The sun., 1919-04-27
The Rev. Herbert Shipman
Helps to Open Marshall Still
man Club I'm Harlem.
PLAN TO SAVE YOUNG MEN
Branches Of Organization to
Be Formed in Various
Parts of the City.

at the opening reception Of the Harlem
branch OF the Marshall Stillman ath-
letic club for young men In it's club
house At 162 West 125th street The
chief features OF what large gathering
OF men ana women agreed was a "regu-
Jar red blooded evening" were six three
round boxing bouts. some Of which were
filled with much pep"
The event gave the public an official
glimpse Of the Marshall Stillman plan"
TO establish a chain OF these clubs in
congested centres for the purpose Of
bringing young men under the influence
of healthful athletic activities. These
activities. the promoters declare. will
tend to the betterment of body. mind
and ideals The clubs are designed pri-
marily for those young men who are in
danger OF being led into lives of idle
hess and crime. and are to be a counter
attraction for the saloon, the poolroom,
corner loafing places and other spots
that make for the destruction rather
than the upbuilding Of body and mind.
And II was apparent from all that
was said and all that was done at the
Harlem branch reception last night that
the promoters of the Marshall Stillman
idea have come to the base rock con-
clusion that the manly art OF boxing,
when properly engaged in the right
kind Of an environment. is a spiritual
izine and not by any means a brutaliz-
ing force.
rreacher-Announc Cheered.
The Rev. Mr.. Shpman appeared in the
Uniform he wore as senior chaplain of
the First Army, American Expeditionary
Forces. He was loudly cheered. and
as a master Of ceremonies he was all
business
Ladies and gentlemen" he would an
NHAN-
between and -" and the |
boys promptly went at it.
Bennie Leonard refereed the first two !
bouts and Nanny Seaman, his trainer. |
the remainder.
The bouts were between Eddie Nugent |
and Albert Schoe nfeld, Clay Turner and |
Jack London. Chick Kenny and Kid
Levine. Battling Reddy and Victor !
Richie. Johnny Harvey and Danny |
Field and Benny Valgar and Danny |
Carroll.
Bonnie Leonard. as referee, injected |
some fun in the bout between Clay |
Turner and Jack London at a moment
when it was assuming rather lively pro- |
portions. lie slipped on pair of boxing |
gloves and took a couple OF wallops
at the Indian, precipitating n big laugh |
and less action between the boxers.
The programme started off with mass |
c. A.. song leader in the navy. The |
singing began with America" and !
wound up with THE Star Spangled Ban !
ner." Every body. including the clergy |
man and the boxers. sang with much /,
vigor. Lewis r. Hiler OF Cornell Uni
vereity gave first class exhibition Of |
magic art and Alpheus Geer. physical |
director OF Squadron A, talked about the /!
new enterprise.
Incorporators of the Club.
The Marshall Stillman Athletic Club |
has been incorporated as n charitable ,
organization by Stuyvesant WainwriEht, |
Winthrop Cowdin. Fl. r Mallinson, Wal |
ter Winston Price and Alpheus Geer, |
Marshall Stlllman" being Mr.. Geer's !
pen name.
The big thought in the financial part |
OF the enterprise is this: If the kind of
young man the promoters of the plan
are anxious to reach cannot afford to
pay 81 a month--the fee for all the
club privileges. including boxing lessons.
use Of gymnasium baths. lessons in hy-
glene, etc.-it Is up to some well to do
man who wishes to perform a service
worth while to dig down and give a
boy--or a big batch Of boys-a chance.
Marshall Stillman." according to the
man who brought Marshall Stillman"
who tries TO lead decent red blooded
life: minds his own business. serves
humanity and loves good"
This same Marshall Stllman," as
personified in a string OF athletic clubs,
with boxing as one OF its chief attrac-
tons proposes to reach out the hand
of fellowship to the young man who has
slipped. the young man who is In dan
ger OF Joining the forces of the under
xtplA ha4NA ,- ,N,n
him, and in fact all kinds of young
men, good, bad and Indifferent He
prefers. however, to get hold OF the fell
low who knows how IL feels ito be
kicked when he's down." and give him a
chance to hold up his head with the
proudest OF men.
"Any boy that joins a Marshall Still
man athletic club will be welcomed and
asiST no questions" Mr.. Geer said Lat
night. u! no las been in prison 1t will
nakS no difference to us. If he falls
dSRn again and goes back. that is his
S%n business. He knows that II he
breaks the laws he will have to suffer
But II he does go back to prison we
will still be with him and propose to be
rs friend.
"As 500 II, God is no distinguishes
OF persons and certainly we are no bet
ter than God. We wish to help all kinds
of young men. We wish them to mind
their own business and we will mind our
own business. We can best help chem
by helping 20 make them sound in body
and mind. The rest is easy.
1--WE believe that boxing can be made
4 spiritualizing force. We have seen
what II has done for the boys in the
American Army at home and overseas.
Boxing has made a mighty appeal as it
makes for clean, vlrile body and a
clean, active brain. Boxing and other
athletic activities, such as we are pro-
posing. will keep a young man out of
the saloon and will keep him from smok-
ing cigarettes and doing other things
that will harm his body. He will want
to 20 to bed early instead OF standing
around with the corner loafers. He
will get the more manly idea OF life and
will take care Of his body. He will be
proud Of his muscles. Of his ability to
handle himself and he will know the
real Joy OF leading clean life
II take II that this Is something
worth working for. IL the boys can't
pay their way In the clubs II will be our
business to go downtown and find SOME
body who IL willing to finance them.
Instead Of a boy knocking somebody
down adm taking his money away. that
boy IL going to give up his old ways.
Join one OF our clubs and We will under
take to hold up one OF his well to do
brothers and get him to hand up for the