A study of the recreational programs of the churches in the Wilshire district of Los Angeles

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Content A STUDY OP THE RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS OF THE CHURCHES
IN THE WILSHIRE DISTRICT OP LOS ANGELES
A T h e s is
P r e s e n t e d t o
t h e P a c u l t y o f t h e D e p a rtm e n t o f S o c io lo g y
The U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u th e rn C a l i f o r n i a
I n P a r t i a l P u l f i l l m e n t
o f t h e R e q u ire m e n ts f o r t h e D e g ree
M a s te r o f A r t s
by
M u rie l G. M cCrory
A u g u st 1942
U M I Number: EP65637
All rights resehved
INFORMATION TO ALL USERS
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Olsisffiftation Pubi shsng
UMI EP65637
Published by ProQuest LLC (2014). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author.
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This thesis, written by
. . . .......................
under the direction of hA i^ Faculty Committee,
and a p p ro ved by all its members, has been
presented to and accepted by the Council on
Graduate Study and Research in partial fulfill
ment of the requirements for the degree of
IIASTER OF ARTS
Dean ^
Secretary
Date .S e p t 19413
Faculty Committee
yO A Chairman ^
TABLE OP CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I . INTRODUCTION: PROBLEM, DEFINITIONS OF TERMS
USED, AND METHOD................................................................... 1
The p r o b l e m ............................................................................. 1
S ta te m e n t o f th e p r o b l e m ......................................... 1
Im p o rta n c e o f th e s t u d y ......................................... 1
D e f i n i t i o n s o f te rm s u s e d ........................................ 2
The c h u r c h ............................................................................ 2
R e c r e a t io n . . . . . . . • 2
L e i s u r e .................................................................................. 5
W i l s h i r e d i s t r i c t . . . . . • 3
M ethod .............................. 3
O r g a n iz a t i o n o f th e t h e s i s ......................................... 4
I I . fUeyiBM V OP SEIJSCOHSD imTErUlTUTCE ON TIGS CfHIRCH
AND RECREATION........................................................................ 5
L i t e r a t u r e r e f l e c t i n g th e a t t i t u d e o f th e
c h u r c h ...................................................................................... 5
S p e c i a l s t u d i e s o f r e c r e a t i o n in c h u rc h e s . 9
Im p o rta n c e o f r e c r e a t i o n in th e church* s
p ro g ram . ........................................................................ 17
I I I . THE MATERIALS USED AND CHURCHES STUDIED . . . 23
Q u e s t i o n n a i r e u s e d b y t h e c h u rc h e s and
how a d m i n i s t e r e d . 23
i v
CHAPTER PAGE
Q u e s t i o n n a i r e u s e d by p a r t i c i p a n t s • . . . . 24
P e r s o n a l i n t e r v i e w w ith m i n i s t e r an d
c h u rc h l e a d e r s ................................................... * . 25
C h u rch es s t u d i e d ........................................................ .... . 25
IV . THE RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS............................................... 27
S t a t i s t i c a l S tu d y o f th e Q u e s t i o n n a i r e s . • 28
O r g a n i z a t i o n s f o r w o m e n ........................................ 28
O r g a n i z a t i o n s f o r m e n ............................. 28
O r g a n i z a t i o n s f o r men and w o m e n ...................... 31
O r g a n i z a t i o n s f o r young p e o p le .... .. 31
O r g a n i z a t i o n s f o r g i r l s ........................................... 33
O r g a n i z a t i o n s f o r b o y s ............................. 33
M ixed g ro u p s f o r b o y s an d g i r l s ..................... 36
P ro g ra m s o f t h e c h u rc h e s h a v in g l i m i t e d
r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ram s .......................................... 38
P ro g ra m s o f c h u rc h e s h a v in g e x t e n s i v e
r e c r e a t i o n a l p r o g r a m s ............................................... 44
Women's a c t i v i t i e s ......................................................... 44
M en 's a c t i v i t i e s .............................................................. 49
M ixed a c t i v i t i e s f o r men and women . . . . 52
. G roups f o r young women . . . . . . . . . . 56
G roups f o r young m e n ..................................... 57
M ixed g ro u p s f o r young p e o p le . . . . . . 58
G roups f o r g i r l s .............................. 63
G roups f o r b o y s .............................................................. 68
V
CHAPTER PAGE
M ixed g ro u p s f o r b o y s and g i r l s ............ 75
V. SOCIAL VALUES OP CHURCH RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS 83
R e aso n s f o r e s t a b l i s h i n g th e s e p ro g ra m s • • 83
T r a i n i n g an d q u a l i f i c a t i o n o f t h e i r l e a d e r s
and s u p e r v i s o r s .................................................... 92
A t t i t u d e o f th e p a r t i c i p a n t s to w a rd t h e s e
p r o g r a m s ......................................................................... 99
V I. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS.......................................... 106
S u m m a r y ............................................................................ 106
C h u rc h -s p o n s o re d r e c r e a t i o n f o r a d u l t s . . 108
C h u rc h -s p o n s o re d r e c r e a t i o n f o r young
p e o p l e ........................................................................ 109
C h u rc h -s p o n s o re d r e c r e a t i o n f o r g i r l s
an d b o y s ................................................................... 110
R easo n s f o r e s t a b l i s h i n g t h e s e p ro g ram s . 112
T r a i n i n g and q u a l i f i c a t i o n s o f t h e
r e c r e a t i o n a l l e a d e r s ................................... . . 113
A t t i t u d e o f th e p a r t i c i p a n t s to w a rd
r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ram s ......................................... 113
C o n c l u s i o n s .................................................. 115
To w h at e x t e n t hav e th e c h u r c h e s o f th e
W il s h i r e D i s t r i c t d e v e lo p e d r e c r e a t i o n a l
p ro g ram s? ................................................................... 115
V i
CHAPTER PAGE
W hat w ere th e r e a s o n s f o r w hich th e
c h u rc h e s h a v e e s t a b l i s h e d t h e s e
p r o g r a m s ? ........................................................................ 116
Have t h e s e c h u rc h p ro g ram s s a t i s f a c t o r i l y
f i l l e d th e r e c r e a t i o n a l n e e d s o f t h e i r
c l i e n t a g e ? ........................................................................ 117
What s o c i a l v a lu e s h a v e t h e s e r e c r e a
t i o n a l p r o g r a m s ? ......................................................... 118
R e c o m m e n d a t i o n s .............................................................. 120
F u r t h e r s tu d y . . ........................................................ 121
BIBLIOGRAPHY........................................................ 122
APPENDIX............................................................................................................ 130
LIST OF TABLES
TABLE PAGE
I . O r g a n i z a t i o n s f o r Women b y C h u rc h es . . . . . 29
I I . M e n 's C lub an d M ixed O r g a n iz a t i o n s by
C h u rc h e s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
I I I . O r g a n i z a t i o n s f o r Young P e o p le by C h u rc h e s • 32
IV . G i r l s ' C lu b s b y C h u rc h e s . . . . . ................... 34
V. B o y s' C lu b s by C h u rc h e s . . . . . . . . . . 35
V I. M ixed G roups f o r Boys an d G i r l s b y
C h u rc h e s ............................................. 37
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION?
PROBLEM, DEFINITIONS OP TERMS USED, AND METHOD
I n t h e l a s t few d e c a d e s r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s h a v e
r i s e n t o a new p l a c e o f im p o rta n c e an d p ro m in e n c e . T h is h a s
b e e n due n o t o n ly t o th e s t e a d y i n c r e a s e in th e am ount o f
l e i s u r e t im e , b u t a l s o t o t h e f a c t t h a t p e o p le a r e n o t a s
f a t i g u e d a t t h e end o f t h e i r d a y 's w ork a s f o r m e r l y . T h ere
a p p e a r s t o b e a g ro w in g te n d e n c y among t h e c h u rc h e s t o
d e v e lo p an d p r o v id e r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s f o r t h e i r c l i e n t a g e
I . THE PROBLEM
S ta te m e n t o f t h e p ro b le m . I t was t h e p u rp o s e o f t h i s
s tu d y (1 ) t o a s c e r t a i n t o w hat e x t e n t th e c h u r c h e s o f t h e
W i l s h i r e D i s t r i c t w ere d e v e lo p in g r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ra m s ;
(2 ) t o d e te r m in e th e r e a s o n s f o r w h ich t h e c h u rc h e s h a v e
e s t a b l i s h e d t h e s e p ro g ra m s ; (3 ) t o d i s c o v e r w h e th e r o r n o t
t h e s e c h u rc h p ro g ra m s h a v e s a t i s f a c t o r i l y f u l f i l l e d th e
r e c r e a t i o n a l n e e d s o f t h e i r c l i e n t a g e ; a n d (4 ) t o i n t e r p r e t
th e s o c i a l v a lu e o f t h e s e r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ra m s .
Im p o rta n c e o f t h e s t u d y . S in c e t h e a v e r a g e p e rs o n h a s
a g r e a t e r p r o p o r t i o n o f h i s tim e a v a i l a b l e f o r l e i s u r e th a n
2
e v e r b e f o r e , i t was f e l t i m p o r t a n t t o d i s c o v e r how t h i s
l e i s u r e tim e was b e in g u s e d , â p r o f i t a b l e u s e o f l e i s u r e
tim e in w o r th - w h ile r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s can do a g r e a t
d e a l t o e n r i c h p e r s o n a l i t y , b u i l d c h a r a c t e r , an d d e v e lo p
m u tu a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g . T h ese abo ve named o b j e c t i v e s h a v e
u n q u e s t io n a b ly b e e n a p a r t a t l e a s t o f th e c h u r c h 's o b j e c
t i v e s . S uch a s tu d y a s t h i s w a s, t h e r e f o r e , c o n s i d e r e d a s
i m p o r t a n t t o t h e c h u rc h e s an d t o t h o s e i n t e r e s t e d in t h e
p r o g r e s s o f s o c i e t y .
I I . DEFINITIONS OF TERMS USED
The c h u r c h . The c h u rc h was c o n s i d e r e d a s a s o c i a l
i n s t i t u t i o n a lt h o u g h i t i s m a i n t a i n e d p r i m a r i l y f o r r e l i g i o u s
w o r s h ip . As a s o c i a l i n s t i t u t i o n , th e c h u rc h i n c l u d e s
r e c r e a t i o n a s a p a r t o f i t s f u n c t i o n s .
R e c r e a t i o n . " R e c r e a t io n h a s r e f e r e n c e t o a c t i v i t i e s
w h ic h r e - c r e a t e b o d y an d m in d , r e s u l t i n g in t h e r e s t o r a t i o n
o f o n e 's e x h a u s te d pow ers th r o u g h r e l a x a t i o n fro m th e more
s e r i o u s p u r s u i t s o f l i f e . I t i n v o lv e s p a r t i c i p a t i o n , e i t h e r
a c t i v e o r p a s s i v e , i n a c t i v i t i e s w hich a r e e n g ag ed in f o r
t h e i r own s a k e . The s p i r i t o f p l a y s h o u ld be p r e s e n t i n a l l
r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s , w h ich s h o u ld g iv e p l e a s u r e in
^ M a rtin H. N eum eyer, L e i s u r e and R e c r e a t io n (New Y ork;
A. S . B a rn e s an d Company, I n c o r p o r a t e d , 1Ô 36), p . 1.46.
3
t h e m s e lv e s , and n o t b e e n g ag ed in f o r a n y p u r p o s e o f g a i n
b ey o n d th e m s e lv e s . R e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s w ould I n c lu d e ;
s p o r t s , gam es, m u s ic , d a n c in g , c r e a t i v e a r t s , and s o c i a l
g a t h e r i n g s
L e i s u r e . " I t i s f r e e tim e e n a b lin g a p e rs o n t o do a s
h e c h o o s e s ." ^ I t i s th e tim e w h ich re m a in s a f t e r t h e o r d i n a r y
n e c e s s i t i e s o f l i f e h a v e b e en p r o v id e d f o r , when one i s n o t
o c c u p ie d w ith t h e u s u a l v o c a t i o n a l p u r s u i t s o f l i f e . L e i s u r e
a f f o r d s an o p p o r t u n i t y to en g ag e in t h e a c t i v i t i e s w h ich a r e
n o t o f o n e ’ s e v e r y - d a y v o c a t i o n a l r o u t i n e . ^
W i l s h i r e D i s t r i c t . F o r th e p u r p o s e o f t h i s s tu d y th e
W i l s h i r e D i s t r i c t was l i m i t e d t o t h a t a r e a b o u n d e d b y
V erm ont Avenue on t h e e a s t . La C ie n e g a B o u le v a rd on t h e w e s t,
M e lro s e Avenue on th e n o r t h , and V e n ic e B o u le v a rd on th e
s o u t h .
I I I . METHOD
The q u e s t i o n n a i r e m ethod was u s e d in o b t a i n i n g m o st
o f t h e i n f o r m a t i o n . Q u e s t i o n n a i r e s were s e n t t o a l l th e
^ I b i d . . p p . 6 - 7 , 1 57 -159,
® I b i d . . p . 1 .
4 I b i d . . p p . 1 3 -1 4 .
4
c h u r c h e s in t h e a r e a c o v e r e d b y t h i s s t u d y . P e r s o n a l i n t e r
v ie w s w ere a l s o made in t h e c h u rc h e s w h ic h h a d m ore e x t e n s i v e
r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ra m s . A seco n d ty p e o f q u e s t i o n n a i r e was
u s e d b y th e i n v e s t i g a t o r in h e r c l a s s e s a t a j u n i o r h i g h
s c h o o l w i t h in t h i s a r e a . S e v e r a l o f th e c h u rc h e s t h a t w ere
i n c l u d e d in t h i s s tu d y c o o p e r a t e d b y u s i n g t h i s se c o n d ty p e
o f q u e s t i o n n a i r e in th e S unday s c h o o l c l a s s e s o r C h r i s t i a n
E n d e a v o r g ro u p s o f t h e h i g h s c h o o l a n d c o l l e g e d e p a r t m e n t s .
IV . ORGANIZATION OF THE THESIS
A r e v ie w was made o f th e l i t e r a t u r e d e a l i n g w ith t h e
p a s t an d p r e s e n t a t t i t u d e o f th e c h u r c h to w a rd r e c r e a t i o n .
I n c lu d e d in t h i s r e v ie w w ere num erous s t u d i e s and e x a m p le s
o f c h u r c h - c e n t e r e d r e c r e a t i o n . The r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ram s o f
th e c h u rc h e s w ere th e n s t u d i e d u n d e r t h e d i v i s i o n s o f a d u l t
g r o u p s , g ro u p s f o r young p e o p le , and b o y s ' an d g i r l s ' w o rk .
A s o c i a l e v a l u a t i o n o f t h e c h u r c h e s ' r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ram s
f o l lo w e d . The s o c i a l v a l u e s o f p a r t i c u l a r i n t e r e s t w ere:
r e a s o n s f o r e s t a b l i s h i n g t h e s e p ro g ra m s , th e t r a i n i n g and
q u a l i f i c a t i o n o f th e l e a d e r s , and t h e a t t i t u d e o f th e
p a r t i c i p a n t s to w a rd t h e s e p ro g ra m s . An e f f o r t was made t o
e v a l u a t e t h e s e c h u r c h - c e n t e r e d r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ram s a c c o r d
in g t o a c c e p t e d s t a n d a r d s . The l a s t c h a p t e r was d e v o te d t o a
summary a n d c o n c l u s i o n s b a s e d on th e f i n d i n g s o f t h i s s t u d y .
CHAPTER I I
REVIEW OP SELECTED LITERATURE
ON THE CHURCH AND RECREATION
A g r e a t d e a l h a s b e e n w r i t t e n on t h e s u b j e c t o f
r e c r e a t i o n , b u t o n ly t h e l i t e r a t u r e , p a r t i c u l a r l y p e r t i n e n t
t o t h e t o p i c o f t h i s t h e s i s , w i l l b e r e v ie w e d .
L i t e r a t u r e r e f l e c t i n g th e a t t i t u d e o f t h e c h u r c h . Had
th e c h u r c h a r i s e n d u r i n g G re c ia n a s c e n d a n c y , i t m ig h t h a v e
h a d a k i n d l y a t t i t u d e to w a rd w holesom e p l a y a n d r e c r e a t i o n
fro m i t s b e g i n n i n g , f o r t h e G re ek s knew th e v a lu e o f p l a y .
The Rom ans, on t h e o t h e r h a n d , w ere i n t e r e s t e d i n a t h l e t i c s
o n ly f o r i t s m i l i t a r y v a l u e . T h e i r u s e o f l e i s u r e l e d t o
g r e a t s p e c t a c l e s , b r u t a l c o m b a ts , an d o t h e r e x c e s s e s . I t i s
l i t t l e w onder t h a t t h e e a r l y c h u r c h , d e v e lo p in g a s i t d i d
d u r i n g th e p e r i o d o f t h e Roman E m p ire , came to lo o k upon
p l a y a s e v i l .
F o r s e v e r a l c e n t u r i e s t h e e a r l y C h r i s t i a n C h urch was
i n d i f f e r e n t t o p o p u l a r c o m p e ti t iv e s p o r t s . D u rin g t h e f o u r
t e e n t h c e n t u r y , when G re ek an d Roman c u l t u r e w ere r e v i s e d in
t h e u n i v e r s i t i e s w h ic h t h e c h u rc h h a d e s t a b l i s h e d , i n t e r e s t
in p h y s i c a l e d u c a ti o n and r e c r e a t i o n i n c r e a s e d . Then a g a i n ,
f o r many c e n t u r i e s t h e a t t i t u d e o f t h e c h u rc h to w a rd r e c r e a -
6
t î o n a l a c t i v i t i e s re m a in e d one o f i n d i f f e r e n c e o r o p p o s i t i o n
The a t t i t u d e o f t h e c h u r c h in g e n e r a l was e x p r e s s e d b y t h e
D i s c i p l i n e o f t h e M e th o d is t E p is c o p a l C hurch in 1 7 8 4 . I t
s t a t e d ; "We p r o h i b i t p l a y i n t h e s t r o n g e s t t e r m s . I t
s p e c i f i e d t h e p e r m i s s i b l e fo rm s o f r e c r e a t i o n a s .
G a rd e n in g , w a lk in g , r i d i n g , a n d b a t h i n g , w ith o u t
d o o r s ; a n d th e c a r p e n t e r 's , j o i n e r ' s , c a b i n e t
m a k e r 's , o r t u r n e r ' s b u s i n e s s , w i t h in d o o r s . . . •
The s t u d e n t s s h a l l b e i n d u lg e d w i t h n o t h in g w h ich
th e w o r ld c a l l s p l a y . L e t t h i s r u l e be o b s e rv e d
w ith t h e s t r i c t e s t n i c e t y ; f o r t h o s e who p l a y when
th e y a r e young w i l l p l a y when t h e y a r e o l d . ^
I n f a i r n e s s t o th e c h u rc h , i t m ust be s a i d t h a t t h i s same
a t t i t u d e o f o p p o s i t i o n was h e l d b y e d u c a to r s an d e n l i g h t e n e d
p e o p le , in g e n e r a l , d u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d . P ra n c k e o f H a l l e , a
n o t e d e d u c a to r and p h i l a n t h r o p i s t s a i d :
P la y m ust b e f o r b i d d e n in a l l i t s fo r m s . C h ild r e n
m ust b e i n s t r u c t e d a s t o t h e w a s t e f u l n e s s and f o l l y
o f p l a y , t h a t i t d i s t r a c t s t h e i r m inds from God and
w i l l w ork n o th in g b u t harm t o t h e i r s p i r i t u a l l i v e s . ^
As l a t e a s 1 8 7 2 ,
D a n c in g , p l a y i n g a t games o f c h a n c e , a t t e n d i n g
t h e a t r e s , h o r s e - r a c e s , c i r c u s e s , d a n c in g p a r t i e s ,
o r p a t r o n i z i n g d a n c i n g - s c h o o l s , o r t a k i n g s u c h o t h e r
am usem ents a s a r e o b v i o u s l y o f m is le a d i n g o r q u e s t i o n -
^ D ie c ip liu Q o f t h e M e th o d is t E p is c o p a l C hurch o f
A m e ric a . C o n fe re n c e a t B a l t i m o r e , M d., *1784 (New Y ork:
W illia m R o s s , 1 7 8 9 ), S e c . 5 0 , p . 3 8 .
^ I L i d . . p p . 4 1 -4 2
^ A l b e r t B . W egener, C hurch a n d Community R e c r e a t i o n
(New Y ork: The M acm illan Company, 1 9 2 4 ), p . 1 1 .
7
a b l e m o ra l te n d e n c y ^
w ere l i s t e d b y t h e M e th o d is t E p is c o p a l C h u rch a s c a s e s o f
n e g l e c t o f d u t i e s .
