in
to constructive work A boys spe-
cialist to work with the secretary
would be move in the right direc-
ton. He could help organize the
boys work in the churches and pro-
mote the scout work.
Financial Condition.
1--WE need to increase our member
ship and subscriptions so dis. to carry
our current expenses and make pay
ments on our. deficit
Many things have entered into the
activities of the business men, as