The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-05-22

ia success this year and We expect
a good season next year.
The Religious Work.
| 'Plans were made last fall for
several Bible closes and some spe-
ciaI mems theatre meetings. hut these
things were not accomplished. The
Attendance Mt the Sunday afternoon
meetings this year was seven per
cent better than last year. Mr..
Brown organized Boys Bible class
which met Saturday Moons and had
dinner. The average attendance was
twenty-four and the interest was
good. A class In Life Problems was
organized at the Commercial college
and led by Professor Peterson OF
the normal school. The class was
a new scheme and met with good
success. The Ministers club have held
their bi-monthly meetings I'm our
parlors. The attendance and In
terest at these meetings has been
very good.
The Federated churches held sew
eral committee meetings In our
building and arranged for q mission
AIRY conference which was held In
the Presbyterian church. The meet
! ing was well attended and some
excellent addresses wer given. The
Extension work of the federation
was turned over TO the individual
churches last fall. The week OF
prayer was observed i'm our build
ing by n Sunday afternoon meet
I ing of the Normal Y. w. G. A.
and the Y. NJ. c. A.. and a union
prayer meeting on Thursday even
ing. Meetings were conducted each
evening from 1880 to eight o'clock.
Bible Sunday was observed In the
various churches, and Mr.. Peck, our
State Secretary was present and
spoke in the Congregational church
In the morning. and to a union
Injecting at the Presbyterian church
I'm the evening. &
The educational Work.
| Several activities in this depart
ment had been planned which were
not realized. however, one thing has
developed which was not planned
FOR, and that Is the law and sales.
manship classes conducted by the
State University Extension depart
ment. These classes have been well
attended and good interest demon
strated. II Is an excellent start
for some enthusiastic work next
year
''The Civic club is a number of
young men who meet bi-monthly TO
read papers prepared by their men,
bers. and discuss topics OF interest.
They have had god meetings during
the year, and the attendance has been
normal. Plans were made for a lee
ture course last fall, but did not meet
| with much success. II was late
when we began to choose the tai
emit, and arrange dates, so we only
had one numeber, the '"Ben Greet
Player" We lost money on this
number because II was near the
close of the fall term of The normal
school and was on Saturday even
ing. II seems as IL good lecture
course ought TO be supported by
Manlxato people, and ] feel that
we viii be glad to handle 1t when
the people want TO patronize It. The
Choral society, and the Glee club
did not do anything this season.
The Social Center.
"The reading room Is one of the
NEST social centers In the building.
I'VE have twenty-eight periodicals
and magazines subscribed for by the
association and twelve come to us
free. Many visitors and non-mem-
bers as well as members come In
and spend some time reading.
"a rally consisting of program
and stunts was arranged for the be-
ginning OF the season, an open house
reception and program for Mr.. Brown
and the Commercial college students
was given I'm the gymnasium; then
a halloween party was enjoyed In
the Y. NJ. G. A. at which twenty boys
were present. There were two Com
mercial college open house events
which were well attended. A Christ
mas tree and program was arranged
for the boys. The regular New
Years open house and reception was
given but not well attended owing
20 several home receptions being
held at the same time in town. The
general social atmosphere of the
building has been very good through
out the year, and many young men
have found II a good place to spend
a few hours each week.
Work OF the Boys.
CAS- you will notice from the mem
bership comparisons the boys de-
lpartment has increased by eighteen
members over what It was last year
and the cash receipts have increased
accordingly This department Is the
place from which our future mem
bershop will largely be drawn, and
more attention should be given to
lit. II would be we'll n we could
have a separate department for the
boys under expert supervision. This
would increase the interest and &C.
fivities of all our work, and give
close personal touch with the young
er boys during their developing age