T h u s, u n t i l t h e l a s t g e n e r a t i o n , p l a y was fro w n e d upon
b y t h e c h u rc h , w ith t h e e x c e p tio n o f a few men who w ere b e f o r e
t h e i r tim e s i n t h e i r p h ilo s o p h y . One o f t h e s e was D r. L u th e r
H. G u lic k , a m e d ic a l m is s i o n a r y u n d e r t h e a u s p i c e s o f t h e
A m erican B i b l e S o c i e t y d u r i n g th e l a s t q u a r t e r o f t h e
n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y . He b e l i e v e d .
P l a y i s d i v e r s i o n f o r t h e a d u l t b u t i t i s l i f e
i t s e l f f o r th e c h i l d . I t i s th e c h i l d w o r ld . I t
i s n o t i d l e n e s s , i t i s th e b u s i e s t o f w o r ld s . . . .
T ru e p l a y i s o f th e s p i r i t ; i t i s t h e s p o n ta n e o u s
e x p r e s s io n o f an i n n e r d e s i r e . M o re o v e r, s p o r t s
e x p r e s s th e i d e a l s o f a p e o p le . T h e i r m o ra ls r i s e
n o h i g h e r than, t h e i r p l a y . 5
W. R a lp h L a F o r te , P r o f e s s o r o f P h y s i c a l E d u c a tio n a t
th e U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u th e r n C a l i f o r n i a , m a i n t a i n s t h a t s i n c e
th e c h u rc h h a s a lw a y s s to o d f o r c h a r a c t e r d e v e lo p m e n t, i t
s h o u ld m a i n t a i n a s t r o n g r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ra m , f o r i t i s
d u r i n g p l a y and l e i s u r e h o u r s t h a t m ost b a d h a b i t s hav e b een
a c q u i r e d . He b e l i e v e s t h a t th e c h u rc h s h o u ld su p p le m e n t t h e
w ork o f o t h e r r e c r e a t i o n a l a g e n c i e s . I t s h o u ld f i r s t s u r v e y .
^ D av id S h erm an , H i s t o r y o f th e R e v is io n o f th e
D i s c i p l i n e o f t h e M e th o d is t E p is c o p a l C hurch ( C i n c i n n a t i ;
H itc h c o c k and W alden, 1 8 7 4 ), p p . 1 9 5 -1 9 6 .
^ W eg e n er, o p . c i t . . p . 1 5 .
8
d i s c o v e r th e n e e d s , th e n b u i l d t h e p ro g ram t o m eet t h e s e
n e e d s . I t s f i e l d o f I n f l u e n c e i s b r o a d , s i n c e i t r e a c h e s th e
l a r g e s t num ber in th e com m unity, w i t h th e e x c e p tio n o f t h e
s c h o o l .^
W arren T . P o w e ll s t a t e s :
The c h u rc h i s com ing t o f e e l t h a t i t s o f f i c e i s
t o i n f l u e n c e a l l th e p e o p le o f t h e com m unity i n e v e r y
p h a s e o f l i f e . I t now s e e s t h e v a lu e o f p l a y a s a
d e c i d e d l y p o s i t i v e c o n t r i b u t o r t o th e p h y s i c a l , m o r a l,
s p i r i t u a l , an d s o c i a l d e v e lo p m e n t o f a d u l t s a s w e l l
a s o f y o u t h .
B e in g a p r i v a t e a g e n c y , i t can f o s t e r a r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ram
o f th e h i g h e s t t y p e , an d t r a i n th e y o u th i n t h e p r o p e r u s e o f
l e i s u r e tim e . He f e e l s t h a t when t h e c h u rc h f a i l s t o p r o v i d e
r e c r e a t i o n a l f a c i l i t i e s and l e a d e r s h i p , i t i s m is u s in g a g r e a t
o p p o r t u n it y .®
P o w e ll c o n te n d s t h a t a s th e r e a lm o f th e c h u rc h i s
e v e r e x p a n d in g , i t h a s come t o i n c l u d e th e d i r e c t i o n o f
r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t y . An a d e q u a te r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ram may
a t t r a c t some t o c h u rc h ; w h ile f a i l u r e t o p r o v id e s u c h a
p ro g ram may c a u s e i t s m em bers to s e e k r e c r e a t i o n a l i n t e r e s t s
e ls e w h e r e , w here th e e f f e c t s m ig h t be d e g r a d i n g . He b e l i e v e s
® W. R a lp h L a P o r te , R e c r e a t i o n a l L e a d e r s h ip o f Boys
(New Y ork; The M e th o d is t Book C o n c e rn , 1 9 2 7 ), p p . 1 6 -1 9 .
^ W arren T* P o w e ll, R e c r e a t i o n i n C h u rch and Community
(New Y ork: The A bingdon P r e s s , 1 9 3 8 ), p p . 1 3 -1 4 .
® I b i d . . p . 2 2 .
9
t h a t .
The c h u r c h w i l l he s u c c e s s f u l to t h e e x t e n t t h a t
i t f u r n i s h e s w holesom e a c t i v i t y f o r i t s m em bers'
l e i s u r e t im e . C om m ercial am usem ents e x i s t f o r p r o f i t ,
th e c h u rc h p r o v i d e s a c c o r d i n g t o t h e w e l l - b e i n g o f
t h e p e o p l e . 9
S p e c i a l s t u d i e s o f r e c r e a t i o n i n c h u r c h e s . I n 1 9 2 8 ,
F lo y d M. R eev es made "A S tu d y o f t h e V a lu e o f th e Gymnasium
in t h e C i t y C h u rch P ro g ra m ." Of th e t w e n t y - f i v e c h u rc h e s in
h i s s t u d y , s e v e n te e n gave wholesom e r e c r e a t i o n a s t h e i r m ain
r e a s o n f o r h a v in g gym nasium s. The o t h e r o b j e c t i v e s m e n tio n e d
m ost f r e q u e n t l y b y t h e s e c h u rc h e s w e re : f e l l o w s h i p w i t h i n
th e m em b ersh ip , d e v e lo p m e n t o f C h r i s t i a n a t t i t u d e s , h e a l t h ,
an d e n d e a v o r t o r e a c h t h o s e n o t in c h u r c h . The f o u r l a r g e r
c h u rc h e s h a d t h e i r gym nasium s o p en ed p r i m a r i l y f o r t h e i r own
m em bers ( e i g h t y - f o u r p e r c e n t w ere fro m w i t h i n t h e i r own
c h u rc h f a m i l i e s ) ; th e tw e n ty -o n e c h u rc h e s who u s e d t h e i r
gym nasium s to a t t r a c t and win o u t s i d e r s fo u n d t h a t h a l f o f
th o s e a t t e n d i n g w ere fro m o u t s i d e t h e i r c h u rc h f a m i l i e s .
Some o f t h e m ost o u t s t a n d i n g r e s u l t s w e re : i n c r e a s e d f r i e n d l i
n e s s and u n s e l f i s h n e s s , b e t t e r d i s c i p l i n e , s e l f - c o n t r o l , and
c o o p e r a t i o n , an d m ore h o n e s t y w i t h i n t h e g ro u p p a r t i c i p a t i n g .
I t was fo u n d t o i n c r e a s e i n t e r e s t i n , r e s p e c t f o r , an d l o y a l t y
to th e c h u r c h . I t a t t r a c t e d young p e o p le to a r e l i g i o u s l i f e .
9
I b i d . . p . 2 6 .
10
a n d inade r e l i g i o n f u n c t i o n b e t t e r .
E s t h e r S . N eum eyer, in 1 9 3 2 , made "A S tu d y o f A t t i t u d e s
a n d S o c i a l V a lu e s o f th e W i l s h i r e M e th o d is t E p is c o p a l C h u rc h ,
The B 'N a i B 'R i t h C o n g r e g a tio n , and t h e F i r s t U n i t a r i a n C hurch
o f L os A n g e le s ." T h is s t u d y g a v e an h i s t o r i c a l s k e t c h o f
e a c h o f t h e s e d e n o m in a tio n s and o f t h e s e c h u rc h e s in p a r t i c
u l a r . The a t t i t u d e o f e a c h o f t h e s e c h u rc h e s to w a rd s o c i a l
v a l u e s was c a r e f u l l y d i s c u s s e d , and a d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e
a c t i v i t i e s s p o n s o re d b y t h e s e c h u rc h e s was g i v e n . A co m p ara
t i v e a n a l y s i s o f t h e t h r e e c h u rc h e s was a l s o m ade. H
E u la S . M erenback s t u d i e d "The V a lu e an d Use o f
R e l i g i o u s Drama i n C e r t a i n S e l e c t e d C h u rc h es i n Los A n g e l e s ,"
i n 1 9 3 5 . She g a v e a resu m e o f t h e h i s t o r y o f r e l i g i o u s d ram a ,
a s s e r t i n g t h a t dram a h a d i t s b e g in n in g i n t h e c h u rc h a s a p a r t
o f i t s r i t u a l . She fo u n d t h a t dram a was b e in g u s e d m ore and
m ore b y th e c h u r c h e s , a n d t h a t w h ile some m em bers o p p o se d i t s
u s e , th e l e a d e r s f e l t i t h ad g r e a t p o w er. She fo u n d t h a t l a c k
o f a d e q u a t e l y t r a i n e d r e l i g i o u s dram a d i r e c t o r s , was t h e
10 F lo y d M. R e e v e s , "A S tu d y o f t h e V a lu e o f t h e
Gymnasium in th e C i t y C h u rch P ro g ra m ," ( u n p u b l is h e d M a s t e r 's
t h e s i s . The U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u th e rn C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e le s ,
1 9 2 8 ).
11 E s t h e r S . N eum eyer, "A S tu d y o f A t t i t u d e s an d S o c i a l
V a lu e s o f th e W i l s h i r e M e th o d is t E p is c o p a l C h u rc h , The B 'N a i
B 'R i t h C o n g re g a tio n and t h e F i r s t U n i t a r i a n C h u rch o f Los
A n g e l e s ," ( u n p u b l is h e d M a s t e r 's t h e s i s . The U n i v e r s i t y o f
S o u th e r n C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e le s , 1 9 3 2 ).
11
12
g r e a t e s t o b s t a c l e t o i t s b e s t u s e . ^
A s tu d y was made i n 1936 b y t h e C h ica g o T h e o l o g i c a l
S e m in a ry i n an a t t e m p t to d i s c o v e r th e n a t u r e , e x t e n t , and
t r e n d s in r e l i g i o u s dram a i n th e U n ite d S t a t e s . The s t u d y
i n c l u d e d 364 c h u r c h e s , r e p r e s e n t i n g s i x d e n o m in a tio n s a n d
n i n e g e o g r a p h ic a r e a s . N in e ty p e r c e n t o f t h e s e c h u r c h e s
w ere p r o d u c in g p l a y s a s p a r t o f t h e i r r e g u l a r p ro g ra m . T h is
s t u d y r e v e a l e d th e f o l l o w i n g t r e n d s ; (1) an i n c r e a s i n g u s e
o f r e l i g i o u s dram a among t h e l a r g e r c h u rc h e s i n a l l s i x m a jo r
d e n o m in a tio n s ; (2) a d e c r e a s i n g n u m b er, b u t in c r e a - s in g
q u a l i t y p e r c h u rc h ; (3 ) a p r e f e r e n c e f o r m odern p l a y s o f
s p i r i t u a l l i f e o v e r b i b l i c a l p l a y s ; (4) a c o n c e n t r a t i o n o f
p l a y s a t C h r is tm a s and E a s t e r ; an d (5) an i n c r e a s i n g
r e a l i z a t i o n o f th e n e e d f o r t r a i n e d d i r e c t o r s . C h u rc h e s
w h ich h a d s u c c e e d e d , fo u n d t h a t in t h e lo n g ru n f i r s t - c l a s s
p l a y s w ere c h e a p e r — t h e y a t t r a c t e d b e t t e r a u d i e n c e s , b e t t e r
o f f e r i n g s , and c r e a t e d t h e g o o d w ill o f t h e i n t e l l i g e n t p e o p le
o f t h e com m unity.
T h re e y e a r s l a t e r Tom S q u i r e r e p o r t e d on "C h u rch and
D ram a." W h ile E n g la n d an d t h e C o n tin e n t b eg an t o g iv e dram a
E u la S . M e ren b a ck , "The V a lu e an d Use o f R e l i g i o u s
Drama in C e r t a i n S e l e c t e d C h u rc h e s in Los A n g e le s ,"
( u n p u b l is h e d M a s t e r 's t h e s i s . The U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u th e r n
C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e le s , 1 9 3 5 .)
13 p r e d E a stm a n , "The P r e s e n t S t a t e o f R e l i g i o u s
D ram a," C h r i s t i a n C e n tu r y . 5 8 :2 8 6 - 7 , F e b r u a r y 2 6 , 1 9 4 1 .
12
a p la c e i n t h e c h u rc h d u r i n g t h e l a t e n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y , h e
r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e U n ite d S t a t e s h a s begun to u s e dram a i n i t s
c h u rc h e s o n ly w i t h i n t h e p a s t t w e n t y - f i v e y e a r s . In 192 5 ,
th e F e d e r a l C o u n c il o f C h u rc h e s a p p o in t e d a c o m m itte e t o
s tu d y a n d s e l e c t a p p r o p r i a t e p l a y s . T hey p u b l i s h e d a book
o f te n p l a y s s u i t a b l e f o r c h u rc h u s e . I t was fo u n d t h a t in
1935 , n e a r l y h a l f t h e c h u rc h e s in A m erica w ere u s i n g some
s o r t o f dram a— fro m s im p le pantom im e to e l a b o r a t e d ram a . H is
r e p o r t t r a c e d th e h i s t o r y a n d u s e o f dram a i n e a c h o f t h e
d e n o m in a tio n s : M ormonism, M ethodism , C o n g r e g a tio n a lis m ,
P r o t e s t a n t E p i s c o p a l e a n , Roman C a th o l i c i s m , an d H ebrew .
A v e r y th o r o u g h s t u d y o f "The P a r t i c i p a t i o n o f Young
P e o p le i n th e C hurch o f J e s u s C h r i s t o f L a t t e r - D a y S a i n t s "
was made i n 1937 b y Alma E . C ra n e . A f t e r t r a c i n g t h e h i s t o r y
o f t h e L a t t e r - D a y S a i n t s a n d e x p l a i n i n g i t s p r e s e n t o r g a n i z a
t i o n , sh e d e s c r i b e d t h e i r r e c r e a t i o n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n . T h is
d e n o m in a tio n h a d a c lu b o r g a n i z a t i o n w i t h r e c r e a t i o n a l
a c t i v i t i e s f o r e v e r y a g e g r o u p . I t was an e s s e n t i a l an d
i m p o r t a n t p a r t o f t h e r e g u l a r p ro g ra m o f th e c h u rc h .^ ®
L eah I . F a n n in g , in 193 8 , made "A S tu d y o f t h e Use o f
14 Q iQ m S q u i r e , "C hurch an d D ram a," T h e a tr e A r t s
M o n th ly . 2 3 :6 5 3 - 6 0 , S e p te m b e r, 1939.
1® Alma E . C ra n e , " P a r t i c i p a t i o n o f Young P e o p le i n
t h e C hurch o f J e s u s C h r i s t o f L a t t e r - D a y S a i n t s , " ( u n p u b lis h e d
M a s t e r 's t h e s i s . The U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u th e r n C a l i f o r n i a ,
Los A n g e le s , 1 9 3 7 )•
13
M otion P i c t u r e s i n t h e P ro g ra m s o f C e r t a i n P r o t e s t a n t
C h u r c h e s ." She fo u n d t h a t m o tio n p i c t u r e s w ere f i r s t u s e d
a s b a i t to a t t r a c t young p e o p le t o c h u r c h , b u t t h a t t h e y
w ere l a t e r b e in g u s e d f o r t h e i r e d u c a t i o n a l v a l u e . They
w ere n o t u s e d a g r e a t d e a l f o r p u rp o s e s o f w o rs h ip b e c a u s e
i t was d i f f i c u l t t o g e t s u i t a b l e f i l m s , an d b e c a u s e th e
a u d ie n c e (a c c u s to m e d to a s s o c i a t i n g m o tio n p i c t u r e s w i t h
t h e a t r e s f o r e n t e r t a i n m e n t p u r p o s e s o n ly ) came t o b e
e n t e r t a i n e d r a t h e r th a n t o w o r s h ip . In o r d e r f o r m o tio n
p i c t u r e s t o s e r v e a d e q u a t e l y a s a t e a c h i n g d e v i c e , r e q u i r e d
t h a t t h o s e p r e s e n t i n g th e f i l m s m u st know th e t e c h n i q u e o f
s e l e c t i n g a f i l m t o m eet th e n e e d s o f th e a u d ie n c e , a n d o f
p r e p a r i n g t h e g ro u p f o r i t s p r o p e r p r e s e n t a t i o n . She fo u n d
t h a t f o r m o tio n p i c t u r e s t o be u s e d s u c c e s s f u l l y f o r r e c r e a
t i o n a l p u r p o s e s , t h e y s h o u ld b e : ( l ) m o ra l and e t h i c a l in
n a t u r e ; (2 ) s u i t e d t o t h e a g e o f th e g ro u p ; (3 ) p r o p e r l y
s u p e r v i s e d ; (4 ) u s e d w ith good q u a l i t y p r o j e c t i o n ; a n d
(5 ) o n ly a p a r t o f t h e e n t i r e p ro g ra m . A l l b u t one o f th e
c h u r c h l e a d e r s i n c l u d e d i n h e r s t u d y , a g r e e d t h a t f i l m s
s h o u ld h a v e a d e f i n i t e p l a c e i n t h e r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ram o f
t h e c h u rc h , a n d t h a t t h e y d i d a i d in c h a r a c t e r and s o c i a l
d e v e lo p m e n t.
L eah I . P a n n in g , "A S tu d y o f t h e Use o f M o tio n
P i c t u r e s i n th e P ro g ra m s o f C e r t a i n P r o t e s t a n t C h u r c h e s ,"
( u n p u b l is h e d M a s t e r 's t h e s i s . The U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u th e rn
C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e le s , 1 9 3 8 ) .
14
I n 1 9 3 8 , C h a r le s M. Bacon made a s tu d y o f " C h r i s t i a n
E d u c a tio n T h ro u g h R e c r e a t i o n in C e r t a i n S e m i-R u ra l C h u r c h e s ."
He fo u n d t h a t p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s
d e p e n d e d on econom ic s t a t u s an d t h e f a c i l i t i e s t h a t t h e
com m unity p r o v i d e d . C hurch t r a i n i n g an d C h r i s t i a n p r o f e s s i o n
h a d l i t t l e i n f l u e n c e On r e c r e a t i o n a l t a s t e s . Good and w e l l -
p la n n e d r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ra m s i n c r e a s e d t h e i n f l u e n c e o f
t h e c h u rc h i n t h e com m unity— a t t r a c t e d p e o p le , made p e o p le
f e e l t h a t t h e c h u rc h was i n t e r e s t e d , and d e v e lo p e d a s p i r i t
o f f e l l o w s h i p . He fo u n d t h a t a p ro g ram w i t h in a d e q u a t e
s u p e r v i s i o n was w o rse th a n no p ro g ra m .
C la u d e A. Brown made "A S u rv e y o f th e R e c r e a t i o n a l
C u rric u lu m o f S e l e c t e d C h u r c h e s ," i n 1 9 3 9 . He a s s e r t e d t h a t
many m i n i s t e r s o b j e c t e d t o h a v in g a r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ram
w i t h i n th e c h u rc h b e c a u s e : t h e y f e l t t h a t p l a y an d w o rs h ip
c o u ld n o t be r e c o n c i l e d , t h e y o b j e c t e d t o th e v a n d a lis m and
i r r e v e r e n c e w h ich some o f th e g ro u p s seem ed t o show , o r
b e c a u s e t h e y w ere s im p ly i n d i f f e r e n t . He fo u n d t h a t few o f
t h e m i n i s t e r s h a d s e r i o u s l y c o n s i d e r e d r e c r e a t i o n , an d t h a t
some th o u g h t t h a t th e c h u rc h h a d to o much r e c r e a t i o n a l r e a d y .
O ver h a l f o f th e c h u rc h e s w ere a t t e m p t i n g some ty p e o f
C h a r le s M. B a c o n , " C h r i s t i a n E d u c a tio n T h ro u g h
R e c r e a t io n i n C e r t a i n S e r a i - r u r a l C h u r c h e s ," ( u n p u b lis h e d
M a s t e r 's t h e s i s . The U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u th e r n C a l i f o r n i a ,
L os A n g e le s , 1 9 3 8 ).
