The Catholic bulletin., 1917-09-29
Let them get acquainted"

Let them get acquainted"
lhat is the motto of the Catholic
Federation Sociability Movement-the
hrst organized effort upon the part
of the Catholic laymen to prevent
mixed marriages by encouraging ac-
qualntanceship and sociability among
Catholics. The work was inaugurated
IN Dayton, Ohio, more than year ago
under the auspices CT the MONTGOMERY
County Federation of Catholic socie-
ties.
These social gatherings have met
the approval of both the clergy and
1aity. They have been immensely
popular with the young people. The
affairs are not conducted for profit,
Dut solely to promote friendship and
soclability. Sociability with all citi-
zens regardless of creed, and broad
cooperative spirit in all civic and
community affairs, for the common
good and general advancement, are
within the scope of the Catholic Fed
er9tion Sociability Movement.
The work has been endorsed by the
Ohio State Federation of Catholic So
cletIes, and Archbishop Moeller indi-
Gated his approval by naming Presi-
dent James K. Davis ana Chairman
julius B. Mason as special representa-
tlves of the Archdiocese of Cincin-
natl to the National Convention of the
American Federation of Catholic So
Cieties at Kansas City.
The original plan was for the four
largest parishes in Dayton each to en-
tertain the other three at their own
parochial school or some other suit
able gathering place. This plan
seemed feasible, but the demand of
the people of the twelve other par
1shes of the city to attend these af-
fairs forced the promoters to seek al
more comnodious gathering place and
revise the original plan. A new
schedule was therefore arranged COW
erings twelve weekly affairs of the
Community Club. These were held
during June, July and August, 1916.
Each of these four parishes enter
tanned in rotation on three different
occasions, and associated with them
each week were a number of other
parishes of the city. The gatherings
were a great success and we'll attend
ed from the beginning and filled a
long-felt want-a meeting place for
all Catholics of all the parishes of
Dayton and especially the young folk.
This was the first organized effort to
prevent mixed marriages by promot-
ing acquaintanceship and sociability.
Secret Of Its Success.
If the reason for the success of the
Dayton project is a secret, the secret
made so attractive that the young
people cannot afford to stay away
The centers are completely equipped
for the wholesale entertainment of
young people and of children. Chill
dren are admitted free, and small
charge is exacted of young men and
young women. Business methods have
made the place one to which the
young people are eager to go, because
they get their moneys worth" And
it is producing results.
Children and their parents both are
provided for, but the main ATTRACTIONS
are for the young people, the ones
who are most inclined to "get lone
some" in the evenings. Separate club
buildings for the young men and the
young women are provided, and
third building, the sun parlor, is their
Joint meeting place. The mems club
and the women's club have all the
paraphernalia of modern country
club, and are furnished in typical
country club style-big, open fire.
places, green fiber grass floor cover
ing and wicker furniture. Here you
may read all the latest books and
magazines, if you enjoy this diversion;
there is a player-piano at your dis