The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1921-02-05
REPORT OF SECOND
OLDER BOYS CONFERENCE
Held in Lake Charles January %,
20, and 30. Large Attendance
From Welsh.

The second state older boys
conference was held in Lake
Charles, La, January, %, 20, and
30, 1921. This conference was &C
claimed by Mayor Trotti of Lake
Charles who gave an opening
speech Friday night as one of the
greatest gatherings that he had
ever witneSSed-certainly the
greatest gathering of Christian
Boys. Genuine optimism and en-
thusiasm that filled the atmos
phere as the boys and leaders of
that great conference opened up
their hearts in song and speech.
High ideals Of a Christ-like nature
were inspiriIed into the boys there
and everyone went away derter-
mined to live better life and be
more useful to the world as true
Christian citizen. 1t is one of the
things that Welsh might be proud
of that it had the largest delega-
ton of any town outside of Lake
Charles. Those attending from
here were:- DonoId Grosh, Ray
mond KimbaIl, Raymond Abel,
Alton Prentice, Henry Wright,
Elmer Harris, Frank Harris,
Charlie Doan, Ercell Fuller, L. V.
Boucher, Keith Hawley, Marvin
Van Ness, Robert Grauke, Harry
Narans, Webster Arceneaux, Prof.
Joungema, Charlesberry Greer,
Lloyd Robin, A. E. Boucher, Mike
Perrodin. L. A. Giggar, j. P. Camp
bell, and Truman Fear. Over two
hundred and fifty boys attended
from all over the state.
Friday afternoon was spent in
registering the boys and assign
ing them to homes. Boy Scouts
ushered them in automobiles to
their respective places to abode.
At 4:30 p. m. there was a great
mass play ON the lawn of the
Christian church. AT six o'clock
every one went home to supper.
In about an hour everyone again
was assembled in the great court
room of the Court House and Prof
H. w. Stropher, Dean of the De-
partment of Music, L. S. u, led in
such warbling of Threats as was
never heard by man before. Clean
wholesome songs echoed thruout
the building and all felt ready
| for a great speech of welcome by
Mayor Trotti. Following this,
Rev. Marvin 0. Sansbury, of Jen-
nings led in a devotional service.
AT $40 p. M, c. E. Buchner OF
Tulsa, Okla, delivered an address
on Christian Service as a Life
Opportunity. Mr.. Buchner is
general Secetery of the Y. NJ. G. A.
His address was enthusiastic and
to the point. Following a short
prayer, the conference then dis
banded and went to their homes
flor a good nights sleep.
Saturday morning saw every
one wide awake and ready for
more. After having breakfast all
went to the court house. Again,
Prof. Stropher with his rare abili-
lty showed the boys how to give
depression to their stored up ener-
gies in the form of music. He says
That's his life work and he surely
didn't miss his calling, either. At
1880 the conference was organized
properly. The most notable thing
occurring in connection with this
was the assignment of each boy al
1.-The conference to a certain room
of the court house at specified
thine to have a private talk with
lsome of the great leaders OF the
conference from all over the coun
|try. Messrs. Van Carter, La. Sun.
/
Iday School Association OF New
IOrleans; C. B. LOOMS, Southern
Bows Work Secretary of Atlanta
Georgia; Mr.. Terrell WoOSley
ilScout Executive of Galcasieu; Or
lGeo. D. Booth, of New Orleans
10. r. Magill, Foreign Missionary
Worker; and others gladly gave
their time and talent to have these
private talks with the boys OF
their life work,
i AT 1906 the boys that had pre-
lviousIy attended conferences oil
similar nature to this one wer'
given the opportunity TO tell 0
1.-The time that they had. Elmer Har
iris Of Welsh very gladly related 0
The camp that was held at LAX
Arthur last summer. AT fO;45 a
address on "The Challenge OF
New World was delivered by Nj
IMagill Of Atlanta. Mr., Magill is 9
J 1.-The foreign department of the
NJ. G. Al, Of that city. Followirl
his talk there was a short lItel
! mission and then Prof. Strophe
again re-inyigorated us vii
more music. II :S5 Mr Cart