15
r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t y . Pew o f t h e c h u rc h e s s t u d i e d b y
Brown h a d a d e q u a te l e a d e r s h i p ; m o st o f them r e l i e d on one
o f t h e r e g u l a r s t a f f m em bers to s u p e r v i s e t h e r e c r e a t i o n
p ro g ra m , o r e l s e d e p en d e d upon v o l u n t a r y a s s i s t a n t s . ^ ®
"Why N ot Have a C hurch L ib r a r y ? " was an i n t e r e s t i n g
a r t i c l e i n th e M is s io n a r y R e v ie w , b y M, P . P o l g e r i n 1939.
The l i t e r a t u r e c o m m itte e o f t h e P i r s t P r i e n d s C h u rch in
I n d i a n a p o l i s , I n d i a n a , w a n ted to h av e a c h u rc h l i b r a r y . I t
b e g an in a s m a ll way by p e o p le b r i n g i n g in a few b o o k s on
r e l i g i o u s , c h u r c h , o r p h i l o s o p h i c a l s u b j e c t s . The e f f o r t
g re w , and m ore and m ore b o oks w ere g iv e n t o th e l i b r a r y .
The l i t e r a t u r e c o m m itte e was a b l e to b u y new bo oks e a c h y e a r .
A t t h e tim e o f w r i t i n g , th e c h u rc h l i b r a r y i n c l u d e d b o o k s
f o r a l l a g e g r o u p s , an d i n c l u d e d b o o k s o f f i c t i o n i n w h ic h
f a m i l y l i f e o r C h r i s t i a n l i v i n g w ere e m p h a s iz e d .
Â m ixed c l a s s in t h e s e n i o r d e p a r tm e n t o f t h e S unday
S c h o o l o f C o llin g w o o d Avenue P r e s b y t e r i a n C hurch o f T o le d o ,
O hio d e c id e d t o s t u d y com m unity r e s o u r c e s . T h e i r s t u d y o f
t h e r e c r e a t i o n a l r e s o u r c e s r e v e a l e d v e r y l i t t l e b e in g done
^® C la u d e A. Brow n, "A S u rv e y o f th e R e c r e a t i o n a l
C u rr ic u lu m o f S e l e c t e d C h u r c h e s ," ( u n p u b lis h e d M a s t e r 's
t h e s i s . The U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u th e r n C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e le s ,
1 9 3 9 ).
M. P . P o l g e r , "Why N o t Have a C hurch L ib r a r y ? "
M is s io n a r y R e v ie w . 6 2 :4 1 5 , S e p te m b e r, 1 9 3 9 .
16
a lo n g c o - r e c r e a t i o n a l l i n e s . S in c e d a n c in g seem ed th e one
a c t i v i t y t h e y m o st d e s i r e d , t h e y t a l k e d o f h a v in g a d a n c e a t
th e c h u r c h . The m i n i s t e r , w h ile n o t o p p o se d t o d a n c i n g ,
d o u b te d t h e w isdom o f h a v in g t h e d a n c e a t t h e c h u r c h . They
w ere a b l e t o f i n d a c i t y p a r k s h e l t e r a m ile fro m t h e c h u rc h
w h ic h t h e y c o u ld r e n t f o r one d o l l a r an e v e n in g . T hey
d e c i d e d t o s p o n s o r a d a n c e fro m 8 o 'c l o c k t o 11 o 'c l o c k on
a c e r t a i n e v e n in g . F o r t h e p e o p le who a r r i v e d a h e a d o f tim e ,
t h e y p la n n e d a gam e, a n d d u r i n g t h e e v e n in g t h e y h a d s e v e r a l
f e a t u r e s t o e n a b le p e o p le t o become a c q u a i n t e d . I n t h i s way
good an d b a d d a n c e r s w ere th ro w n t o g e t h e r f o r a good t i m e .
A f t e r t h e d a n c e t h e y w e n t t o t h e c h u rc h f o r r e f r e s h m e n t s .
T h is p ro v e d so s u c c e s s f u l t h a t t h e y h a v e s i n c e h a d o t h e r
p a r t i e s , i n c l u d i n g r o l l e r - s k a t i n g , s k i i n g , c o a s t i n g , r e l i g i o u s
p l a y s , b a d m in to n , an d o t h e r g am es. T h is c h u r c h h a s now
becom e a p la y g ro u n d f o r t h e young p e o p le o f t h e com m unity.
T h ese a r e e x a m p le s , s t u d i e s , and e x p e r im e n ts i n c h u r c h -
c e n t e r e d r e c r e a t i o n . I t w ould seem t h a t t h e c h u rc h h a s
a lw a y s f a v o r e d th e i n t e l l e c t u a l and a e s t h e t i c a s p e c t s o f
c u l t u r e . I t h a s o p p o se d t h e s p e c t a c u l a r , b o i s t e r o u s , an d
b r u t a l ty p e s o f r e c r e a t i o n , w h ile f a v o r i n g n a t u r a l a c t i v i t i e s ,
s u c h a s w a lk in g , sw im m ing, and in f o r m a l g am es. I t h a s
J . M cK in ley , " E x p e rim e n t i n C h u rch C o - r e c r e a t i o n
C o llin g w o o d Avenue P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u rch , T o le d o , O h io ,"
R e c r e a t i o n . 3 3 :3 8 2 - 3 , O c to b e r , 1 939 .
17
o p p o se d s e c u l a r p l a y s b u t f a v o r e d r e l i g i o u s d ram a; i t h a s
o p p o s e d th e s o c i a l d a n c e , w h ile f a v o r i n g p a r t i e s , p i c n i c s ,
an d b a n q u e t s . I t h a s a lw a y s s t o o d f o r c h a r a c t e r d e v e lo p
ment.*^^
B u t th e c h u rc h i s com ing t o f e e l t h a t i t s o f f i c e i s
t o i n f l u e n c e a l l t h e peopJ.e o f th e com m unity i n e v e r y p h a se
o f l i f e . I t now s e e s t h e v a lu e o f p l a y a s a d e c i d e d l y
p o s i t i v e c o n t r i b u t o r t o th e p h y s i c a l , m o r a l, s p i r i t u a l , and
s o c i a l d e v e lo p m e n t o f a d u l t a s w e l l a s o f y o u th .
Im p o rta n c e o f r e c r e a t i o n i n th e c h u r c h 's p ro g ra m .
T h e re i s p r o b a b ly g e n e r a l a g re e m e n t on t h e f a c t t h a t t h e r e
i s m ore l e i s u r e tim e to d a y f o r a l a r g e r p r o p o r t i o n o f t h e
p e o p le th a n e v e r b e f o r e i n t h e w o r l d 's h i s t o r y . T h is h a s
l a r g e l y b e e n b r o u g h t a b o u t b y t e c h n o l o g i c a l c h a n g e s an d
l a b o r - s a v i n g d e v i c e s o f a l l k i n d s . The e x a c t am ount o f
l e i s u r e w h ic h th e a v e r a g e i n d i v i d u a l h a s a t h i s d i s p o s a l i s
n o t known, b u t E d u a rd C. L indem an i n h i s s tu d y o f L e i s u r e ,
i n 1 9 3 9 , s t a t e d t h a t ;
F o r p l a n n i n g p u r p o s e s we may th e n c o n c lu d e t h a t
A m e ric an w o rk e rs w i l l w ork 40 h o u r s , w i l l s l e e p
56 h o u r s , an d w i l l e n jo y 72 h o u r s o f l e i s u r e e a c h
w eek. I f t h o s e new i n c r e m e n ts o f l e i s u r e a r e n o t
t o becom e i d l e n e s s , w a s t e , o r o p p o r t u n i t y f o r s h e e r
21 W egener, o p . c i t . . p p . 2 1 - 2 2 ,
22 P o w e ll, p p . c i t . . p p . 1 3 -1 4 .
18
m i s c h i e f , i t becom es c l e a r t h a t we m ust f u r n i s h an
e n v iro n m e n t i n w h ic h f r e e c h o ic e s may be e x p r e s s e d
i n p o s i t i v e ways
Man i s a b l e t o p ro d u c e t h e n e c e s s i t i e s o f l i f e n o t o n ly in
l e s s tim e b u t w i t h t h e e x p e n d i tu r e o f l e s s e f f o r t th a n
p r e v i o u s l y . T h e r e f o r e , t h e r e i s m ore p o t e n t i a l pow er
r e l e a s e d f o r good o r f o r e v i l th a n e v e r b e f o r e . “The new
l e i s u r e i s th u s b o t h an a s s e t a n d a l i a b i l i t y . The v a l u e
o f i t d e p e n d s upon i t s u s e . “ 24
T h e re h a s a lw a y s b e e n an i n c l i n a t i o n on th e p a r t o f
some to m is u s e l e i s u r e t im e , b u t th e u s e o f l e i s u r e h a s
becom e a much m ore s e r i o u s p ro b le m s i n c e t h e am ount o f i t
h a s i n c r e a s e d so r a p i d l y . C om m ercial i n t e r e s t s h a v e ta k e n
a d v a n ta g e o f s o c i e t y * s u n p r e p a r e d n e s s t o m eet th e new l e i s u r e ,
b y o f f e r i n g a t t r a c t i v e a m u sem en ts. S in c e f i n a n c i a l p r o f i t
i s t h e u s u a l m o tiv e o f t h e s e c o m m e rc ia l c o n c e r n s , t h e i r
am usem ents a r e m ore a p t t o b e d e t r i m e n t a l th a n b e n e f i c i a l .
Too o f t e n th e y h a v e made g a m b lin g , d r i n k i n g , i m m o r a lity ,
d e b a s in g l i t e r a t u r e , and q u e s t i o n a b l e e n t e r t a i n m e n t seem
a t t r a c t i v e . Some o f t h e am u sem en ts, w h ich i n th e m s e lv e s a r e
h a r m l e s s , h a v e become m enaces b e c a u s e o f u n d e s i r a b l e s u r r o u n d
i n g s . .
E d u a rd C. L indem an, L e i s u r e — A N a t i o n a l I s s u e
(New Y ork; A s s o c i a t i o n P r e s s , 1 9 3 9 ), p . 1 7 .
24 M a rtin H. N eum eyer, L e i s u r e an d R e c r e a t io n (New
Y o rk ; A. S . B a rn e s an d Company, I n c o r p o r a t e d , 1 9 3 6 ), p . 2 5 .
19
U n le s s w holesom e r e c r e a t i o n i s p r o v id e d b y t h e p u b l i c
o r s e m i - p r i v a t e a g e n c i e s , l e i s u r e i s bound t o b e m is u s e d .
D e lin q u e n c y an d c r i m i n a l i t y o f t e n f o l lo w i n th e wake o f su ch
m is u s e . The c h u r c h e s , r e c o g n i z i n g t h i s m enace t o t h e y o u th ,
a r e a w ak e n in g to th e r e a l i z a t i o n t h a t t h e y s h o u ld p r o v id e
w holesom e r e c r e a t i o n f o r t h e young p e o p le o f t h e i r communi
t i e s .
One c h u rc h fo u n d t h a t b y f u r n i s h i n g r e c r e a t i o n a l
a c t i v i t i e s in i t s com m unity h o u s e , d e li n q u e n c y was g r e a t l y
r e d u c e d . The c o u r t s p a r o l e d many d e l i n q u e n t b o y s t o t h e
m i n i s t e r o f t h i s c h u r c h ; a l l b u t two ( t h e s e w ere m e n ta l
c a s e s ) made good a s soon a s t h e y h ad d e s i r a b l e a c t i v i t i e s
f o r t h e i r l e i s u r e t i m e , 25
The c h u rc h e s a r e com ing t o r e a l i z e t h a t t h e y n e e d t o
p r o v i d e w holesom e r e c r e a t i o n n o t o n l y t o c o u n t e r a c t t h e
e v i l s o f m is u s e d l e i s u r e , b u t b e c a u s e r e c r e a t i o n h a s d e f i n i t e
pow er i n c h a r a c t e r b u i l d i n g . T h ro u g h p l a y a r e l e a r n e d
l e s s o n s o f c o o p e r a t i o n , s e l f - d e n i a l , e n d u ra n c e a n d p e r s i s
t e n c e , w hich h e l p p r e p a r e c h i l d r e n t o f a c e b a t t l e s and
d i f f i c u l t i e s l a t e r in l i f e . T hro u g h games and o t h e r t y p e s
o f p h y s i c a l a c t i v i t y , one d e v e lo p s e n d u ra n c e o f m u s c le s an d
n e r v e s , k e e p s m e n t a l l y a l e r t , an d p r o d u c e s a j o y f u l and
25 Vÿebb ?\laldron, “A C hurch f o r A l l P e o p l e . “ R e a d e r s
D i g e s t . 4 0 :2 3 - 2 6 , A p r i l , 1 94 2. --------------
20
o p t i m i s t i c d i s p o s i t i o n . 26 i n w o rk in g w i t h m a t e r i a l s in
c r e a t i v e w o rk , one l e a r n s s e l f - c o n t r o l , p a t i e n c e , th e pow er
t o h o l d an o b j e c t i v e s t e a d i l y in v ie w , c o n c e n t r a t i o n , and
s k i l l . R e c r e a t i o n a l s o s t i m u l a t e s t h e c r e a t i v e , a p p r e
c i a t i v e , and r e f l e c t i v e l i f e o f th e i n d i v i d u a l .
R e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s b r i n g a s t r o n g s o c i a l i z i n g
i n f l u e n c e t o b e a r upon t h e I n d i v i d u a l s w i t h i n t h e g r o u p .
The s o c i a l a p p r o v a l o f o t h e r c h i l d r e n i s w o rth m ore th a n
a d u l t a p p r o v a l , an d p e o p le o f a l l a g e s w i l l s t r i v e f o r t h e
a p p r o v a l o f t h e g r o u p . B e lo n g in g to t h e g ro u p , s h a r i n g i t s
r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s an d p l e a s u r e s , d e v e lo p s t h e “ we fe e lin g ,* *
w h ich i s e x c e l l e n t p r e p a r a t i o n f o r d e m o c r a tic l i v i n g . G roup
games an d a c t i v i t i e s d e v e lo p s u c h c h a r a c t e r t r a i t s a s
c o o p e r a t i o n , c o u r t e s y , g e n e r o s i t y , t o l e r a n c e , j u s t i c e ,
f r i e n d s h i p , l o y a l t y , o b e d ie n c e , an d in g e n e r a l t h e a b i l i t y
t o g e t a lo n g w e l l w ith o t h e r s .
S in c e p l a y h a s p ro v e n i t s e l f t o be a f o r c e i n h a b i t
f o r m a tio n and c h a r a c t e r b u i l d i n g , no s o c i a l i n s t i t u t i o n ,
p a r t i c u l a r l y a c h u r c h , c an e l i m i n a t e r e c r e a t i o n fro m i t s
p ro g ra m . “The b o y s h o u ld d e v e lo p t h r o u g h t h e s e r e c r e a t i o n a l
a c t i v i t i e s t h e h a b i t o f a p p ly in g C h r i s t i a n i d e a l s t o h i s
26 N eum eyer, o p . c i t . . p . 7 8 .
2*7 O v e r s t r e e t , G uide t o C i v i l i z e d L e i s u r e
(New Y ork; W. W. N o rto n a n d Company, I n c o r p o r a t e d , 1 9 3 4 ),
p p . 3 6 -3 7
21
p l a y l i f e an d t o o t h e r s o c i a l c o n t a c t s . “ The c h u rc h can
p r o v i d e t h e m o st i d e a l s u r r o u n d in g and l e a d e r s h i p , and t h u s
le n d i t s I n f l u e n c e i n p r e v e n t i n g d e li n q u e n c y , r e d u c in g
c r i m i n a l i t y , r a i s i n g m o ra l s t a n d a r d s , and d e v e l o p in g sound
c h a r a c t e r .
“The c h u rc h * s n a t u r a l m eans o f a p p ro a c h , e s p e c i a l l y to
th e young l i f e o f t h e com m unity, i s th ro u g h t h e p l e a s u r e s
w h ic h i t o f f e r s to t h e m . Y o u n g p e o p le n e e d t o f e e l t h a t
th e c h u rc h i s i n t e r e s t e d in t h e i r w hole l i v e s , i n c l u d i n g p l a y .
W ith in th e c h u r c h , r e c r e a t i o n can be k e p t c l e a n and w holesom e.
The n a t u r a l s e l f i s h n e s s and d i s h o n e s t y w h ich c h i l d r e n d i s p l a y
i n u n d i r e c t e d p l a y , may b e c o r r e c t e d and c h an g e d i n t o d e s i r
a b l e t r a i t s u n d e r p r o p e r s u p e r v i s i o n .
P l a y and r e c r e a t i o n h a v e a d e f i n i t e r e l a t i o n s h i p to
r e l i g i o u s e d u c a t i o n , t h a t t h e y p o s s e s s i n h e r e n t v a lu e
a s m eans o f t r a i n i n g in C h r i s t i a n c h a r a c t e r , and t h a t
th e y t h e r e f o r e h a v e a v a l i d c la im upon th e t h o u g h t f u l
a t t e n t i o n o f t h o s e i n th e c h u rc h whose t a s k i t i s t o
l e a d t h e u n f o l d i n g l i f e o f c h ild h o o d and y o u th to i t s
h i g h e s t and b e s t e x p r e s s i o n .
S in c e i t i s e v i d e n t t h a t l e i s u r e i s w ith u s i n g r e a t e r
p r o p o r t i o n th a n e v e r b e f o r e , and s i n c e w holesom e r e c r e a t i o n
26 W. R a lp h L a P o r te , R e c r e a t i o n a l L e a d e r s h ip o f B oys
(New Y ork: The M e th o d is t Book C o n c e rn , 1 9 2 7 ) , p . 4 4 .
29 Howard P . Young, C h a r a c te r T h ro u g h R e c r e a t io n
( P h i l a d e l p h i a ; A m erican S un d ay S c h o o l U n io n , 1 9 1 5 ), p . 2 2 4 .
H e r b e r t W. G a t e s , R e c r e a t i o n a n d t h e C hurch
(C h ic a g o ; P u b l i c a t i o n s o f R e l i g i o u s E d u c a ti o n , 1 9 1 7 )7
p p . 2 0 - 2 1 .
22
o f f e r s t h e m eans by w h ic h l e i s u r e may be t u r n e d from m is e r y
i n t o h a p p i n e s s , i t seem ed e x p e d i e n t t o a s c e r t a i n j u s t w hat
th e c h u rc h e s w ere d o in g t o m eet t h i s c h a l l e n g e . T h u s, t h i s
s t u d y a p p e a re d s u f f i c i e n t l y im p o r ta n t to j u s t i f y i t s n e e d .
CHAPTER I I I
Tins MAT13RIAJÜS lEHSD AIM ) CIKIRCIDaS STUDIED
Q u e s t i o n n a i r e u s e d b y th e c h u rc h e s and how
a d m i n i s t e r e d . T h is s t u d y was begun in th e S p r in g o f 1941 b y
s e n d in g q u e s t i o n n a i r e s to f o r t y - t w o c h u rc h e s w i t h i n th e
b o u n d a r i e s o f th e W i l s h i r e d i s t r i c t a s s e t f o r t h i n t h i s
s t u d y .^ T h ese q u e s t i o n n a i r e s w ere m a ile d to th e m i n i s t e r s
o f t h e c h u r c h e s , a lo n g w i t h a l e t t e r e x p l a i n i n g how t h e
m a t e r i a l t h u s g a t h e r e d was t o b e u s e d . 2 A sta m p e d , s e l f -
a d d r e s s e d e n v e lo p e was e n c lo s e d a l s o , so t h a t t h e c h u r c h
w ould be a t no e x p e n se i n r e t u r n i n g th e q u e s t i o n n a i r e .
T w en ty -o n e q u e s t i o n n a i r e s w ere f i l l e d i n a n d r e t u r n e d
w i t h i n a few w e ek s. P o u r w ere r e t u r n e d u n c la im e d b y
c h u rc h e s w h ic h h a d a p p a r e n t l y c e a s e d t o e x i s t . A t t h e end
o f t h r e e w eeks a n o t h e r q u e s t i o n n a i r e was s e n t t o f i f t e e n
c h u rc h e s t h a t h ad n o t r e s p o n d e d . A l e t t e r e x p l a i n i n g th e
p u r p o s e o f th e s t u d y , and a sta m p e d , s e l f - a d d r e s s e d e n v e lo p e ,
w ere e n c l o s e d w ith t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e . (S e co n d q u e s t i o n
n a i r e s w ere n o t s e n t t o th e two C h r i s t i a n S c ie n c e c h u rc h e s
^ C f. a n t e , p . 3 .
P
A c o p y o f th e q u e s t i o n n a i r e and l e t t e r may be
fo u n d i n t h e A p p e n d ix , p p . 1 3 1 -1 3 3 .
