The Washington herald., 1914-01-04
LIFE in SUBURB
NOW ENLIVENED
Brookland Brotherhood
Spreads Gospel Of Good
fellowship to Al.
STARTED SIX YEARS AGO
Organization Conducts Many Events
to Make Living Conditions
More Pleasant
STARTED SIX YEARS AGO
BY LOUIS MELIUs.


was organized in Brook}and mems
club which is SO unique inA its character
and has been SO successful that II is
worthy of mention. There is nothing like
IT in this country and 1t is doubtful If
its counterpart can be found anywhere
upon the globe.
Residence in the suburbs away from the
usual attractions of city life is to many.
especially to men. sort of voluntary
Punishment. To some the charm and
advantages of chicken yard or a garden
may be an offset. to others who have
no taste for poultry except it be fried
or made into Die, or who prefer to do
their gardening in the market, 1t is quite
different proposition, and to make
country life agreeable to both Is some
thing of a problem.
Civilized man needs the companionship
of his kind. While one seeks his slip
pers and his pipe and another hurriedly
sheds his coat and hastens his dinner to
have more time tickling the earth with
his hoe, they both need the brotherly
touch of fellowship and lose something
by the lack of il.
Aside from the lodge and the usual
week night meetings of the churches
there was nothing in Brookland to bring
the men together in a friendly way or
make them acquainted with each other.
The mile limit prohibited certain form
of entertainment, there was no library or
reading room, moving pictures were not
in evidence and there was practically
nothing to interest the male portion OF
the community.
Previous Efforts Failed.
Efforts had previously been made to
remedy this condition, but whether II was
lack of interest, concerted action, or re-
stricted ideas of membership, the project
failed. The field was inviting and the
opportunity ready for the man who
recognized it and had the organizing
ability necessary to perfect a plan OF
successful operation. The man was
found in the person of Rev. H. W. o.
MiIlington, pastor of the Baptist church
of Brookland, whose success in other
fields encouraged him to make the at
tempt here. The men of the community
were accordingly invited TO meet on a
given night in the lecture room OF the
church. Speakers from the Y. NJ c. A
were enlisted in the movement. The call
was made broad enough TO include all
who cared to come, and when upward
of fifty men met in response to the invi-
tation, they found banquet spread Tor
their entertainment and all the acces-
sories ready to launch the enterprise
Everybody had a good time, and amid
a feast of reason and a flow of soul the
BrOOkland BrotnernOOO was sldrleu vi
its successful career.
Membership required only that the
applicant be a man of good report. No
other qualifications were necessary |
Creeds, church affiliations, forms OF po-
litical belief or occupations of life were
held as excluding no one from fellowship, |
and it followed that men of all creeds
and no creed found ground for sympa-
thetic interest Catholics and Protestants,
In1r
and Wesley, high church and low church, |
all could agree on the basis of fraternity,
and the men Of professional life and those
who toll for their daily bread were well
coined alike and made to feel the sacred |
ties of human kinship and affection
No Dissatisfactfon Exists.
The question may here be asked: Can |
an organization of fifty mixed in char
acter be kept in harmony and maintain |
itself? The answer is 1t can, and does
Not the slightest evidence of disagree
ment or dissatisfaction has ever been
known to exist. Mutual forbearance and |
unity of purpose were early recognized as
prime essentials to be accepted and faith l
fully adhered to, and this has made |
difficult project entirely successful. The
body has l-ept growing year by year until |
over 80 names are on its rolls, and every |
meeting adds to the number. Men have |
come to recognize its beneticent purpose |
in forming acquaintance and friendship. |
Those who would otherwise have never |
known the men they daily meet on the |
cars or in the streets know each other |
by name and social Intercourse, and the |
meeting nights. with their cordial greet
ings and friendly interest, attract the at
tention of all visiting strangers.
The direction of affairs is intrusted to
an executive body composed of the
officers and the chairmen OF the various |
committees. The committee meetings are
always well attended, the business SUBJ
jects thoroughly considered, and any ac-
ton taken reported to the full member
ship at its regular meetings for their ap- |
provaI, which is usually given without |
discussion. The committees are ways and /
means, finance, fellowship, membership, |
athletics, social, program, press, and
fruit. flower, and vegetable show. The
meetings are held monthly in Lord /
Memorial Hall, which is rendered free of
charge. At these meetings men famous in
political and professional life have given /
lectures. Upon other occasions a musical
and literary program is given, followed
by a substantial and appetizing lunch
During the summer rose show Is one OF
the features, and in the fall there is a
fruit, flower, and vegetable show, which
has so stimulated the ambition of men,
bers and with such gratifying results that
the exhibition is well worth visit from
any part of the city.
1t is an institution of which all Brook
land is proud, and it is not the least Of
the attractions of the beautiful suburb
IL is capable of rendering good service to
the community, and is in position to af-
ford valuable aid to any worthy enter
prise. The success which has attended its
efforts should find imitation in other sec
tions as conducive to the best interests of
social life.
W. W. Hemingway, aged eighty-nine of /,
Binghamton, N. Y, recently took a
twenty-four-mile walk in a rainstorm to