The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-05-06
CHURCH PASTOR
 QUESTIONS CARE
 OF CITY'S YOUTH
Rev. C.. o. Tamblyn Urges Prevention of Evil As
 Well As It's Care.
EVENING HOURS OF
 YOUTH DANGEROUS
With Nothing to De-" the / Young Fall Upon Evil
 Companionship.

Docs the city care for the health and morals of it's boys and girls % This question, with other more or less interesting assertions, was put to the citizens in Bridgeport in pamphlet issued by O1ivet church in a, cam paign to raise $25,o00 for a new neighborhood house. The pamphlet, written by Rev. George o. Tamblyn, in connection with personal appeal by workers succeeded in raising $27, ,OOO-
 That so per cent. of the boys have been lost to the church rosters because the church cares for them only one hour a week, that it is better to pre- vent human disintegration rather than patch up and that the evening hours are the dangerous ones to the young of a community, are among the state ments made.
 The text of the pamphlet, follows in part:
 we are building this house for neighborhood use, feeling that every stone in it will be as sacred as that which has found it's way into any church or cathedral ,p-
 tFurthermore, while we approve of all the work which rescue missions are doing in patching up the remnants of broken lives, and we know that there is a distinct time to go after the one that is lost, we believe that the time has come for the church to spend it's time and money in the erection of higher fences at the top of the preci- pices of manhood and womanhood, rather than at the bottom in sending ambu1ances and nurses to care for those who have fallen off, More pre- vention will save the necessity of a great deal of rescuing and also be of greater value to business, to society and to the Church of Christ.
 t'The great problem facing every church is 3thow can it hold the young to the good influences and work of the church?' Young men grow up in the church and the Sunday school and then grow away from it.
 'fThe answer seems to be found in the fact that the grip upon the boy is not at the center of his life. The church has lost more than 60 per cent. for them one hour of each week and that upon Sunday, the day in which a. boy needed that care least of all.
 t' The evening hours with nothing to do,' are the dangerous hours, and what has the average church of the Hast century done to help a boy du- ring these hours? To keep the young twentieth century, the work of the Sunday school has to be supplemented. Parish Hall work effects the life of the young at the points of greatest in- terest. The desire to play and to have friends is very strong and what ever of good or evil comes into life at these points is permanent in it's effect.
 ''To rescue the perishing is very good, but not quite as good as preven- ton, though less sensational. gro leave the ninety and nine in order that the one that is lost may be sought" is the Christian thing to do, but the ninety and nine must be left under condi- tions that will insure their remaining safe. More than half the members of the Sunday schools of the city are lost to the church. Christ said that a man ought to leave t'the ninety and nine and go after one that was being lost.'' What would He say to His Church so often indifferent and reluctant to go after, not one lost, but more than half of those committed to it's care. No church in this city holds half of it's Sunday school within the church for a period of ten years.
 Does the church care for the boys and girls?
 '"The answer in words has been yes, but the answer in deeds in build ings and i'll supervision has been mo-"