24
w h ic h f a i l e d to r e s p o n d , s i n c e i t was a s c e r t a i n e d fro m t h e
S c ie n c e c h u rc h e s t h a t d i d r e p l y , a n d th r o u g h c o n v e r s a t i o n
w ith m embers o f t h a t d e n o m in a tio n , t h a t S c ie n c e c h u rc h e s
d i d n o t s p o n s o r a n y r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s . ) T h is se c o n d
e f f o r t b r o u g h t r e p l i e s fro m t h r e e m ore c h u r c h e s . I n
S e p te m b e r, 1 9 4 1 , a t h i r d l e t t e r , q u e s t i o n n a i r e , and sta m p e d
s e l f - a d d r e s s e d e n v e lo p e , w ere s e n t t o t h e c h u rc h e s w hich
s t i l l h a d n o t r e s p o n d e d . Two m ore r e p l i e d b y e i t h e r f i l l i n g
i n t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e o r b y a l e t t e r o f e x p l a n a t i o n . Of th e
f o r t y - t w o c h u r c h e s t h a t w ere s e n t q u e s t i o n n a i r e s , o n ly
t w e n t y - s i x r e s p o n d e d i n a n y way,
Q u e s t i o n n a i r e u s e d b y p a r t i c i p a n t s . I n o r d e r to
a s c e r t a i n th e a t t i t u d e o f t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s to w a rd th e
r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ra m s o f t h e c h u r c h e s , a se c o n d ty p e o f
q u e s t i o n n a i r e was u s e d . ^ W ith th e p e r m is s io n o f th e
p r i n c i p a l o f th e j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l w here th e i n v e s t i g a t o r
t a u g h t , t h e s e q u e s t i o n n a i r e s w ere u s e d among 180 o f t h e
p u p i l s i n h e r c l a s s e s . The p u rp o s e o f t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e
was e x p la in e d to th e p u p i l s b e f o r e t h e y f i l l e d them i n , so
t h e y w ould f e e l no r e s t r a i n t in a n s w e rin g th e q u e s t i o n s .
T hey w ere t o l d t h a t t h e y d i d n o t n e e d t o s ig n t h e i r nam es
u n l e s s t h e y f e l t t h a t t h e y h a d b e e n u n a b le t o e x p r e s s
3
O f. p o s t . A p p e n d ix , p . 1 3 3 .
25
th e m s e lv e s s u f f i c i e n t l y th r o u g h th e q u e s t i o n n a i r e , o r u n l e s s
t h e y w ish e d t o t a l k f u r t h e r w i t h th e i n v e s t i g a t o r a b o u t t h e
m a t t e r o f r e c r e a t i o n .
Q u e s t i o n n a i r e s w ere g iv e n t o th e r e c r e a t i o n a l
d i r e c t o r s o f th e c h u rc h e s h a v in g m ore e x t e n s i v e p ro g ra m s .
T hese d i r e c t o r s c o o p e r a t e d b y h a v in g th e q u e s t i o n n a i r e s
f i l l e d i n b y p u p i l s i n t h e S u n d ay s c h o o l o r S u n d ay e v e n in g
g ro u p s o f t h e h i g h s c h o o l and c o l l e g e d e p a r t m e n t s . O n ly
tw e n ty - s e v e n o f t h e s e q u e s t i o n n a i r e s w ere c o m p le te d a n d
r e t u r n e d t o th e i n v e s t i g a t o r .
P e r s o n a l i n t e r v i e w w i t h m i n i s t e r a n d c h u r c h l e a d e r s .
B etw een J a n u a r y an d J u n e , 1 9 4 2 , th o s e c h u rc h e s w h ic h h a d an
e x t e n s i v e r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ram w ere c o n t a c t e d a g a i n . A
p e r s o n a l i n t e r v i e w was made w i t h t h e m i n i s t e r ( o r h i s
a s s i s t a n t ) an d th e r e c r e a t i o n a l l e a d e r s whom t h e s e c h u rc h e s
e m p lo y ed . The o b j e c t o f th e p e r s o n a l i n t e r v i e w was t o
c l a r i f y a n y p o i n t s w h ich h a d n o t b e e n made c l e a r on t h e
q u e s t i o n n a i r e . An e f f o r t was a l s o made to d e te r m i n e t h e
a t t i t u d e o f t h e s e l e a d e r s to w a rd t h e i r r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ra m s ,
an d t o a s c e r t a i n t h e i r r e a s o n s f o r h a v in g a r e c r e a t i o n a l
p ro g ra m .
C h u rc h e s s t u d i e d . I n c l u d e d i n t h i s s t u d y w e re
c h u r c h e s o f e le v e n m a jo r d e n o m in a tio n s b e s i d e s se v e n m ore
i n d i v i d u a l i s t i c c h u r c h e s . The d e n o m in a tio n s i n c l u d e d w e re ;
26
C a t h o l i c , J e w is h , C h r i s t i a n S c i e n t i s t , P r e s b y t e r i a n ,
C h r i s t i a n , L u th e r a n , M e t h o d is t, B a p t i s t , E p i s c o p a l , C o n g re
g a t i o n a l , L a t t e r - D a y S a i n t s , U n i t y , and C h i r o t h e s i a n . A
l i s t o f th e c h u r c h e s t o w h ich q u e s t i o n n a i r e s w ere s e n t may
b e fo u n d in t h e A p p e n d ix .^ The s i x t e e n c h u rc h e s from w h ic h
no q u e s t i o n n a i r e s w ere r e t u r n e d w ere n o t i n c l u d e d i n t h i s
s t u d y . N ine c h u r c h e s t h a t d i d r e p l y , s a i d t h e y h a d no
r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ra m . F o u r o f t h e s e n i n e d i d n o t c h e c k a n y
g ro u p s o r a c t i v i t i e s on t h e i r q u e s t i o n n a i r e s , so no f u r t h e r
s t u d y was made o f th e m . F iv e o f t h e s e , a lt h o u g h s a y in g t h e y
h a d n o r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ra m , d i d c h e c k some o f t h e g ro u p s
and a c t i v i t i e s l i s t e d . T h e se f o u r , an d n i n e o t h e r s h a d
s u c h l i m i t e d p ro g ra m s , t h a t th e s t u d y o f t h e i r r e c r e a t i o n a l
p ro g ra m s was b a s e d o n ly on t h e i n f o r m a ti o n s e c u r e d from t h e
q u e s t i o n n a i r e s . A m ore th o ro u g h s t u d y was made o f t h e e i g h t
c h u r c h e s w h ic h h ad e x t e n s i v e r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ra m s . The
s t u d y o f th e p ro g ra m s o f t h e s e c h u rc h e s was b a s e d on t h e
i n f o r m a t i o n s e c u r e d fro m t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e s an d fro m
p e r s o n a l i n t e r v i e w s w i t h t h e m i n i s t e r s an d r e c r e a t i o n a l
l e a d e r s .
^ C f. p o s t . A p p e n d ix , p . 1 3 4 .
CHAPTER IV
THE RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS
Q u e s t i o n n a i r e s w ere s e n t to f o r t y - t w o c h u r c h e s o f
t h e W i l s h i r e D i s t r i c t , b u t o n l y t w e n t y - s i x r e t u r n e d t h e i r
q u e s t i o n n a i r e s . Of t h e s e , f i v e h ad no r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ra m ,
so no f u r t h e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n was g iv e n t o them . A s tu d y o f
t h e r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ram s o f t h e tw e n ty - o n e c h u r c h e s , w hose
q u e s t i o n n a i r e s w ere r e t u r n e d w i t h i n f o r m a ti o n c o n c e rn in g
t h e i r r e c r e a t i o n , w i l l b e made in t h i s c h a p t e r . The s t u d y
w i l l be d i v i d e d i n t o th e f o l lo w in g t h r e e d i v i s i o n s : (1 ) a
s t a t i s t i c a l s t u d y o f t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e s o f a l l tw e n ty -o n e
c h u r c h e s ; (2 ) t h e p ro g ra m s o f t h e c h u rc h e s h a v in g l i m i t e d
r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ra m s ; and (3) t h e p ro g ram s o f t h e c h u r c h e s
h a v in g e x t e n s i v e r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ra m s.
T h ro u g h o u t t h i s s t u d y , a d u l t g ro u p s ( i n c l u d i n g men * s ,
wom en*s, an d m ixed) w ere c o n s i d e r e d a s t h o s e b ey o n d c o l l e g e
a g e , o r fro m a b o u t t w e n t y - t h r e e y e a r s o f a g e o n . T h o se o f
c o l l e g e a g e , fro m e ig h t e e n to t w e n t y - t h r e e y e a r s , w ere
i n c l u d e d in th e g ro u p s f o r young men and young women.
A c t i v i t i e s f o r t h o s e u n d e r c o l l e g e a g e fro m n i n e t o e i g h t e e n
y e a r s , w ere p l a c e d i n th e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n c a l l e d boys* an d
g i r l s * g r o u p s .
28
I . STATISTICAL STUDY OP THE QUESTIONNAIRES
O r g a n i z a t i o n s f o r women. As may be se e n fro m T a b le I
a l l o f th e c h u rc h e s e x c e p t f o u r r e p o r t e d some ty p e o f
o r g a n i z a t i o n f o r women. I t was f e l t t h a t p r o b a b ly even
t h e s e f o u r h a d some g ro u p s f o r women, b u t t h a t th e p e r s o n
f i l l i n g i n th e q u e s t i o n n a i r e h a d n o t c h e c k e d i t s i n c e t h e
p r im a r y p u rp o s e o f t h e g ro u p was n o t r e c r e a t i o n . T h e re
w ere f o r t y - o n e o r g a n i z a t i o n s r e p o r t e d b y th e s e v e n te e n
c h u r c h e s t h a t d i d c h e c k women’ s g r o u p s . O f t h e s e , f i v e
w ere m i s s i o n a r y in p u r p o s e , t h i r t e e n o r g a n i z e d p r i m a r i l y to
f u r t h e r th e work o f t h a t p a r t i c u l a r c h u rc h , an d f i v e w h ic h
com bined t h e s e two p u r p o s e s . S ew ing c i r c l e s w ere r e p o r t e d
b y s i x c h u r c h e s , an d tw e lv e g ro u p s w ere c h e c k e d w h ic h c o u ld
n o t b e c l a s s i f i e d . T h e re w ere r e a l l y i^pany m ore th a n f o r t y -
one g ro u p s w i t h i n t h e s e c h u r c h e s , f o r i n th e l a r g e r c h u r c h e s
e a c h o f th e b i g o r g a n i z a t i o n s was d i v i d e d i n t o many g r o u p s .
The l a r g e r c h u r c h e s fo u n d i t d e s i r a b l e t o d i v i d e t h e
o r g a n i z a t i o n i n t o s m a l l e r g ro u p s ( u s u a l l y d o n e on a
g e o g ra p h ic b a s i s ) so t h a t th e women c o u ld becom e b e t t e r
a c q u a i n t e d w i t h e a c h o t h e r , an d h a v e g r e a t e r e a s e i n g e t t i n g
to t h e m e e ti n g s .
O r g a n i z a t i o n s f o r m en. A c c o rd in g t o t h e f a c t s
r e v e a l e d in T a b le I I , f o u r t e e n o f th e tw e n ty - o n e c h u r c h e s
h a d a m en’ s c l u b . T h a t was t h e o n ly ty p e o f o r g a n i z a t i o n
29
TABLE I
ORGANIZATIONS FOR W OM EN BY CRÜRCHES
CHURCH GuiId"*^ L a d ie s M is s io n -
A id a r y
S ew ing O th e r s
C i r c l e
T o t a l f o r e a c h 5 13 5 6 12
Amanda C h a p el 1 0 0 0 0
A r l i n g t o n A ve. C h r i s t i a n 0 0 0 0 0
B e t h e l E v a n g e l i c a l L u th . 0 1 1 0 1
C h r i s t th e K in g ( G a th .) 0 0 0 1 1
C ochran A ve. B a p t i s t 0 0 0 0 0
Mogen D a v id C o n g r e g a tio n 0 0 0 0 0
P ic o H e ig h ts C h r i s t i a n 0 1 0 0 0
S c h a e f l e M em o rial 0 1 0 1 0
B i n a i Tem ple 0 1 0 0 0
S t . P a u l ’ s M e th o d is t 1 0 0 1 0
S t . Thomas C a t h o l i c 0 0 0 0 0
W i l s h i r e B a p t i s t 1 0 0 0 0
W i l s h i r e B lv d . Tem ple 0 1 0 1 0
C a t h e d r a l C h a p e l 0 0 0 0 2
C h u rch o f th e L a t t e r - D a y 0 0 0 0 2
Im m anuel P r e s b y t e r i a n 0 1 1 1 4
S t . Jam es E p is c o p a l 0 5 1 0 0
W i l s h i r e C h r i s t i a n 1 ' 0 0 1 0
W i l s h i r e C r e s t P r e s b y t e r i a n 0 1 1 0 0
W i l s h i r e M e th o d is t 1 0 0 0 0
W i l s h i r e P r e s b y t e r i a n 0 1 1 0 2
^ In c h u rc h e s w here th e u s u a l L a d ie s* A id an d M is s io n a r y
S o c i e t y a c t i v i t i e s w ere com bined i n t o one o r g a n i z a t i o n ,
th e i n v e s t i g a t o r d e s i g n a t e d i t . a s a g u i l d i n t h e s e t a b l e s .
^ I n d i c a t e s a s e p a r a t i o n o f th e c h u r c h e s w ith l i m i t e d
r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ram s fro m t h o s e e x t e n s i v e p ro g ra m s .
30
TABLE I I
»S CLUB AND MIXED ORGANIZATIONS BY CHURCHES
CHURCH M I X E D G R 0 U P S
Men’ 8 S u n d ay
Young o t h e r s
C lu b E v e n in g M a r rie d
T o t a l f o r e a c h 14 6 6 2
Amanda C h a p e l ( E p is c o p a l) 1 0 1 0
A r l i n g t o n A ve. C h r i s t i a n 0 0 0 0
B e t h e l E v a n g e l i c a l L u th e r a n 1 0 0 0
C h r i s t th e K ing ( C a t h o l i c ) 1 0 0 0
C o ch ran Avenue B a p t i s t 1 O 0 0
Mogen D av id C o n g re g a tio n ( J e w is h ) 1 0 0 0
P ic o H e ig h ts C h r i s t i a n 0 0 0 0
S c h a e f l e M em o rial C o n g r e g a t io n a l 1 0 0 0
S i n a i Tem ple (J e w is h ) 1 0 0 0
S t . P a u l ’ s M e th o d is t 0 0 0 0
S t . Thomas C a t h o l i c 0 0 0 0
W i l s h i r e B a p t i s t 0 0 0 0
W i l s h i r e B o u le v a r d T em ple (J e w is h ) 1 0 0 0
C a t h e d r a l C h a p el ( C a t h o l i c ) 1 0 0 0
C h u rc h o f th e L a t t e r - D a y S a i n t s 2 0 1 0
Im m anual P r e s b y t e r i a n 1 3 0 0
S t . Jam es E p is c o p a l 0 1 0 0
W i l s h i r e C h r i s t i a n 1 0 1 1
W i l s h i r e C r e s t P r e s b y t e r i a n 0 0 1 0
W i l s h i r e M e th o d is t 1 1 2 1
W i l s h i r e P r e s b y t e r i a n 0 1 0 0
31
f o r men e x c e p t S u n d ay s c h o o l c l a s s e s , w hich w ere n o t
i n c l u d e d i n t h i s s t u d y .
O r g a n i z a t i o n s f o r men a n d women. I n T a b le I I , may
a l s o b e fo u n d t h e f i g u r e s f o r t h e num ber o f g r o u p s i n w h ich
men an d women m et t o g e t h e r . E ig h t c h u r c h e s r e p o r t e d a
t o t a l o f f o u r t e e n su c h g r o u p s . S ix o f t h e s e w ere o f t h e
C h r i s t i a n E n d e a v o r t y p e , m e e tin g on S unday e v e n i n g s . F iv e
o f t h e c h u rc h e s h a d s i x g ro u p s f o r young m a r r i e d c o u p l e s ,
one c h u r c h h a v in g tw o s u c h g r o u p s . The o t h e r g ro u p s w ere a
d r a m a ti c c lu b an d an o r g a n i z a t i o n f o r b u s i n e s s men an d
women •
O r g a n i z a t i o n s f o r young p e o p l e . I n s t u d y i n g
T a b le I I I , i t may r e a d i l y b e se e n t h a t t h r e e c h u r c h e s had
o r g a n i z a t i o n s f o r young women. T h e re w ere f o u r s u c h
o r g a n i z a t i o n s , s i n c e one c h u rc h h a d two g r o u p s . T h e re w ere
se v en o r g a n i z a t i o n s f o r young m en, r e p o r t e d b y f i v e c h u r c h e s .
S i x t e e n c h u r c h e s r e p o r t e d no o r g a n i z a t i o n o f a n y k in d f o r
young m en. M ixed g ro u p s f o r young p e o p le seem ed m ore in
dem and, f o r e le v e n c h u r c h e s r e p o r t e d g ro u p s w h ic h i n c l u d e d
b o t h young men and young women. E i g h t o f t h e s e o r g a n i z a t i o n s
w ere t h o s e m e e tin g r e g u l a r l y S u n d ay e v e n in g s , a s a C h r i s t i a n
E n d e a v o r ty p e o f g r o u p . T h re e w ere g ro u p s w h ich m et d u r i n g
t h e week f o r s t u d y an d r e c r e a t i o n . N ine c h u r c h e s r e p o r t e d
no o r g a n i z a t i o n o f a n y k in d f o r t h e young p e o p le o f t h e i r
32
TABLE I I I
ORGANIZATIONS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE BY CHURCHES
CHURCH Young Young M ixed
•
Women Men G roup s
T o t a l f o r e a c h 4 7 11
Amanda C h a p el ( E p is c o p a l) 0 0 0
A r l i n g t o n Avenue C h r i s t i a n 0 0 1
B e th e l E v a n g e l i c a l L u th e r a n 1 0 0
C h r i s t t h e K ing ( C a t h o l i c ) 0 0 0
C o ch ran A venue B a p t i s t 0 0 1
Mogen D a v id C o n g re g a tio n (J e w is h ) 0 0 0
P ic o H e ig h ts C h r i s t i a n 0 0 0
S c h a e f l e M em o rial C o n g r e g a t io n a l 0 0 0
S i n a i Tem ple ( J e w is h ) 0 0 0
S t . P a u l ’ s M e th o d is t 0 0 0
S t . Thomas C a t h o l i c 0 0 0
W i l s h i r e B a p t i s t 0 0 1
W i l s h i r e B o u le v a r d Tem ple (J e w is h ) 0 0 0
C a t h e d r a l C h a p e l ( C a t h o l i c ) 0 0 1
C h u rc h o f t h e L a t t e r - D a y S a i n t s 1 1 1
Im m anuel P r e s b y t e r i a n 2 2 1
S t . Jam es E p is c o p a l 0 0 1
W i l s h i r e C h r i s t i a n 0 1 1
W i l s h i r e C r e s t P r e s b y t e r i a n 0 1 1
W i l s h i r e M e th o d is t 0 2 1
W i l s h i r e P r e s b y t e r i a n 0 0 1
33
c h u r c h e s .
0 r g a n 1 z a t l o n s f o r g i r l s . As may b e se e n fro m
T a b le IV , n i n e c h u rc h e s h a d no g i r l s * c l u b s o f a n y k i n d .
The o t h e r tw e lv e c h u rc h e s r e p o r t e d a t o t a l o f tw e n ty -tw o
c l u b s f o r g i r l s . Some o f t h e s e w ere s tu d y and r e c r e a t i o n a l
c l u b s w h ich m et d u r i n g t h e w eek, a n d some w ere c h o i r c l u b s .
T h re e o f t h e s e c l u b s w ere f o r g i r l s u n d e r j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l
a g e . S i x o f t h e c h u r c h e s r e p o r t e d se v e n c lu b s f o r g i r l s o f
j u n i o r h ig h s c h o o l a g e , w h ile f o u r c h u r c h e s r e p o r t e d f i v e
g ro u p s f o r s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l g i r l s . The sev en c l u b s f o r
m ix ed a g e s r e p o r t e d b y f o u r c h u r c h e s , w ere f o r t h e m o st p a r t
g i r l s * c h o i r s .
