Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-11-18

use or Z. V. brown
For Librury, PIuy
Urged on District
Strong support for the use of
E. v. Brown School as combined
library and recreation center came
today from the six religious leaders
Of Chevy Chase.
The leaders, representing six
denominations, emphasized the need
for some place where young people
could gather informally in whole
some surroundings.
AL commended that the facilities
Of the churches are being used as
fully as possible but that they don't
begin to meet the needs of an area
virtually devoid Of recreational
facilities.
Crime Prevention Seen.
1--WE have right to expect the
city will take care of our youth be-
fore they get into trouble as well as
afterwards" said the Rev. ]. Hill
man HOLSTER Of Chevy Chase
Presbyterian Church.
at would pay to put more money
into means of preventing crime
rather than having to pay such a
large bill to take care of those who
get into trouble.
"The young people of Chevy Chase
have the same needs as any other
group. They'd like to be together
in q wholesome place that offers
the things young people want and
need"
His church. he said, already had
gone on record in wholehearted sup
port Of the efforts spearheaded by
the Chevy Chase Community Coun-
Gil to secure the old school as a
library-recreation center. The
church, he said, has a church house
and an assembly hall which ARE
all right for small groups but don't
begin to fill the needs of the COM
munity."
Msgr. Smyth Backs Plan.
Msgr. Thomas G. Smyth Of the
Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament
said his congregation had been "just
waiting for the time when the
school would be vacated and rec
reation, center could be established.
The Commissioners should real
ize," he said, "that Chevy Chase as
a community Is more than ordinarily
interested in every cultural influence
that can be brought to bear on the
young. It would be wonderful If we
had such an outlet for them as
center"
Msgr. Smyth said the church's ia
cilities had been taxed to the limit
because of the growth of the Blessed
Sacrament School with the result
that its facilities for recreation are
limited to an assembly hall.
Advantages Are Cited.
AS for using Woodrow Wilson High
SCHOOL, he reported that parents
did not like the idea of their young
STEERS going to the school alone ati
night. On the other hand, he said,
the E. v. Brown site was ideal be-
cause you must have something
near at hand to attract young peo-
pie"
Pointing out that hundreds of chill
dren in the area do not belong to
any church, the Rev. Henry w. Sny-
der, of st. Paul's Lutheran Church,
said the principal need was for a
place where young people could con-
prepafe informally
The assembly hall in his church,
he said, was used only for scheduled
affairs because it was in such great
demand. A Boy Scout and three Girl
Scout troops meet there and the hall
Is also used for dances and other
social activities. The hall, he said,
could not begin to take care of the
community's needs.
Others Offer Support.
The Rev. Charles w. Lowry Of All
Saints Church agreed it was "ter-
ribly important" to have a place
where young people could drop in
after school. The church, he said,
could take care of Boy Scout troop
meetings but lacked recreation
rooms.
The Rev. Edward o. Clark of
Chevy Chase Baptist Church saw a
great need for a directed recreation
program in a center equipped with
game rooms and a place for dancing.
The church, he reported, has social
hall where Boy Scouts meet but the
hall is also a utility room equipped
for nothing but quiet games.
At Wesley Methodist Church, the
Rev. Clarence e. Wise said he
thought it was very unfortunate that
in planning Chevy Chase no provi-
sion was made for a recreation CEN
ter. He said Sunday school rooms
are used for young peoples meetings
and the church has a few ping pong
tables, but these have to be put UP
and taken down because there is no
separate space for game room.
There simply isn't any place for
young people out here" he declared.
Right now, they're running all
0uAr fha ch1rrrt, 10