New Britain herald., 1922-01-16
Y. M. C.A. REPORTIS
 GIVEN DIRECTORS
Monthly Meeting Will Be Held
 This Afternoon at 4 O'Clock


 Barnes will be read, telling of a re- newed interest In Bible study and re- ligious endeavor.
 The current season Is marked hy an astonishing interest in Bible study on the part of men and boys. We would have to go back fifteen years to see anything that approaches the present attitude. Then Dr. Davis con- ducted mems Bible study group in the Y. M, C, A. that became famous throughout New England. Now Rev. John h. Davis is conducting a similar, but much larger group In Bible study In the association Thursday evenings. over 100 are seated at supper each week, followed by q half-hour talk by this popular minister. The per sonne of the group is different than Is usually found in such a class AL ready 1t is the largest class in any Y. M. C. A. in New England and is rapidly increasing. This is remark able. in view of the popularity of the Everyman's class.
 Boys Are Interested.
 Religious interest is not confined to men, but is equally great among the boys. The Hi-Y. club, made up of High school boys also meets for supper and a talk each week, and has an enrolment of 110. Two other groups of boys for Bible study meet weekly with the physical director and boys secretary, with an enroll ment of 65 The total enrolment of 300 men and boys places the local I xl> study among the associations of the country in cities of the size of New Britain.
 Sunday afternoon meetings are be- ing held for men in the social rooms, with lantern slide talks.
 1 "The association participated in the Goodell meetings and held one special meeting for men and boys addressed by Dr. Goodell and attended by 100. The follow-up work of that campaign now being organized will be part of the associations program. The aim of this work is to interest men in re- ligious affairs and bring them into the churches.
 'That the association functions as a community center was demonstrated last week when 300 men from the fac tories came out in the storm Wednes- | day evening to hear Walter Camp give a health talk and demonstrate his | famous Daily Dozen" exercises This affair was conducted by the Indus trial Council. Again Saturday night another crowd of over 300 men from the Everyman's Bible Class attended a a ial kra ioI of the ~" A program of basketball, vol | ley ball, handball tug-of-war, bowling billiards, checkers and shooting was put on in which everyone who wished to, competed.
 Industrial Council
 "The Industrial Council, now in-its third year, is carrying out a compre- hensive and successful program for foremen and other factory men under the leadership of Mir. M. K. Pasco. One council supper has been held and an- other is schedulel for this months. The annual thrift campaign is under way. It is being conducted through the schools this year, with speakers and prize essays for the school children on the idea of thrift. Prize money of S75 was contributed by the local banks. All public and parochial schools are CO., operating.
 "A series of talks on manufacturing problems is being given, mostly by local men. Among the speakers are George T. Kimball H A. Searle, Thomas Kelley, and F. w. Christ.
 1.-Two Foremen's Nights have been in, a tryyy Si, ,r.ifh al 1,1- A. D. Risteen and Walter Camp and lunch and entertainment. Such events bring men into touch with the Y. M. c. A. who would not otherwise be reached The council is also back of the bible study program and the boys work. committee has done much good in advising the employed boys as to their life work
 Certain tendencies in the policy and program of the physical department should be explained. It was seen that a need existed for a special gymnasium class for older business men as they needed different type of exercise than they could get in the regular classes, so the Busy Mems Class was added to the schedule for them, which has been very successful The demand for leadership in gymnasium work called for special training of young men qualified for this work and a Leaders Corps was organized and meets weekly for bible study, for study of Anatomy and for practical instruc- tion in gymnasium work. It was also recognized that it was in a measure unfair to the membership to deprive them of the gymnasium twice a week so that team could play basketball. Instead of a representative team of five men playing, a league made up of four teams of members, is playing and a much larger number are participants than would be the case under the old 
 Exercises Well Chosen
 The character of the exercises has also been varied and suited to the needs of the different classes, and var | ious games introduced that has made the classes very popular Beginning after school and lasting until ten O clock class follows class in the gym with hardly a breathing space for the physical directors. Leagues of and volley ball, handball | all around athletic meets strength and endurance tests and | aquatic meets supplement the regular class and introduce the play and | competitive spirit. A track team has also been trained and has won meet with the Meriden Y. M. c. A. troup