O r g a n i z a t i o n s f o r b o y s . By r e f e r r i n g t o T a b le V, i t
may be fo u n d t h a t e i g h t e e n o f th e tw e n ty -o n e c h u r c h e s h ad
a t l e a s t one c lu b f o r b o y s . A l t o g e t h e r t h e s e e i g h t e e n
c h u r c h e s f u r n i s h e d s i x t y - n i n e c lu b s f o r b o y s o f h i g h s c h o o l
a g e o r y o u n g e r. By f a r t h e g r e a t e r n u m b er, f o r t y - e i g h t ,
w ere c o n n e c te d w ith t h e Young Men’ s C h r i s t i a n A s s o c i a t i o n .
Ten o f t h e s e w ere f o r j u n i o r b o y s , f i f t e e n f o r j u n i o r h ig h
s c h o o l a g e , and t w e n t y - t h r e e f o r b o y s o f s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l .
G roup s s p o n s o re d b y t h e Boy S c o u ts o f A m erica w ere n e x t
n u m e ro u s, t h e r e b e in g s e v e n te e n o f th em . One o f t h e s e was
a Cub T ro o p f o r b o y s u n d e r t w e lv e , f o u r t e e n w ere r e g u l a r
Boy S c o u t T ro o p s f o r b o y s o v e r tw e lv e y e a r s o f a g e , an d two
34
TABLE IV
GIRLS* CLUBS BY CHURCHES
CHURCH J u n i o r s J u n i o r
H ig h
S e n i o r
H ig h
Mixedii
T o t a l f o r e a c h 3 7 5 7
Amanda C h a p e l ( E p is c o p a l) 1 1 0 1
A r l i n g t o n Avenue C h r i s t i a n 0 0 0 1
B e t h e l E v a n g e l i c a l L u th e ra n 0 0 0 0
C h r i s t th e K in g ( C a t h o l i c ) 0 0 0 0
C o c h ran A venue B a p t i s t 0 0 0 0
Mogen D a v id C o n g r e g a tio n ( J e w is h ) 0 0 0 0
P ic o H e ig h ts C h r i s t i a n 0 0 0 0
S c h a e f l e M em o rial C o n g r e g a t io n a l 0 0 0 0
S i n a i T em ple (J e w is h ) 0 0 0 1
S t . P a u l* s M e th o d is t 0 0 0 1
S t . Thomas C a t h o l i c 0 0 0 0
W i l s h i r e B a p t i s t 0 0 0 3
W i l s h i r e B o u le v a rd Tem ple (J e w is h ) 0 0 1 0
C a t h e d r a l C h a p e l ( C a t h o l i c ) 0 0 0 0
C h u rch o f th e L a t t e r - D a y S a i n t s 0 0 2 0
Im m anuel P r e s b y t e r i a n 1 1 1 0
S t . Jam es E p is c o p a l 0 1 0 0
W i l s h i r e C h r i s t i a n 0 0 0 0
W i l s h i r e C r e s t P r e s b y t e r i a n 0 1 0 0
W i l s h i r e M e th o d is t 1 2 0 0
W i l s h i r e P r e s b y t e r i a n 0 1 1 0
# M ixed a g e o r a g e s n o t g i v e n .
35
TABLE V
BOYS* CLUBS BY CHURCHES
CHURCH SCOUTING
Cub S c o u t S ea
Y. M.
Y .T r ib e
G. A.
J r . H i
GROUPS
-Y H i- Y
OTHER*
T o t a l f o r e a c h 1 14 "2" 10 15 23 4
Amanda C h a p el
( E p is c o p a l) 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
A r l i n g t o n A ve.
C h r i s t i a n 0 1 0 0 1 1 0
B e t h e l E v an g .
L u th e ra n 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
C h r i s t th e K ing
( C a t h o l i c ) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
C ochran Avenue
B a p t i s t 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Mogen D a v id Con
g r e g a t i o n 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
P ic o H e ig h ts
C h r i s t i a n 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
S c h a e f l e M em o rial
C o n g r e g a tio n a l 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
S i n a i Tem ple
( J e w is h ) 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
S t . Paul* 8 M eth . 0 0 0 0 1 1 0
S t . Thomas C a th . 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
W i l s h i r e B a p t i s t 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
W i l s h i r e B lv d .
Tem ple (J e w is h ) 0 1 1 0 0 0 0
C a t h e d r a l C h a p e l
C h u rc h o f L a t t e r -
0 1 0 0 0 0 0
Day S a i n t s
Im m anuel P r e s b y
0 1 0 0 0 0 1
t e r i a n 0 1 1 3 4 7 1
S t . Jam es E p i s . 1 1 0 0 1 2 0
W i l s h i r e C h r i s t . 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
W i l s h i r e C r e s t
P r e s b y t e r i a n 0 1 0 1 1 5 0
W i l s h i r e M eth. 0 1 0 3 6 6 0
W i l s h i r e P r e s b y
t e r i a n 0 1 0 2 1 1 0
36
w ere S ea S c o u t T ro o p s f o r b o y s o v e r f i f t e e n y e a r s o f a g e who
a r e p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t e r e s t e d i n n a v i g a t i o n . T h e re w ere f o u r
m i s c e l l a n e o u s c l u b s , w h ic h i n c l u d e d boys* c h o i r s an d a
b o x in g c l u b . T h e re w ere o n ly t h r e e c h u rc h e s t h a t r e p o r t e d
no s p e c i a l g ro u p s f o r b o y s a s p a r t o f t h e i r o r g a n i z a t i o n .
M ixed g ro u p s f o r b o y s a n d g i r l s . A c c o rd in g t o t h e
f a c t s r e v e a l e d in T a b le V I, s i x t e e n c h u rc h e s h a d some ty p e
o f o r g a n i z a t i o n f o r b o y s a n d g i r l s t o g e t h e r , w h ile s i x
c h u r c h e s o f f e r e d no su c h o r g a n i z a t i o n . The s i x t e e n c h u rc h e s
o f f e r e d t w e n t y - e i g h t o r g a n i z a t i o n s f o r m ixed g r o u p s , s e v e n
te e n o f w h ic h w ere th e C h r i s t i a n E n d e a v o r ty p e o f g r o u p .
U n d e r t h a t h e a d in g w ere i n c l u d e d a l l g ro u p s m e e tin g r e g u l a r
l y on S u n d ay s b u t w h ich w ere n o t d i r e c t l y c o n n e c te d w i t h
S u n d a y s c h o o l c l a s s e s . T h e re w ere two c h u r c h e s t h a t h a d
g r o u p s o f t h i s k in d m e e tin g S u n d ay m o rn in g f o r c h i l d r e n o f
th e j u n i o r a g e p e r i o d . T h ese g r o u p s m et w h ile r e g u l a r
c h u r c h s e r v i c e was in p r o g r e s s . S ix c h u rc h e s h a d C h r i s t i a n
E n d e a v o r ty p e g ro u p s f o r c h i l d r e n o f j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l a g e .
Some o f t h e s e m et i n th e m o rn in g w h ile r e g u l a r c h u rc h
s e r v i c e was g o in g o n , an d some o f them m et i n t h e e v e n i n g .
F o r b o y s an d g i r l s o f s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l a g e , n i n e c h u rc h e s
h a d o r g a n i z a t i o n s w h ich m et r e g u l a r l y e v e r y S u nday e v e n in g .
T h e re w ere e i g h t c h u r c h e s w i t h a t o t a l o f e le v e n g r o u p s ,
n o t i n c l u d e d i n t h e a b o v e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n . Some o f t h e s e
37
TABLE VI
MIXED GROUPS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS BY CHURCHES
CHURCH CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR*
OTHER*
J u n i o r J r . H i g h S r .H ig h
T o t a l f o r e a c h
2 6 g Yl
Amanda C h a p e l ( E p is c o p a l) 0 0 0 0
A r l i n g t o n A venue C h r i s t i a n 0 1 1 1
B e t h e l E v a n g e l i c a l L u th e ra n 0 0 0 1
C h r i s t t h e K ing ( C a t h o l i c ) 0 0 0 0
C o c h ran A venue B a p t i s t 0 1 1 0
Mogen D av id C o n g r e g a tio n ( J e w is h ) 0 0 0 0
P ic o H e ig h ts C h r i s t i a n 0 0 0 1
S c h a e f l e M em o rial C o n g r e g a t io n a l 0 0 0 2
S i n a i T em ple ( J e w is h ) 0 0 0 0
S t . P a u l* s M e th o d is t 0 0 0 1
S t . Thomas C a t h o l i c 0 0 0 1
W i l s h i r e B a p t i s t 0 0 . 1 0
W i l s h i r e B o u le v a rd Tem ple (J e w is h ) 0 0 0 0
C a t h e d r a l C h a p e l ( C a t h o l i c ) - 0 0 0 1
C h u rch o f th e L a t t e r - D a y S a i n t s 0 0 0 0
Im m anuel P r e s b y t e r i a n 1 1 1 3
S t . Jam es E p is c o p a l 0 0 1 0
W i l s h i r e C h r i s t i a n 0 1 1 0
W i l s h i r e C r e s t P r e s b y t e r i a n 0 1 1 0
W i l s h i r e M e th o d is t 0 0 1 0
W i l s h i r e P r e s b y t e r i a n 1 1 1 0
T h ese i n c l u d e d g ro u p s m e e tin g r e g u l a r l y on S u n d a y , b u t n o t
S u n d ay s c h o o l g r o u p s .
T h is i n c l u d e d g ro u p s o f th e C h r i s t i a n E n d e a v o r t y p e , w here
t h e a g e o f g ro u p was n o t g i v e n .
38
g r o u p s w ere C h r i s t i a n E n d e a v o r S o c i e t i e s in w h ic h t h e a g e o f
t h e g ro u p was n o t g i v e n , some w ere c h i l d r e n ’ s c h o i r s , and
some w ere g r o u p s t h a t m et d u r i n g t h e week f o r r e l i g i o u s
i n s t r u c t i o n an d r e c r e a t i o n .
I I . PROGRAMS OF THE CHURCHES HAVING LIMITED
RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS
Amanda C h a p e l. T h is i s an E p i s c o p a l i a n c h u rc h w h ic h
i n 1941 h a d a m em b ersh ip o f 4 5 0 . I t o f f e r e d no c lu b f o r
b o y s e x c e p t t h e S u n d a y s c h o o l a n d a b o y s ’ c h o i r . F o r th e
g i r l s t h e r e w ere p r o v id e d a g i r l s ’ c h o i r , a G i r l s F r i e n d l y
S o c i e t y o f a b o u t tw e lv e m em bers, and a J u n i o r G i r l s F r i e n d l y
S o c i e t y o f f i f t e e n m em bers. T h e re was a Men’ s C lub an d a
Woman’ s G u i l d . The Woman’ s G u ild was d i v i d e d i n t o g r o u p s ,
two o f w h ic h w ere f o r young m o th e r s . E ach o f t h e s e g ro u p s
h a d s o c i a l a f f a i r s in c o n n e c tio n w i t h t h e i r u s u a l w ork f o r
th e c h u r c h . T h e re was a l s o a l i v e o r g a n i z a t i o n f o r young
m a r r i e d p e o p l e . T h is g ro u p h a d d a n c e s , p a r t i e s , o r o t h e r
s o c i a l g a t h e r i n g s a b o u t o n c e a m o n th . The c h u r c h em ployed
no r e c r e a t i o n a l d i r e c t o r , n o r d i d i t s p o n s o r a n y a t h l e t i c
a c t i v i t i e s . I t was e q u ip p e d w ith c lu b room s an d a s t a g e
f o r d r a m a t i c s .
A r l i n g t o n A venue C h r i s t i a n C h u r c h . T h is c h u rc h h a d
t h r e e c lu b s f o r b o y s ; a Boy S c o u t T ro o p , a J r . H i-Y , an d a
39
H i-Y . The g i r l s h a d a T r i a n g l e C lu b . T h e re w ere t h r e e
y o u th g r o u p s , w h ic h p re s u m a b ly w ere s i m i l a r to C h r i s t i a n
E n d e a v o r C h r i s t i a n Y o u th F e l l o w s h i p . A d a n c in g c lu b was
c h e c k e d among t h e m i s c e ll a n e o u s g r o u p . I t c h e c k e d b a s k e t
b a l l , v o l l e y b a l l , t e n n i s , s k a t i n g , h o r s e b a c k r i d i n g , an d
b i c y c l i n g , a s th e a t h l e t i c a c t i v i t i e s w h ich t h e c h u rc h
s p o n s o r e d . The c h u rc h was e q u ip p e d w i t h gym nasium , c lu b
ro o m s, an d a s t a g e f o r d r a m a t i c s . The o n l y r e c r e a t i o n a l
l e a d e r a t t h i s c h u rc h was a p a r t - t i m e v o l u n t a r y boys* w ork
d i r e c t o r .
B e t h e l E v a n g e l i c a l L u th e ra n C h u rc h . None o f t h e
u s u a l c h a r a c t e r - b u i l d i n g g ro u p s w ere c h e c k e d a s b e in g
s p o n s o r e d b y t h i s c h u r c h . T h e re w as a L u t h e r L e a g u e , w h ich
was an o r g a n i z a t i o n s i m i l a r in ty p e t o t h e E p w o rth L eague
o r C h r i s t i a n E n d e a v o r b u t p e c u l i a r t o th e L u th e r a n C h u rc h .
The o t h e r g ro u p s s p o n s o r e d b y t h i s c h u rc h w ere : L a d i e s ’
A id S o c i e t y , women’ s m i s s i o n a r y s o c i e t y , young women’ s c l u b ,
a n d a m en’ s c l u b . V o l l e y b a l l and b a d m in to n w ere s p o n s o r e d
b y t h e c h u r c h , w h ic h h a d no o t h e r f a c i l i t i e s f o r r e c r e a t i o n .
I t h a d no r e c r e a t i o n a l w o r k e r s , e i t h e r v o l u n t a r y o r p a i d .
C h r i s t th e K ing C a t h o l i c C h u rc h . The p e rs o n f i l l i n g
i n th e q u e s t i o n n a i r e f o r t h i s c h u r c h , c h e c k e d “n o ” r e c r e a
t i o n a l p ro g ram f o r i t s m em b ersh ip o f t h i r t e e n h u n d r e d . I t
h a d a sew in g c i r c l e , a m en’ s c l u b , an d an “ o t h e r “ g r o u p .
40
I t h ad no p a i d o r v o l u n t a r y r e c r e a t i o n a l l e a d e r s . I t was
e q u ip p e d w i t h c lu b ro o m s.
C o ch ran A venue B a p t i s t C h u rc h . A ch an g e o f m i n i s t e r s
h a d ta k e n p l a c e a t t h i s c h u rc h j u s t t h r e e m o n th s b e f o r e t h i s
s t u d y was m ade. The m i n i s t e r c h e c k e d t h a t t h e c h u r c h h a d no
r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ra m “a s y e t . “ W ith th e q u e s t i o n n a i r e , he
s e n t a n o t e e x p l a i n i n g h i s r e c e n t a r r i v a l a t t h a t c h u r c h .
He c h e c k e d m en’ s c lu b a n d t h r e e g r o u p s o f B a p t i s t Young
P e o p l e ’ s U n io n , a s t h e o n ly c l u b s o r g r o u p s e x i s t i n g a t
t h a t t im e . The c h u r c h had no r e c r e a t i o n a l f a c i l i t i e s o r
l e a d e r s h i p . The m i n i s t e r I n d i c a t e d on t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e
t h e p l a n s f o r r e c r e a t i o n w h ic h h e h o p e d t o c a r r y o u t a s
soon a s p o s s i b l e . He e x p e c te d to h a v e a Y .T r ib e an d
a n o t h e r b o y s ’ c l u b . F o r th e g i r l s , h e p la n n e d t o e s t a b l i s h
a g ro u p o f G i r l R e s e rv e s and a n o t h e r c l u b . The c h u r c h a t
t h a t tim e h a d no a t h l e t i c a c t i v i t i e s , b u t t h e new m i n i s t e r
p la n n e d on b e g in n i n g b a s k e t - b a l l , v o l l e y v a i l , b a d m in to n ,
b a s e b a l l , s h u f f l e b o a r d , d e c k t e n n i s , an d h o r s e - s h o e s . He
a l s o h o p ed t o d e v e lo p a p la y g r o u n d . He e x p e c te d soon t o
em plo y a p a r t - t i m e p a i d b o y s ’ w o r k e r , and a p a r t - t i m e p a id
g i r l s ’ w o r k e r, a s w e ll a s a p a r t - t i m e v o l u n t a r y d i r e c t o r
o f d r a m a t i c s .
Mogen D av id C o n g r e g a t io n . T h is J e w is h c h u rc h a t th e
tim e o f t h i s s t u d y c o m p ris e d one h u n d re d f a m i l i e s . I t h a d
41
n o f a c i l i t i e s f o r r e c r e a t i o n . The c h u r c h s p o n s o re d a Boy
S c o u t T ro o p an d a m en’ s c l u b . No f u r t h e r i n f o r m a ti o n was
g iv e n on t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e r e t u r n e d b y t h i s c h u r c h .
P ic o H e ig h ts C h r i s t i a n C h u rc h . T h is c h u r c h w i t h a
m em b ersh ip o f 525 d i d n o t c la im t o h a v e a n y r e c r e a t i o n a l
p ro g ra m . I t d i d h a v e a p a r t - t i m e v o l u n t a r y b o y s ’ w ork
d i r e c t o r who s p o n s o r e d some ty p e o f c l u b , l i s t e d u n d e r
“ other*® among t h e b o y s ’ c l u b s . I t h a d a C h r i s t i a n E n d e a v o r
S o c i e t y an d a L a d i e s ’ A id S o c i e t y . The o n l y r e c r e a t i o n a l
f a c i l i t y c h e c k e d was a s t a g e f o r d r a m a t i c s .
S c h a e f l e M em o rial C o n g r e g a t io n a l C h u rc h . A Boy S c o u t
T ro o p was th e o n l y b o y s ' c lu b th e n e x i s t i n g a t t h i s c h u rc h ,
b u t th e c h u r c h was p l a n n i n g t o h a v e Young Men’ s C h r i s t i a n
A s s o c i a t i o n g ro u p s f o r t h e j u n i o r , j u n i o r h i g h , a n d h ig h
s c h o o l a g e s . T h e re w ere no c l u b s f o r g i r l s . C h r i s t i a n
E n d e a v o r S o c i e t y , L a d i e s ’ A id S o c i e t y , se w in g c i r c l e ,
m en’ s c l u b , an d d r a m a ti c c lu b w ere c h e c k e d on th e q u e s t i o n
n a i r e . V o l l e y b a l l was th e o n l y a t h l e t i c a c t i v i t y c h e c k e d
a n d th e m i n i s t e r re m a rk e d t h a t t h e i r e q u ip m e n t, th o u g h
m e a g e r, was b e in g im p ro v e d . He s t a t e d t h a t t h e y t o o k t h e i r
young p e o p le on s u p e r v i s e d r i d i n g , r o l l e r s k a t i n g , an d snow
p a r t i e s , a s w e ll a s on h i k e s an d t o summer cam ps. The
c h u r c h had no r e c r e a t i o n a l l e a d e r s e x c e p t a p a r t - t i m e
v o l u n t a r y b o y s ’ w ork d i r e c t o r .
42
S i n a i T em p le . T h is J e w is h c h u r c h s p o n s o re d a Boy
S c o u t T ro o p an d a f r i e n d l y s o c i e t y f o r i t s young p e o p l e .
T h e re was a L a d i e s ’ A id and a m en’ s c lu b f o r t h e o l d e r
m em bers o f t h e T em p le. I t was e q u ip p e d w i t h c lu b room s
a n d a l i b r a r y b u t m e n tio n e d no o t h e r r e c r e a t i o n a l f a c i l i
t i e s o r a c t i v i t i e s .
S t . P a u l ’ s M e th o d is t C h u rc h . A m em b ersh ip o f t h r e e
h u n d re d was s e r v e d b y t h i s c h u r c h . I t s r e c r e a t i o n a l g ro u p s
f o r b o y s w ere t h o s e s p o n s o re d b y t h e Young Men’ s C h r i s t i a n
A s s o c i a t i o n — a J r .H i - Y , and a H i-Y g r o u p . F o r th e g i r l s
t h e r e was a F r i e n d l y S o c i e t y . The c h u r c h had. an E p w o rth
L e a g u e , a se w in g c i r c l e , and t h e u n i f i e d o r g a n i z a t i o n f o r
women’ s w o rk . The o n ly a t h l e t i c a c t i v i t y c h e c k e d was
b a s k e t - b a l l , a l t h o u g h th e c h u rc h was e q u ip p e d w i t h a
gym nasium . T h is c h u rc h h a d no p a i d em p lo y ees s e r v i n g a s
r e c r e a t i o n a l d i r e c t o r s , b u t h a d a p a r t - t i m e v o l u n t a r y b o y s ’
w ork d i r e c t o r a n d a p a r t - t i m e v o l u n t a r y g i r l s ’ w ork
d i r e c t o r .
