Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1915-10-08
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about the campfire they listened to
the heart-to-heart talks OF Mr. Amidon
and other leaders. True the men in
charge had no enviable task to keep
thirty or forty boys within bounds and
most decidedly did the quarter master
who had to solve the problem of feed
ing boy for a dollar and a half for
a week, realize the truth of the state
ment, that the average boy was an APP
petite with suit of clothes on" yet
the work paid as no other work your
pastor has ever attempted
The lack of a Y. NJ. c. A. in our
community has always been a regret.
especially To our younger people, but
the nature of the conditions have new
er seemed to be OF a character as to
warrant the Inauguration of such an
organization in cur midst From time
to time, however. various efforts
have been made to meet the needs and
do the work that the Y NJ. c. A. would
naturally accomplish. As early as
1886 the brotherhood of Andrew and
Philip was formed and for several
years did quiet and effective work in
Tie church and community being in
HHential among other things in estab-
fishing a public gymnasium an amuse-
meut hall and a reading room Later
the 40ung Mems Brotherhood was
started. This was followed by the
Phi Alpha FL having for its members
the young men Of the brotherhood
There have been few. if any, organi-
cations connected with the church
that have created a larger interest or
affected more potently the character
of our young people than the Knights
of King Arthur and the kindred s0ci-
cites These societies had a definite
aim. They were not gatherings for
mere fun and play. They were based
upon the manly ideals of ehivalry-a
pure life and a practical religion They
began with boys and girls of eight and
nine years of age They committed
each member TO personal purity The
climax was in christian decision They
aimed at character building and soul
training always insisting upon habit
ual attendance at Bible School These
clubs were the natural basis upon
which pastor and adult christians and
the young people met Their plans in
Guided social functions, parliamentary
instruction and clean living The Cas-
tie of the White Gauntlet, X. O. X A.
was instituted October I, 1906. The
Pages of Arthur. branch of the n o.
X. A. intended for boys between the
ages of eight and twelve was started
about year later and this was fol-
lowed by clubs for the young ladies
and girls known as the Queens of
Ayilon and the Pilgrims of Avilon.
Time will not allow me to any more
work that has been done by the wom-
en- of the church and congregation in
the organizations known as the Ladies
Social Circle and the various sooie-
ties for intoxicating the spirit of mis-
sionary zeal. Thousands of dollars
have been earned and expended for
church improvements by the former
organization and the reputation that
We have for missionary enthusiasm
and large hearted benevolence is not
a little due TO the fruitful labors of our
women. Ii data was at command We
should End that the missionary band
for children. known as the Sunbeams.
has had much TO do with the mission
airy zeal shown by those of older
growth.
and now as ] bring this paper to a
close viii YOU not allow me 70 indulge
in a bit of sentiment No one reaches /
the three score years aud ten who
does not love now and then, TO turn
over memories pages. As VIII Har
ben makes one OF his characters say. /
True We ought to look forward for
happiness instead OF back, but as
rule We don't do it. And yet | believe
some human being through right liv-
ing. through conforming to the high
est law. reaches a point in old age at
which the best things of the past
seem puny makeshifts compared TO
the bliss of the present and the eX-
peetatien of the future No one can
be with people as l have been with
you for quarter of a century form !
ing friendships, witnessing and being
a part of experiences that have |
opened TO us the very Holy of Holes |
only as the heart beats with a quick |
er throb and the eye glistens with I'M