S t . Thomas C a t h o l i c C h u rc h . N e i t h e r y e s ” o r “n o ”
was c h e c k e d b y t h i s c h u rc h a s t o h a v in g a r e c r e a t i o n a l
p ro g ra m . I t i n d i c a t e d some p h a s e s o f r e c r e a t i o n , h o w e v e r,
on t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e . I t s p o n s o re d two c l u b s f o r c h i l d r e n ;
a Boy S c o u t T ro o p a n d a C hi Rho C lub f o r b o y s and g i r l s o f
h i g h s c h o o l a g e . The c h u rc h g r o u p s p la y e d b a s k e t - b a l l .
43
v o l l e y b a l l , an d b a s e b a l l . A p la y g r o u n d a n d a s t a g e f o r
d r a m a t i c s w ere f a c i l i t i e s w h ic h th e c h u rc h h a d t o o f f e r .
I n th e em ploy o f t h i s c h u r c h w ere a p a r t - t i m e p a id boys*
w ork d i r e c t o r and a p a r t - t i m e p a id g i r l s * w ork d i r e c t o r .
W l l s h i r e B a p t i s t C h u rc h . A q u e s t i o n n a i r e was n o t
f i l l e d i n b y t h i s c h u r c h , b u t t h e m i n i s t e r w ro te a l e t t e r
e x p l a i n i n g th e p ro g ram w h ic h e x i s t e d . T h e re was an a c t i v e
g ro u p o f f i f t e e n i n a s e n i o r B a p t i s t Young P e o p le * s U n io n .
The c h u rc h s p o n s o r e d two W orld Wide G u ild s o c i e t i e s , e a c h
w i t h a b o u t t e n m em bers. The m em bers o f t h e s e s o c i e t i e s w ere
g i r l s fro m te n t o s i x t e e n y e a r s o f a g e . T h e re w ere a b o u t
s e v e n te e n g i r l s o f t h i s same a g e i n a j u n i o r c h o i r . The
o n l y c lu b f o r b o y s was a Y .T r ib e w i t h a b o u t f i f t e e n m em bers.
The c o l l e g e a g e young p e o p le fo rm ed an o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e i r
own. T h is was a v e r y l i v e m ixed g ro u p , n o t c o n n e c te d w i t h
a n y r e c o g n i z e d o r g a n i z a t i o n o u t s i d e o f t h i s p a r t i c u l a r
c h u r c h . The women h a d s i x c i r c l e s w i t h a b o u t f i f t e e n
m em bers i n e a c h . T h e i r f u n c t i o n was p r i m a r i l y r e l i g i o u s ,
b u t t h e y a l s o d i d sew in g f o r t h e Red C r o s s , f o r h o s p i t a l s ,
and o t h e r g r o u p s i n n e e d o f su c h s u p p o r t .
W i l s h i r e B o u le v a r d T em ple C o n g r e g a tio n — B*Nai B * R ith .
T h is i s a l a r g e J e w is h g ro u p w ith 950 f a m i l i e s , b u t i t
c la im e d t o h av e no r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ram i n 1 9 4 1 , The r a b b i
c h e c k e d a Boy S c o u t T ro o p an d a l s o a S ea S c o u t T ro o p . T h e re
44
was a c lu b f o r g i r l s o f h ig h s c h o o l a g e . A L a d ie s* A id , a
se w in g c i r c l e , and a men* s c lu b w ere l i s t e d a s o t h e r g ro u p s
f u n c t i o n i n g . Among t h e m i s c e l l a n e o u s c l u b s , d r a m a t i c ,
l i t e r a r y , and d a n c in g c l u b s w ere c h e c k e d . I t l a i d no c la im
t o a t h l e t i c a c t i v i t i e s , n o r a n y ty p e o f r e c r e a t i o n a l
d i r e c t o r . I t h a d a l i b r a r y , a s t a g e f o r d r a m a t i c s , m oving -
p i c t u r e e q u ip m e n t, a n d c lu b ro o m s.
PROGRAMS OP CHURCHES HAVING EXTENSIVE
RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS
Women * s a c t i v i t i e s . A l l e i g h t o f th e c h u r c h e s com
p r i s i n g t h i s g ro u p h a d some ty p e o f o r g a n i z a t i o n f o r women,
a n d m o st o f them h a d m ore th a n o n e . T h e re w ere s e v e n te e n
o r g a n i z a t i o n s w i t h i n t h e s e e i g h t c h u r c h e s , an d i n m o st o f
t h e l a r g e r c h u rc h e s e a c h o f t h e s e m a jo r o r g a n i z a t i o n s was
d i v i d e d i n t o s m a l l e r g r o u p s , e a c h w i t h i t s own o f f i c e r s
and o r g a n i z a t i o n .
C a t h e d r a l C h a p e l h a d two o r g a n i z a t i o n s f o r women.
One was made up o f th e m o th e r s o f t h e p u p i l s a t t e n d i n g t h e
P a r i s h s c h o o l . I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e i r b u s i n e s s , t h e y a lw a y s
h a d a m o n th ly t e a . The women who w ere i n c h a rg e o f t h e
a l t a r h a d an o r g a n i z a t i o n i n c o n n e c tio n w i t h t h e i r d u t i e s .
S e v e r a l tim e s d u r i n g t h e y e a r t h e y m et f o r d i n n e r .
The C h u rch o f J e s u s C h r i s t o f th e L a t t e r - D a y S a i n t s
h a d two s e p a r a t e g ro u p s f o r women, a l t h o u g h t h e y w ere a l l
45
m em bers o f th e Young W omen's M u tu a l Im provem ent A s s o c i a t i o n .
T hose u n d e r t h i r t y - f i v e y e a r s o f a g e w ere i n one g ro u p , a n d
t h o s e o v e r t h i r t y - f i v e y e a r s in th e o t h e r . T h e se g ro u p s
m et o n ce a week t o d i s c u s s com m unity and n a t i o n a l p ro b le m s .
Once d u r i n g t h e m o n th th e m e e tin g was m ore i n t h e n a t u r e o f
a r e c r e a t i o n a l th a n an e d u c a t i o n a l p ro g ra m .
Im m anuel P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u rch h ad f i v e o r g a n i z a t i o n s
f o r women b e s i d e s two w om en's S u n d ay s c h o o l c l a s s e s t h a t h a d
s o c i a l a f f a i r s . A b r i e f o u t l i n e o f th e a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e s e
se v e n g r o u p s , w h ic h w ere r e c r e a t i o n a l i n n a t u r e , a r e g iv e n
h e r e .
The Women's M i s s i o n a r y S o c i e t y was th e l a r g e s t o f
th e o r g a n i z a t i o n s , h a v in g an a c t i v e m em b ersh ip o f o v e r s i x
h u n d re d f i f t y . W h ile th e p r im a r y f u n c t i o n o f t h i s g ro u p was
( a s th e name i m p l i e s ) m i s s i o n a r y , e d u c a t i o n a l o p p o r t u n i t i e s
an d f r i e n d l y f e l l o w s h i p w ere a l s o t o b e fo u n d . The S o c i e t y
m et a s a w hole one m o rn in g o f e v e r y m o n th . A t n o o n , t h e
g ro u p g a t h e r e d f o r lu n c h e o n . The M i s s i o n a r y S o c i e t y was
d i v i d e d i n t o e i g h t e e n g u i l d s , e a c h w i t h i t s own o f f i c e r s .
E ach g u i l d m et o n ce a m o n th , u s u a l l y f o r lu n c h e o n a t t h e
c h u r c h , b u t so m e tim es i n t h e a f t e r n o o n a t t h e home o f one
o f i t s m em bers. S in c e t h e s e g ro u p s w ere s m a l l e r , t h e r e was
g r e a t e r o p p o r t u n i t y f o r f r i e n d s h i p , s o c i a b i l i t y , an d u s e f u l
s e r v i c e .
The p u rp o s e o f t h e Women's A id S o c i e t y was to a s s i s t
46
i t s own c h u rc h an d conim unlty. T h is S o c i e t y m et one m o rn in g
d u r i n g t h e m o n th , w h ic h i n c l u d e d lu n c h a t t h e c h u r c h . Once
d u r i n g th e m onth th e S o c i e t y s p o n s o r e d a c h u rc h t e a i n t h e
home o f one o f i t s m em bers. The S o c i e t y was d i v i d e d i n t o
e le v e n c i r c l e s , e a c h w i t h i t s own o f f i c e r s . E ach o f t h e s e
c i r c l e s m et once a m o n th , e i t h e r f o r lu n c h a t t h e c h u r c h ,
o r d u r i n g t h e a f t e r n o o n i n one o f t h e hom es.
The Sew ing C i r c l e m et e v e r y Monday m o rn in g t o sew f o r
t h e C h i l d r e n ’ s H o s p i t a l an d o t h e r g ro u p s n e e d in g s u c h
s e w in g . The g ro u p h a d lu n c h t o g e t h e r a t t h e c h u r c h .
A n o th e r g ro u p m e e tin g on ce a m o n th , f o r a m o rn in g m e e tin g ,
l u n c h , an d an a f t e r n o o n m e e tin g , was t h e M other* s C o u n c il.
T h is g ro u p was com posed o f m o th e r s o f t h e c h u rc h and S u n d ay
s c h o o l c h i l d r e n .
The B u s in e s s Women’ s L eague was an o r g a n i z a t i o n t o
p ro m o te f r i e n d s h i p among b u s i n e s s and p r o f e s s i o n a l women.
T h is g ro u p m et once a m onth f o r d i n n e r a t th e c h u r c h , a f t e r
w h ic h t h e y h a d t h e i r b u s i n e s s m e e tin g . Two S u n d ay s c h o o l
c l a s s e s f o r women m et on ce d u r i n g th e m onth f o r d i n n e r an d
a s o c i a b l e g a t h e r i n g .
The p la n f o r women’ s o r g a n i z a t i o n s a t S t . Jam es
E p i s c o p a l C h u rch was q u i t e d i f f e r e n t from t h a t i n th e o t h e r
c h u r c h e s . T h e re was a Women’ s A u x i l i a r y , w h ich was th e
m i s s i o n a r y s o c i e t y f o r a l l th e m m en i n th e c h u r c h who
c a r e d t o b e lo n g . T hey m et one m o rn in g a m onth f o r com m union.
47
p ro g ra m , an d b u s i n e s s m e e tin g . Som etim es t h e y h a d lu n c h e o n
t o g e t h e r . I n s t e a d o f t h e r e b e i n g one L a d i e s ’ A id g r o u p ,
t h e r e w ere f i v e s u c h o r g a n i z a t i o n s , known a s G u i l d s ,
S o r o r i t y , o r D a u g h te rs o f t h e K in g . E ach was an e n t i r e l y
s e p a r a t e o r g a n i z a t i o n , w i t h i t s own c o n s t i t u t i o n and
o f f i c e r s . E ac h u n d e r to o k i t s own w ork, w hich was l a r g e l y
some ty p e o f im pro vem en t a ro u n d th e c h u r c h . E ach h a d one
o r two m e e tin g s d u r i n g t h e m o n th , a t w h ic h tim e i t c o n d u c te d
b u s i n e s s , h a d a p ro g ra m , a n d some ty p e o f s o c i a l g e t - t o
g e t h e r . The m ain o b j e c t o f e a c h g ro u p seem ed to be to
r a i s e m oney f o r c h u r c h p u r p o s e s . S o c i a l a c t i v i t y was o f t e n
m ixed i n w i t h t h i s m o n e y - r a is in g p l a n , b y h a v in g a lu n c h e o n
o r a b r i d g e p a r t y t o w h ic h th e o t h e r g ro u p s w ere i n v i t e d ,
an d f o r w h ic h t i c k e t s w ere s o l d . T h ese g ro u p s u s u a l l y
j o i n e d t o g e t h e r a t C h r is tm a s t im e , in one b i g b a z a a r , t h e
o b j e c t o f w h ic h was to r a i s e m oney. T hey u s u a l l y u n i t e d
f o r c e s i n h a v in g a b i g c h u rc h d i n n e r a t th e tim e o f c h u rc h
e l e c t i o n .
A t W l l s h i r e C h r i s t i a n C h u rch t h e r e was a L a d i e s ’ A id
and a Sew ing C i r c l e . The L a d i e s ’ A id was d i v id e d i n t o
tw e lv e g ro u p s e a c h o f w h ich h ad i t s m o n th ly m e e tin g i n
a d d i t i o n to th e m o n th ly m e e tin g o f t h e S o c i e t y a s a w h o le .
E a c h o f t h e s e m e e tin g s had some ty p e o f g e t - t o - g e t h e r in
a d d i t i o n to i t s b u s i n e s s an d s e r v i c e . The Sew ing C i r c l e m et
e v e r y week a t t h e c h u r c h . S i n c e i t was an a l l - d a y m e e tin g .
48
th e women b r o u g h t t h e i r l u n c h e s , an d c o f f e e was f u r n i s h e d .
T hey sew ed f o r c h a r i t a b l e i n s t i t u t i o n s *
W i l s h i r e C r e s t P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u rch bad a L a d i e s ’ A id
S o c i e t y and a M i s s i o n a r y S o c i e t y e a c h o f w h ic h m et on ce a
m onth* E ach o f t h e s e two o r g a n i z a t i o n s was d i v i d e d i n t o
s m a l l e r g r o u p s , and e a c h o f t h e s e h a d m e e tin g s once a m o n th .
A p a r t o f e a c h m e e tin g was d e v o te d t o f r i e n d l i n e s s , w i t h
e i t h e r a lu n c h o r r e f r e s h m e n t s b e in g se rv e d *
T h ro u g h o u t M ethodism t h e r e h a d r e c e n t l y ta k e n p l a c e a
u n io n o f a l l th e women’ s o r g a n i z a t i o n s w h ich f o r m e r l y had
s e p a r a t e o r g a n i z a t i o n s * The new o r g a n i z a t i o n — The Women’ s
S o c i e t y o f C h r i s t i a n S e r v i c e - - h a d a b s o r b e d th e L a d i e s ’ A id
S o c i e t y , th e Woman’ s F o r e ig n M i s s i o n a r y S o c i e t y , a n d t h e
Woman’ s Home M i s s i o n a r y S o c i e t y , b u t h a d c a r r i e d on t h e
p u rp o s e o f a l l th r e e * T h is was t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n f u n c t i o n i n g
a t th e W i l s h i r e M e th o d is t C h u rch f o r a l l t h e women. I t h a d
i t s m e e tin g s once a m o n th , w h ic h u s u a l l y i n c l u d e d a lu n c h e o n ,
w here th e women h a d an e x c e l l e n t o p p o r t u n i t y t o g e t b e t t e r
a c q u a i n t e d . The m ain s o c i e t y was d i v i d e d i n t o c i r c l e s ,
a c c o r d i n g t o t h e g e o g r a p h ic l o c a t i o n o f i t s m em bers. E ach
o f t h e s e c i r c l e s u s u a l l y m et f o r lu n c h e o n once a m o n th . In
t h a t w ay, f r i e n d s h i p an d s o c i a b i l i t y w ere p ro m o te d .
W i l s h i r e P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u rch h a d f o u r s e p a r a t e
o r g a n i z a t i o n s f o r t h e women. The W i l s h i r e Women’ s G u ild was
o r g a n i z e d t o f u r t h e r t h e s o c i a l and c u l t u r a l l i v e s o f t h e
49
women, a l t h o u g h d e v o t i o n a l s fo rm ed a p a r t o f e a c h m e e tin g .
A n o th e r p u r p o s e o f th e g ro u p was to r a i s e m oney f o r im p ro v e ^
m e n ts a ro u n d t h e c h u r c h . T h is G u ild m et o n c e a m onth a t t h e
c h u r c h . I t was d i v i d e d i n t o f i v e c i r c l e s , one o f w h ich w as
f o r b u s i n e s s women. E ac h o f t h e s e c i r c l e s m et once a m onth
f o r lu n c h o r d i n n e r i n c o n n e c tio n w i t h t h e i r r e g u l a r m e e tin g .
The W i l s h i r e Women’ s M i s s i o n a r y S o c i e t y m et th e same d a y a s
t h e G u ild , one m e e tin g i n t h e m o rn in g an d the o t h e r i n t h e
a f t e r n o o n , w ith a lu n c h e o n b e tw ee n t h e two m e e ti n g s . One
m onth t h e M i s s i o n a r y S o c i e t y m et i n th e m o rn in g , w i t h t h e
G u ild m e e tin g a f t e r lu n c h ; th e n e x t m onth t h e G u ild m et i n
t h e m o rn in g , .w h ile t h e M i s s i o n a r y S o c i e t y m et a f t e r l u n c h .
The M is s io n a r y S o c i e t y was p r i m a r i l y t o e d u c a te th e women
a lo n g m i s s i o n a r y l i n e s a n d t o h e l p f u r t h e r t h e w ork o f
m i s s i o n s , b u t t h e lu n c h o f f e r e d a good c h a n c e f o r f r i e n d l y
a s s o c i a t i o n o f t h e women. The W i l s h i r e Women’ s S e r v i c e
L eag u e was a l s o an o r g a n i z a t i o n f o r women. T h is g ro u p
e m p h a siz e d th e s o c i a l s i d e , a lt h o u g h t h e y d i d some m i s s i o n a r y
s t u d y and s e r v i c e . T hey a l s o m et f o r lu n c h on ce a m o n th .
The y o u n g e r women h a d a n o t h e r o r g a n i z a t i o n s i m i l a r t o th e
s e r v i c e l e a g u e i n e v e r y w ay, e x c e p t t h a t i t was f o r y o u n g e r
women.
Men’ s a c t i v i t i e s . F iv e o f th e e i g h t c h u r c h e s i n c l u d e d
i n t h i s p a r t o f t h e s t u d y h ad o r g a n i z a t i o n s f o r m en, one o f
50
th e c h u rc h e s h a v in g two s u c h g r o u p s .
A t C a t h e d r a l C h a p e l t h e r e was a l i v e o r g a n i z a t i o n
w h ich a t t r a c t e d b etv /een two and t h r e e h u n d re d men t o i t s
m e e t i n g s . One S u n d ay m o rn in g a m onth (s o m e tim e s o n ce a
q u a r t e r ) t h e s e men m et f o r H o ly Communion. A f t e r t h a t t h e
g ro u p w ent t o t h e c a f e t e r i a i n t h e P a r i s h s c h o o l f o r b r e a k
f a s t , w h ic h w ould b e f o llo w e d b y d i s c u s s i o n an d g e n e r a l
s o c i a b i l i t y . A bout o n ce a q u a r t e r th e g ro u p m et f o r a sm oker
i n th e e v e n i n g . A t t h a t tim e th e y w ould h av e a p ro m in e n t
s p e a k e r fro m t h e i r own P a r i s h . S om etim es s u b j e c t s o f c i v i c
i n t e r e s t w ere d i s c u s s e d , b u t m ore f r e q u e n t l y i t was some
t o p i c h a v in g to do w i t h s p o r t s .
The C h u rch o f t h e L a t t e r - D a y S a i n t s h a d two o r g a n i z a
t i o n s f o r men, t h e Young-.Men’ s M u tu a l Im p ro v em en t A s s o c i a t i o n
w h ic h was r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s o f a l l
t h e men i n t h e c h u r c h , an d t h e H igh P r i e s t s w h ic h was
p r i m a r i l y r e l i g i o u s i n p u r p o s e . The Young Men’ s M u tu a l
Im p ro v em en t A s s o c i a t i o n m et r e g u l a r l y w i t h th e Young Women’ s
M u tu a l Im pro vem ent A s s o c i a t i o n one e v e n in g a w eek. A f t e r t h e
g e n e r a l m e e tin g , w h ich was r e l i g i o u s and e d u c a t i o n a l in
n a t u r e , th e m em bers o f t h e two A s s o c i a t i o n s s e p a r a t e d a c c o r d
in g to a g e . T h e s e m e e tin g s p ro m o te d f r i e n d s h i p , and d e v e lo p e d
a m u tu a l i n t e r e s t i n c i v i c and e d u c a t i o n a l m a t t e r s . I t was
t h i s A s s o c i a t i o n (w o rk in g w i t h th e women’ s a s s o c i a t i o n ) t h a t
p ro m o te d a l l r e c r e a t i o n a l a f f a i r s , w h ic h to o k p l a c e two o r
51
t h r e e F r i d a y e v e n in g s d u r i n g e a c h m o n th . T h e se a r e d i s c u s s e d
m ore i n d e t a i l u n d e r “M ixed a c t i v i t i e s f o r men an d women" and
“M ixed g ro u p s f o r young p e o p l e . " The o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e
H ig h P r i e s t s h a d a m e e tin g o n ce a m o n th t o w h ic h t h e w iv e s
w ere i n v i t e d . ' A t t h a t tim e t h e y w ould h av e a p ro g ra m , a
d i n n e r , a d a n c e , o r p o s s i b l y a c o m b in a tio n o f t h e s e
a c t i v i t i e s .
Im m anuel P r e s b y t e r i a n h a d a l a r g e g ro u p o f men i n i t s
Men’ s C lu b . The p u rp o s e o f t h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n was t h r e e f o l d :
t o p ro m o te a c q u a i n t a n c e and f e l l o w s h i p among t h e men o f th e
c h u r c h ; to e n c o u ra g e t h e men in a c t i v e p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f
c h u r c h a f f a i r s ; an d to d e v e lo p - a n d f u r t h e r t h e i n t e r e s t o f
i t s m em bers i n c i v i c an d p u b l i c a f f a i r s . T h e s e men m et f o r
d i n n e r once a m o n th . A f t e r d i n n e r t h e r e was a p ro g ra m ,
c o n s i s t i n g o f com m unity s i n g i n g a n d a p ro m in e n t s p e a k e r . Once
a y e a r t h e Men’ s C lub s p o n s o r e d a b i g p i c n i c t o w h ic h a l l th e
m em b ersh ip o f f o r t y - f i v e h u n d re d w ere i n v i t e d . T h is p i c n i c
was h e l d on th e O c c i d e n t a l C o lle g e Campus on a S a t u r d a y in
t h e e a r l y a f t e r n o o n . D u rin g t h e a f t e r n o o n t h e r e w ere a l l
k i n d s o f gam es an d c o n t e s t s t a k i n g p l a c e , i n c l u d i n g swim m ing,
t e n n i s , v o l l e y b a l l , b a d m in to n , h o r s e s h o e s , a r c h e r y , and
s o f t b a l l . T h is was f o llo w e d b y a b a s k e t s u p p e r , w h ic h was
made m ore a p p e t i z i n g b y th e lem onade a n d c o f f e e f u r n i s h e d by
th e Men’ s C lu b .
The Men’ s C lub a t W i l s h i r e C h r i s t i a n C hurch m et one
52
S u n d a y a m onth f o r an e a r l y b r e a k f a s t . A f t e r t h i s m ore
s o c i a b l e p h a s e o f t h e g a t h e r i n g , t h e r e was b u s i n e s s to
t r a n s a c t , a n d a p ro g ra m . The s p e a k e r was u s u a l l y a man
p r o m in e n t i n r e l i g i o u s o r c i v i c c i r c l e s . T h is same g ro u p
o f men a l s o m et a f t e r t h e W ednesday e v e n in g p r a y e r m e e tin g
f o r an h o u r ’ s p l a y i n v o l l e y b a l l . U s u a l l y th e Men’ s C lub
h a d some p r o j e c t w h ic h i t s p o n s o r e d . A t t h e tim e o f t h i s
s t u d y , th e g ro u p was i n t e r e s t e d i n d e v e lo p in g m ore b o y s ’
c l u b s w i t h i n th e c h u r c h .
A t W i l s h i r e M e th o d is t t h e m en’ s c lu b was e x p e r i e n c i n g
a l u l l i n i t s d e v e lo p m e n t. I t h a d c e a s e d to h a v e r e g u l a r
m e e ti n g s , a lt h o u g h i t h a d s p o n s o re d a s e r i e s o f S u n d ay
e v e n in g fo ru m s d u r i n g th e w i n t e r an d s p r i n g o f 1 9 4 2 . The
c lu b p r o v i d e d p ro m in e n t s p e a k e r s f o r t h e s e m e e tin g s w hich
d e a l t w i t h th e war i s s u e s .
M ixed a c t i v i t i e s f o r men a n d women. A l l b u t one o f
t h e e i g h t c h u r c h e s h a d some ty p e o f o r g a n i z a t i o n o r a c t i v i t y
w h ich i n c l u d e d men a n d women. C a t h e d r a l C h a p e l seem ed to
s p o n s o r no g ro u p o f t h i s s o r t .
The C h u rch o f J e s u s C h r i s t o f th e L a t t e r - D a y S a i n t s
h a d one o f t h e m o st e x t e n s i v e r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ram s o f t h e
e i g h t c h u r c h e s i n c l u d e d i n t h i s s t u d y . T h e i r young p e o p l e ’ s
o r g a n i z a t i o n s — The Young Men’ s M u tu a l Im provem ent A s s o c i a t i o n
an d t h e Young Women’ s M u tu a l Im prov em ent A s s o c i a t i o n — w ere
r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s o f a l l t h e p e o p le
53
In t h e c h u rc h . E ac h o r g a n i z a t i o n h a d a p r e s i d e n t an d two
c o u n s e l l o r s who p la n n e d th e y e a r l y p ro g ra m o f t h a t p a r t i c u l a r
W ard. (E a c h i n d i v i d u a l c h u rc h u n i t was known a s a w ard
r a t h e r th a n a s a c h u r c h .) The B is h o p ( a s th e m i n i s t e r o f
th e w ard was c a l l e d ) m et w ith t h e o f f i c e r s o f t h e s e Im p ro v e
m ent A s s o c i a t i o n s , o r a t l e a s t gave h i s a p p r o v a l t o t h e
p ro g ram w h ic h t h e y h a d p la n n e d f o r t h e e n s u in g y e a r . The
s e v e r a l w ard s o f a c i t y o r c o u n ty fo rm ed a s t a k e . The s t a k e
a l s o h ad i t s M u tu a l Im p rovem ent A s s o c i a t i o n s , w h ich f o r m u la te d
p l a n s f o r th e e n t i r e s t a k e , a s w e ll a s m aking s u g g e s t i o n s f o r
th e p ro g ram s f o r t h e i n d i v i d u a l w a rd s .
The Young Men’ s an d Young Women’ s M u tu a l Im provem ent
A s s o c i a t i o n s m et t o g e t h e r e v e r y T u e sd a y e v e n i n g . A f t e r a
h a l f h o u r ’ s r e l i g i o u s o r e d u c a t i o n a l p ro g ram i n t h e c h u r c h
a u d i t o r i u m , t h e y s e p a r a t e d i n t o g ro u p s a c c o r d i n g to a g e . In
a d d i t i o n t o t h i s T u e s d a y e v e n in g p ro g ra m , p a r t i e s a n d m ore
e l a b o r a t e r e c r e a t i o n a l a f f a i r s w ere p la n n e d f o r two o r m ore
F r i d a y e v e n in g s d u r i n g t h e m o n th .
When t h e s e g r o u p s s e p a r a t e d a c c o r d i n g to a g e , t h e r e
was a g ro u p o f young m a r r i e d p e o p le t h a t m et t o g e t h e r . T hey
h a d p a r t i e s and s o c i a l f u n c t i o n s o f t h e i r own i n a d d i t i o n t o
t h e i r r e g u l a r s t u d y o f t o p i c s o f m u tu a l i n t e r e s t t o su c h a
g r o u p . T hey a t t e n d e d th e d a n c e s , p l a y s , an d o t h e r r e c r e a
t i o n a l a f f a i r s w h ich w ere s p o n s o re d b y t h e M u tu a l Im provem ent
A s s o c i a t i o n s o f t h i s w ard and a l s o o f t h e s t a k e .
54
T h e re w ere t h r e e d i f f e r e n t g ro u p s o f C h r i s t i a n
E n d e a v o r f o r men an d women a t Im m anuel P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u rc h .
One was known a s th e Forum C. E. S o c i e t y f o r p e o p le fro m
t w e n t y - f o u r t o tw e n ty - n i n e y e a r s o f a g e . T h is g ro u p m et
e v e r y T u e s d a y e v e n in g f o r p l a y n i g h t i n t h e gym nasium .
B adm inton was t h e f a v o r i t e game o f t h i s g ro u p , and u s u a l l y
k e p t t h r e e b a d m in to n c o u r t s b u s y f o r t h a t e v e n in g . The o t h e r
two g r o u p s w ere f o r t h o s e fro m t w e n t y - e i g h t t o f o r t y - t h r e e ,
an d fro m f o r t y - t h r e e u p . The r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s o f
th e s e g ro u p s w ere l e s s r e g u l a r , b u t t h e y d i d h a v e p a r t i e s
s e v e r a l tim e s d u r i n g t h e y e a r .
A n o th e r v e r y p o w e r f u l s o c i a l i n f l u e n c e among t h e men
an d women o f Im m anuel P r e s b y t e r i a n , was t h e i r W ednesday
e v e n in g f e l l o w s h i p d i n n e r . T h is d i n n e r o f f e r e d a r e a l
o p p o r t u n i t y f o r t h e m em bers t o becom e b e t t e r a c q u a i n t e d and
a l s o f o r new m em bers t o becom e a s s i m i l a t e d . A l l m em bers o f
t h e c h u r c h w i t h t h e i r f a m i l i e s and f r i e n d s w ere w elco m e.
B etw een d i n n e r tim e and t h e r e g u l a r p r a y e r m e e tin g , mo t i o n -
p i c t u r e s w ere u s u a l l y show n. T h is f e l l o w s h i p d i n n e r was
h e l d e v e r y W ednesday e x c e p t d u r in g t h e summer m o n th s .
A t S t . Jam es E p is c o p a l C h u rch t h e r e w ere t h r e e g ro u p s
known a s S t . Jam es C lu b , w h ich m et e v e r y S u n d ay e v e n i n g . One
o f t h e s e g ro u p s was f o r men a n d women b ey o n d c o l l e g e a g e .
The t h r e e g ro u p s m et a t t h e c h u r c h f o r a s u p p e r , w h ic h was
s e r v e d f r e e o f c h a r g e b y t h e c h u r c h . A f t e r t h i s , t h e g ro u p s
55
s e p a r a t e d f o r t h e i r i n d i v i d u a l m e e ti n g s , w here some p h a s e o f
r e l i g i o n o r p h i lo s o p h y was d is c u s s e d * T h is o l d e r g ro u p m et
w i t h t h e c o l l e g e g ro u p f o r m ost o f i t s r e c r e a t i o n a l a f f a i r s .
T hey m et i n th e gym nasium one e v e n in g d u r i n g t h e w eek f o r
b a s k e t - b a l l o r v o l l e y b a l l . In a d d i t i o n t o t h i s p l a y n i g h t ,
th e two g r o u p s h a d a p a r t y o f some k in d a b o u t e v e r y s i x w e e k s.
S om etim es t h e y h a d a w ie n ie o r s t e a k b a k e a t t h e b e a c h o r a
p a r k , b u t m ore f r e q u e n t l y i t was a d a n c e . When t h e g ro u p
h a d a d a n c e , an o r c h e s t r a was a lw a y s e n g a g e d t o f u r h i s h t h e
m u s ic .
W i l s h i r e C h r i s t i a n h a d two g r o u p s i n w h ich men an d
women m et t o g e t h e r . One was a S u n d ay s c h o o l c l a s s f o r
b u s i n e s s young p e o p l e . T h is g ro u p f r e q u e n t l y m et S u n d ay
a f t e r n o o n an d w en t on some ty p e o f t r i p t o g e t h e r . T hey w ould
v i s i t a p a r k , l i b r a r y , go h o r s e b a c k r i d i n g , b i c y c l i n g , o r
some s i m i l a r a c t i v i t y . T hey u s u a l l y en d ed u p a t t h e home o f
one o f t h e m em bers f o r r a t h e r s u b s t a n t i a l r e f r e s h m e n t s .
R e c e n tl y t h i s g ro u p had b e en m e e tin g one n i g h t a week f o r a
F i r s t - A i d c l a s s , a f t e r w h ic h t h e y p l a y e d v o l l e y b a l l , b a s k e t
b a l l , o r o t h e r games in th e gym nasium . Then t h e r e was a
g ro u p o f young m a r r i e d p e o p le t h a t m et t o g e t h e r i n a S u n d ay
s c h o o l c l a s s . T h is g ro u p u s u a l l y h ad a p a r t y a b o u t once a
m o n th .
A g ro u p o f young m a r r i e d p e o p le m et r e g u l a r l y f o r
s o c i a l a f f a i r s a t W i l s h i r e C r e s t P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u rc h . The
56
g ro u p h a d b een i n e x i s t e n c e f o r a b o u t te n y e a r s , so i n c l u d e d
m any t h a t w ere n o t so y o u n g . T h e i r s o c i a l a f f a i r s w ere
so m etim es a d i n n e r , so m etim es a p a r t y a t w h ich gam es w ere
p l a y e d , a n d so m etim es f o r s o c i a l d a n c i n g .
G roups f o r young women. O n ly two c h u r c h e s r e p o r t e d
a n y c lu b a c t i v i t y f o r young women o f c o l l e g e a g e . Im m anuel
P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u rch h a d a c lu b f o r th o s e o f c o l l e g e a g e , and
a n o t h e r f o r b u s i n e s s g i r l s , w hich m et one e v e n in g e v e r y o t h e r
week f o r an i n f o m a l g a t h e r i n g . The c o l l e g e g i r l s m et f o r
d i n n e r , a f t e r w h ich t h e y had t h e i r r e g u l a r m e e tin g . The
c l u b f o r b u s i n e s s g i r l s m et a f t e r d i n n e r . A f t e r a s h o r t
m e e tin g w h ic h i n c l u d e d b u s i n e s s and some d e v o t i o n s , e a c h
g ro u p s e p a r a t e d i n t o s m a l l e r g ro u p s a c c o r d i n g t o t h e i r
i n t e r e s t s . Some p la y e d games o r p la y e d i n t h e gym nasium ,
some d i d c r a f t w ork o r k n i t t i n g , b u t m ore r e c e n t l y t h e
e m p h a sis h a d b een on f i r s t - a i d . The g ro u p s w ere b eco m in g
l e s s a c t i v e s i n c e many o f t h e s e young women w ere d e v o t i n g
t h e i r l e i s u r e tim e t o am b u lan c e d r i v i n g o r o t h e r t y p e s o f
d e f e n s e w o rk .
The C hurch o f J e s u s C h r i s t o f th e L a t t e r - D a y S a i n t s
h a d a g ro u p f o r young women fro m e i g h t e e n t o t w e n t y - t h r e e
y e a r s o f a g e , c a l l e d G l e a n e r s . The p r i n c i p l e o f t h e G le a n e r s
was t o g le a n th e s h e a v e s b y g ro w in g in k n o w led g e a n d to b in d
th e s h e a v e s b y p u t t i n g know ledg e i n t o a c t i o n . W h ile t h i s was
p r i m a r i l y a s t u d y g r o u p , i t d i d h a v e r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s
57
w i t h t h e “M M en," an o r g a n i z a t i o n f o r t h e same a g e g ro u p
among t h e young men.
G ro u p s f o r young m en. P o u r c h u r c h e s h ad one o r m ore
P h a la n x g ro u p s m e e tin g i n t h e i r c h u r c h e s . P h a la n x was t h e
name g iv e n t o t h e c o l l e g e a g e g ro u p o f t h e Young Men’ s
C h r i s t i a n A s s o c i a t i o n c l u b s . I n a l l , t h e s e f o u r c h u r c h e s
h a d s i x s u c h c l u b s , a s Im m anuel P r e s b y t e r i a n an d W i l s h i r e
M e th o d is t e a c h h a d tw o . The o r g a n i z a t i o n , a c t i v i t y , and
p ro g ra m o f t h e P h a la n x was t h a t w hich was c u s to m a ry i n
Young Men’ s C h r i s t i a n A s s o c i a t i o n g r o u p s . The l e a d e r an d
th e c lu b p ro g ra m m u st m e a su re up t o s t a n d a r d s s e t by t h e
A s s o c i a t i o n , e a c h c lu b s e n d in g one o f i t s m em bers t o a
m o n th ly m e e tin g , w h ere p l a n s and p ro g ra m s w ere d i s c u s s e d
w i t h t h e A s s o c i a t i o n l e a d e r s .
A lth o u g h some ty p e o f r e l i g i o u s d e v o ti o n was u s e d a t
e a c h m e e tin g , th e m ain i n t e r e s t o f t h e s e c l u b s was i n
a t h l e t i c s . T hey p la y e d games i n s e a s o n and m et in c o m p e ti
t i o n w i t h o t h e r P h a la n x c lu b s o f t h e com m unity. T h ese
s c h e d u l e s f o r c o m p e t i t i v e games w ere w orked o u t th r o u g h
t h e m o n th ly m e e tin g s o f th e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s .
The C h u rch o f th e L a t t e r - D a y S a i n t s h a d a g ro u p f o r
young men fro m s e v e n te e n t o t w e n t y - t h r e e y e a r s o f a g e . T h is
g ro u p was known a s t h e "M M en." T h ese young men m et o n c e a
w eek, f o r t h e p u rp o s e o f l e a r n i n g to im p ro v e t h e i r p e r s o n
a l i t i e s , d e v e lo p t h e i r a b i l i t i e s , and to b e s o c i a b l e th r o u g h
58
w o r th - w h ile l e i s u r e tim e a c t i v i t i e s . T hey l e a r n e d su c h
p r i n c i p l e s o f young m anhood a s w ould t e a c h them t o b e
d e s i r a b l e m em bers o f hom e, c h u r c h , and s o c i e t y i n g e n e r a l .
A f t e r t h e i r s t u d y p e r i o d , t h e y u s u a l l y h a d a t h l e t i c gam es,
su c h a s b a s k e t - b a l l o r v o l l e y b a l l . T h e se tea m s c o m p e te d
w i t h o t h e r s i m i l a r te a m s .
M ixed g ro u p s f o r young p e o p l e . A l l o f t h e c h u r c h e s
h a d some ty p e o f o r g a n i z a t i o n f o r m ixed g ro u p s o f c o l l e g e
a g e . I n a l l b u t two o f t h e c h u r c h e s ( C a t h o l i c and L a t t e r -
Day S a i n t s ) t h e s e o r g a n i z a t i o n s c e n t e r e d a ro u n d t h e S u n d ay
e v e n in g young p e o p l e ’ s m e e ti n g s - - t e r m e d C h r i s t i a n E n d e a v o r,
C h r i s t i a n Y o u th F e l l o w s h i p , E p w o rth L e a g u e , S t . Jam es C lu b ,
o r C h u rch o f Y o u th . E ac h g ro u p had i t s own o r g a n i z a t i o n
a n d o f f i c e r s , w hich w orked w i t h th e s p o n s o r s i n p l a n n i n g
i t s a c t i v i t i e s .
I n t h r e e o f th e c h u r c h e s , W i l s h i r e C r e s t P r e s b y t e r i a n ,
W i l s h i r e C h r i s t i a n , an d W i l s h i r e M e t h o d is t, t h e r e was some
t y p e o f r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t y e a c h S u n d ay e v e n in g . A t
W i l s h i r e C r e s t t h e g ro u p m et a t 7 p .m . f o r C h u rc h o f Y o u th .
A f t e r t h e m ore f o r m a l m e e tin g , w h ich i n c l u d e d d e v o t i o n s ,
b u s i n e s s , an d a d i s c u s s i o n p e r i o d , th e g ro u p w ould s in g
s o n g s , p l a y g am es, and h a v e a g e n e r a l good t im e . V ery much
th e sam e ty p e o f p ro g ram was u s e d i n th e S e n i o r E pw o rth
L eag u e a t W i l s h i r e M e t h o d is t, e x c e p t t h a t e v e r y o t h e r week
59
th e g ro u p w ent to t h e home o f one o f i t s m em bers f o r t h e i r
s i n g i n g , gam es, o r d a n c i n g . The g am es, p l a y e d i n th e
a l t e r n a t e week when t h e g ro u p s t a y e d a t th e c h u r c h , i n c l u d e d
p in g - p o n g , c a r r o m s , C h in e s e c h e c k e r s , and s h u f f l e b o a r d .
A f t e r th e S u n d ay e v e n in g young p e o p l e ’ s m e e tin g a t W i l s h i r e
C h r i s t i a n , t h e g ro u p u s u a l l y w ent t o th e home o f t h e s p o n s o r
o r one o f t h e m em bers, w here t h e y sa n g and p l a y e d g am es.
The o n l y a c t i v i t y o f a r e c r e a t i o n a l n a t u r e h e l d S u n d ay
e v e n in g b y th e young p e o p l e ’ s g ro u p a t S t . Jam es E p i s c o p a l
C h u rc h , was a s u p p e r b e f o r e t h e m e e tin g . T h is su p p e r was
p r o v id e d f o r t h e young p e o p le b y th e c h u r c h . A t Im m anuel
P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u rc h , a b o u t o n ce a m onth a l l t h e g ro u p s o f
th e C h r i s t i a n E n d e a v o r m et f o r a s i n g . A f t e r th e g ro u p
s i n g i n g r e f r e s h m e n t s w ere s e r v e d .
I n t h r e e o f th e c h u r c h e s , t h e same g ro u p a t t e n d i n g th e
S u n d ay e v e n in g s e r v i c e f o r c o l l e g e p e o p le , m et a t t h e c h u rc h
d u r i n g t h e w eek f o r r e c r e a t i o n a l p u r p o s e s o n l y . A t S t . Jam es
E p i s c o p a l , th e c o l l e g e g ro u p u s e d t h e gym nasium n e a r l y e v e r y
W ednesday e v e n in g f o r g am es. The c o l l e g e g ro u p a t W i l s h i r e
C h r i s t i a n m et two F r i d a y e v e n in g s a m o n th w i t h t h e h i g h s c h o o l
g ro u p w i t h whom t h e y p la y e d gam es o f a l l k i n d s . The c o l l e g e
g ro u p o f C h r i s t i a n E n d e a v o r a t Im m anuel P r e s b y t e r i a n m et
o n c e a w eek f o r games an d u s e o f t h e gym nasium . T h is g ro u p
h a d o r g a n i z e d team s t o p l a y th e v a r i o u s games in s e a s o n .
T h ey h a d c o m p e te d w i t h team s fro m o t h e r c h u r c h e s , b u t h ad
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fo u n d t h a t few c h u r c h e s h a d s u c h te a m s .
C a t h e d r a l C h a p e l h a d no young p e o p le * s S u n d ay e v e n in g
m e e tin g w hich c o r r e s p o n d e d t o t h a t o f th e P r o t e s t a n t
c h u r c h e s . I t h a d a g ro u p f o r t h o s e o f th e same a g e , w h ic h
m et o n ce a w eek f o r r e c r e a t i o n a l p u r p o s e s . I n t e r e s t i n th e
r e c r e a t i o n a l s i d e h ad d e c r e a s e d d u r i n g r e c e n t m o n th s, s i n c e
th e young women h a d come t o f a r o u tn u m b e r th e young men
( t h e men h a v in g gone i n t o m i l i t a r y s e r v i c e ) . The g ro u p h ad
beg u n t o sp e n d l e s s tim e i n p l a y , b u t m ore tim e i n s t u d y .
The g ro u p was p l a n n i n g to d i v i d e i n t o v a r i o u s s t u d y g r o u p s
a c c o r d i n g t o i n t e r e s t .
I n t h e C h u rch o f t h e L a t t e r - D a y S a i n t s , t h e young
m en’ s g ro u p (M Men) an d th e young women’ s g ro u p ( G le a n e r s )
m et t o g e t h e r once a m onth d u r i n g t h e i r r e g u l a r M u tu a l Im p ro v e
m ent A s s o c i a t i o n m e e t i n g s . A t t h a t tim e t h e y w ould s tu d y
m a n n e rs , s o c i a l e t i q u e t t e an d s i m i l a r p ro b le m s o f common
i n t e r e s t t o b o t h g r o u p s . T hey a l s o s t u d i e d some o f t h e
c u l t u r a l s u b j e c t s su c h a s a r t , m u s ic , and d ra m a . T hey n o t
o n l y s t u d i e d t h e s e , b u t t h e y p r a c t i c e d them th r o u g h p e rf o r m
i n g a lo n g l i n e s o f m u s ic , p u b l i c - s p e a k i n g , and d r a m a t i c s .
B e s i d e s t h i s m ore s e r i o u s ty p e o f l e i s u r e - t i m e
a c t i v i t y , t h e s e young p e o p le j o i n e d w i t h t h e o t h e r a g e g ro u p s
i n a m o n th ly d a n c e . T h e se d a n c e s w ere g iv e n b y t h e M u tu a l
Im p ro v em en t A s s o c i a t i o n s in th e W i l s h i r e Ward e d i f i c e . T hey
w ere g iv e n in a room w h ich c o u ld a c c o m o d a te one th o u s a n d
61
c o u p l e s . The room h a d an e x c e l l e n t hardw ood f l o o r and was
e q u ip p e d w i t h a t t r a c t i v e l i g h t i n g e f f e c t s . O n ly t h e h i g h e s t
ty p e o r c h e s t r a was en g ag ed t o p l a y a t t h e s e d a n c e s , f o r t h e
c h u rc h b e l i e v e d i n k e e p in g i t s r e c r e a t i o n on th e h i g h e s t
p l a n e . No c h a r g e was made f o r p e o p le who a t t e n d e d t h e s e
d a n c e s , ( t h e f i n a n c e s o f th e C hurch o f t h e L a t t e r - d a y S a i n t s
w ere h a n d le d i n an e n t i r e l y s e p a r a t e way) and t h e y a t t r a c t e d
l a r g e g ro u p s o f t h e i r young p e o p l e .
T h e re was a t l e a s t one o t h e r r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t y
a v a i l a b l e to th e young p e o p le o f t h i s c h u rc h d u r i n g t h e
m o n th . S o m etim es i t was a m o tio n p i c t u r e o r d r a m a ti c
p r o d u c t i o n , so m e tim es a H i - j i n k s p u t on by one o f t h e member
g r o u p s , b u t a lw a y s s o m e th in g in t h e n a t u r e o f a h i g h ty p e
e n t e r t a i n m e n t .
F o u r o t h e r c h u r c h e s b e s i d e s th e L a t t e r - D a y S a i n t s
p la n n e d w e e k -d a y r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s f o r t h e i r young
p e o p l e . A t S t . Jam es E p i s c o p a l C h u rc h , th e c o l l e g e a g e
young p e o p le m et w ith t h o s e j u s t o l d e r f o r t h e i r s o c i a l
a f f a i r s . T h e se s o c i a l g a t h e r i n g s w ere h e l d a b o u t e v e r y s i x
w e e k s. S o m etim es t h e g ro u p h a d w ie n ie o r s t e a k b a k e s a t th e
b e a c h o r i n one o f t h e p a r k s , b u t t h e m ore f r e q u e n t ty p e o f
e n t e r t a i n m e n t was a d a n c e . An o r c h e s t r a was e n g ag e d to p l a y
a t t h e s e d a n c e s . The young p e o p le o f t h e W i l s h i r e M e th o d is t
h a d d a n c e s s e v e r a l tim e s d u r i n g th e y e a r . T hey w ould r e n t a
h a l l and h a v e a r a t h e r e l a b o r a t e ty p e o f a f f a i r . A n o th e r
62
r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t y open t o t h e young p e o p le o f t h i s c h u rc h
was a d r a m a ti c g r o u p . T h is g r o u p , com posed o f p e o p le o f
c o l l e g e a g e and o l d e r , m et once a w eek. M em bership in t h i s
c lu b w as, o f c o u r s e , v o l u n t a r y an d e a c h s h a r e d w h a te v e r
e x p e n se was c u r t a i l e d in e a c h d r a m a tic p r o d u c t i o n . A
p r e s i d e n t was e l e c t e d f o r one m onth o n l y . The g ro u p a l s o
e l e c t e d a d i r e c t o r who w ould d i r e c t o n l y one p l a y . When
t h a t p l a y was o v e r , t h e g ro u p w ould e l e c t a n o t h e r d i r e c t o r
f o r t h e n e x t p l a y .
E v e ry m onth o r s i x w eeks th e young p e o p le o f W i l s h i r e
P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u rc h h a d a p a r t y . A f a m i l y , t h a t b e lo n g e d t o
th e c h u r c h , h a d a h o u se i n S i e r r a M adre a t w h ic h t h e young
p e o p le w ere a lw a y s w elcom e. F r e q u e n t l y th e p a r t i e s w ere
h e l d t h e r e on S a t u r d a y n i g h t s . T h ese a f f a i r s u s u a l l y b e g a n
w i t h a d i n n e r , a f t e r w hich t h e g ro u p w ould t a k e a s h o r t h i k e .
Upon r e t u r n i n g , th e y w ould s i n g so n g s ( r e l i g i o u s a n d s e c u l a r ) ,
p l a y gam es, and h a v e an i n f o r m a l good tim e . S om etim es t h e y
saw m o tio n p i c t u r e s ta k e n b y one o f th e m em bers o f t h e g r o u p .
One o f t h e i r r e c e n t s o c i a l a f f a i r s had b e e n a t r i p t o C hina
Town f o r d i n n e r , a f t e r w h ich t h e y w ent to t h e home o f one o f
t h e m embers f o r an i n f o r m a l p a r t y .
The young p e o p le o f W il s h i r e C r e s t P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u rch
h a d a p a r t y a b o u t o n c e a m o n th . Some o f t h e s e a f f a i r s to o k
th e g ro u p t o th e b e a c h o r to a p a rk f o r a w ie n ie b a k e . Some
o f t h e p a r t i e s w ould be h e l d a t th e c h u r c h , w here t h e y w ould
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s i n g , p l a y g am es, o r d a n c e . The D i r e c t o r o f R e c r e a t i o n
fo u n d t h a t t h e g ro u p was so a c c u sto m e d t o h a v in g t h e i r
r e c r e a t i o n p r o v id e d f o r th e m , t h a t t h e y seem ed h e l p l e s s i n
p l a n n i n g t h e i r own. She h a d fo u n d , h o w e v er, t h a t when sh e
h a d b e e n a b l e t o g e t t h e g ro u p to do a good jo b o f p la n n i n g
a p a r t y , t h e p a r t y h a d b e e n g r e a t l y e n jo y e d b y t h e g r o u p .
G ro u p s f o r g i r l s . S ix o u t o f e i g h t o f th e c h u r c h e s
i n c l u d e d i n t h i s s t u d y h ad a t l e a s t one c lu b f o r g i r l s u n d e r
c o l l e g e a g e . C a t h e d r a l C h a p e l h a d no s p e c i a l r e c r e a t i o n a l
p ro g ra m f o r g i r l s u n d e r h ig h s c h o o l a g e , s i n c e t h a t was
lo o k e d a f t e r th r o u g h t h e p a r o c h i a l s c h o o l t h a t m o st o f t h e i r
g i r l s a t t e n d e d . W i l s h i r e C h r i s t i a n i n s t e a d o f h a v in g
s e p a r a t e g ro u p s f o r b o y s and g i r l s , h a d t h e i r g ro u p s m eet
t o g e t h e r .
W i l s h i r e C r e s t P r e s b y t e r i a n h a d a Camp F i r e G roup f o r
g i r l s fro m e le v e n t o f o u r t e e n y e a r s o f a g e . T h is g ro u p
f o llo w e d th e u s u a l p ro g ram p r e s c r i b e d b y t h a t o r g a n i z a t i o n .
I t was u n d e r th e l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e G i r l s ’ Work D i r e c t o r o f
t h a t c h u r c h . M ost o f th e g i r l s ’ S u n d a y s c h o o l c l a s s e s
o r g a n i z e d i n t o c l u b s w h ic h m et once d u r i n g th e w e ek . The
t e a c h e r w ould m ee t w ith t h e g ro u p , u n d e r t h e s u p e r v i s i o n o f
th e G i r l s ’ Work D i r e c t o r , The m ain a c t i v i t y o f t h e s e g i r l s ’
c l u b s was c r a f t w ork.
A t S t . Jam es E p i s c o p a l C h u rc h t h e r e was no r e c r e a t i o n
a l p ro g ram i n c o n n e c ti o n w i t h th e S u n d ay s c h o o l c l a s s e s . The
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G i r l S c o u ts w a n te d t o o r g a n i z e a t r o o p u n d e r t h e s p o n s o r s h i p
o f th e c h u r c h , b u t t h e m i n i s t e r d is a p p r o v e d o f i t . T h e re
was a G i r l s F r i e n d l y S o c i e t y i n d i r e c t l y c o n n e c te d w ith t h i s
c h u r c h . The S o c i e t y was com posed o f g i r l s fro m Jo h n B u rro u g h s
J u n i o r H igh S c h o o l u n d e r t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e C o u n s e lo r o f
t h a t s c h o o l . Once a y e a r t h i s g ro u p came to S t . Jam es
C h u rch f o r t h e i r i n s t a l l a t i o n c erem o n y , i n w h ic h t h e m i n i s t e r
p a r t i c i p a t e d . T h is g ro u p m et once e v e r y two w eeks a t t h e
home o f one o f i t s m em bers. T hey aim ed t o e n c o u ra g e f r i e n d
s h i p among th e g i r l s an d to c a r r y on some ty p e o f c h a r i t a b l e
w o rk . T h e i r m e e tin g s i n c l u d e d a b u s i n e s s m e e tin g , so m etim es
a g u e s t s p e a k e r who w ould t a l k o r show m o tio n p i c t u r e s a b o u t
p l a c e s v i s i t e d , r e f r e s h m e n t s , g am es, an d s o c i a b i l i t y . One
w e ek -e n d th e g ro u p w ent on a t r i p t o a m o u n ta in c a b in o f one
o f i t s m em bers.
Im m anuel P r e s b y t e r i a n h a d t h r e e c l u b s f o r g i r l s . The
c lu b f o r j u n i o r s m et e v e r y T h u rs d a y a f t e r s c h o o l . The g ro u p
g a t h e r e d i n f o r m a l l y b e f o r e s e p a r a t i n g i n t o i t s v a r i o u s
i n t e r e s t g r o u p s . Some o f t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e s e v a r i o u s
g ro u p s w e re ; gam es, p l a y in th e gym nasium , h a n d c r a f t w o rk,
m aking s c r a p b o o k s f o r th e h o s p i t a l s w h ic h h o u se c h i l d r e n ,
s t u d y i n g f i r s t - a i d , o r d r a m a t i c s . The G i r l s ’ Work D i r e c t o r
t r i e d to e n c o u ra g e t h e g i r l s i n an y ty p e o f c r e a t i v e w ork
i n w h ic h t h e y m ig h t b e i n t e r e s t e d . A t a b o u t 4 ;3 0 p .m . t h e
g ro u p a s s e m b le d f o r a b u s i n e s s m e e tin g and s h o r t p ro g ra m .
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The p ro g ram u s u a l l y c o n s i s t e d o f t h e g ro u p s i n g i n g a p a t r i
o t i c o r r e l i g i o u s s o n g , a book r e p o r t b y one o f t h e g i r l s ,
th e r e a d i n g o f an o r i g i n a l poem o f one o f th e m em bers, o r
p o s s i b l y a m u s i c a l n u m b er. J u s t b e f o r e d i s m i s s a l , t h e y had
a f i v e o r s i x m in u te d e v o t i o n a l p e r i o d l e d b y th e D i r e c t o r .
W h ile th e g i r l s to o k c h a r g e o f th e b u s i n e s s m e e tin g an d
p ro g ra m , t h e D i r e c t o r f e l t t h a t th e d e v o t i o n a l p a r t o f f e r e d
h e r an o p p o r t u n i t y f o r s p i r i t u a l g u id a n c e .
The c lu b f o r g i r l s o f j u n i o r h ig h s c h o o l a g e m et e v e r y
W ednesday a f t e r s c h o o l . T h e i r p ro g ram w as a b o u t t h e same a s
t h a t o f th e j u n i o r g i r l s . In b o t h t h e s e c l u b s , t h e D i r e c t o r
fo u n d t h e a g e sp a n to o g r e a t f o r t h e r e t o b e a s t r o n g m u tu a l
i n t e r e s t . T h is c lu b re m a in e d a t t h e c h u r c h f o r t h e f e l l o w
s h i p d i n n e r . 1 A f t e r d i n n e r t h e y had a c h o i r r e h e a r s a l u n d e r
t h e d i r e c t i o n o f a v e r y c a p a b le l e a d e r . R e c e n tl y one o f t h e
g i r l s i n t h i s c lu b w ro te a p l a y , w h ic h one o f t h e o l d e r g i r l s
d i r e c t e d . When t h e y w ere r e a d y t o p ro d u c e t h e p l a y , th e
p a r e n t s w ere i n v i t e d . B e fo re t h a t , t h e g i r l s w ere t a u g h t how
t o i n t r o d u c e t h e i r p a r e n t s t o e a c h o t h e r , how to i n t r o d u c e
g i r l s an d p a r e n t s , a n d i n o t h e r ways t o a c t a s good h o s t e s s e s .
The t h i r d g i r l s * c l u b a t Im m anuel P r e s b y t e r i a n , was
f o r g i r l s o f h i g h s c h o o l a g e . The g ro u p m et i n th e e v e n in g
once a w eek. A f t e r g a t h e r i n g i n f o r m a l l y , t h i s g ro u p s e p a r a t e d
^ C f. a n t e , p . 54.
66
i n t o s m a l l e r g r o u p s a c c o r d i n g to t h e i r i n t e r e s t s — h a n d c r a f t ,
gam es, gym nasium a c t i v i t i e s , f i r s t - a i d , o r d r a m a t i c s . T h is
c lu b h a d b e en q u i t e a c t i v e in gam es su c h a s b a s k e t - b a l l an d
b a s e b a l l . I t a l s o h a d a b o w lin g te a m , w h ic h b o w le d a t a
b o w lin g a l l e y n e a r th e c h u r c h .
W i l s h i r e M e th o d is t C h u rch h a d t h r e e c l u b s f o r g i r l s ,
two f o r t h o s e o f j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l a g e and one f o r j u n i o r s .
Two o f t h e s e g ro u p s w ere f o r G i r l R e s e r v e s an d one was a
G i r l S c o u t T ro o p . E ach o f t h e s e g ro u p s m et T h u rs d a y a f t e r
s c h o o l , u n d e r i t s own l e a d e r . The w ife o f th e A s s i s t a n t
M i n i s t e r s u p e r v i s e d t h e s e c l u b s . T h e se g ro u p s d i d h a n d c r a f t
w ork and p la y e d games a s t h e i r m ain r e c r e a t i o n a l i n t e r e s t s .
T h e re w ere two g i r l s * c l u b s a t W i l s h i r e P r e s b y t e r i a n
C h u rc h , one f o r j u n i o r h i g h and one f o r s e n i o r h i g h a g e .
The Hour C lu b was f o r j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l g i r l s . I t m et a f t e r
s c h o o l o n ce e v e r y o t h e r w eek. A s h o r t d e v o t i o n a l m e e tin g was
a lw a y s h e l d , a f t e r w hich th e g i r l s w ould en g ag e i n some ty p e
o f a c t i v i t y . The c lu b d i d se w in g an d made s c r a p b o o k s f o r
h o s p i t a l s a n d o t h e r c h a r i t a b l e i n s t i t u t i o n s . I t h a d a b a s k e t
b a l l team w h ich co m p eted w i t h s i m i l a r team s fro m o t h e r
c h u r c h e s .
“L os Amigos** was a c l u b o f h i g h s c h o o l g i r l s , a l t h o u g h
t h e r e w ere a few g i r l s i n i t t h a t w ere b e y o n d t h a t a g e . One
h a d t o b e i n v i t e d t o becom e a member o f t h i s c l u b , a l t h o u g h
m o st o f t h e g i r l s who w ere a c t i v e i n c h u rc h a f f a i r s w ere
67
i n v i t e d t o j o i n . The c lu b m et once e v e r y o t h e r w eek. The
g i r l s k n i t t e d an d sew ed f o r c h a r i t a b l e o r m i s s i o n a r y
i n s t i t u t i o n s . R e c e n t l y t h e y h a d made a v i s i t t o t h e
C h ild re n * s H o s p i t a l , t a k i n g w i t h them s c r a p b o o k s an d o t h e r
t h i n g s w h ich t h e y h a d m ade. Once i n a w h ile t h e g ro u p h a d a
p a r t y o r b e a c h p a r t y , w h ic h o n l y g i r l s a t t e n d e d .
The C h u rch o f t h e L a t t e r - D a y S a i n t s h a d an o r g a n i z a
t i o n known a s th e B e e -H iv e G i r l s f o r g i r l s fro m f o u r t e e n to
f i f t e e n y e a r s o f a g e . The g i r l s b e g a n a s b u i l d e r s , a d d in g
c e l l s t o t h e i r h i v e s a s t e s t s w ere p a s s e d . Some o f th e
f a c t o r s e m p h a siz e d a t t h i s ag e l e v e l w ere: t o s a f e g u a r d
h e a l t h , u n d e r s t a n d b e a u t y , lo v e t r u t h , and e x p e r i e n c e t h e
jo y o f s e r v i c e . A t t h e end o f e a c h y e a r t h e r e was a "sw arm
d ay " when th e g i r l s who h a d b e en i n t h e g ro u p two y e a r s w ere
g r a d u a t e d i n t o t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n f o r t h e n e x t a g e g r o u p . On
t h e "sw arm d a y ," t h e g i r l s gave a b a n q u e t to w h ic h th e
m o th e r s and t h e o f f i c e r s o f th e S t a t e M u tu a l Im p ro v em en t
A s s o c i a t i o n w ere i n v i t e d . The r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s in
w h ich t h i s g ro u p p a r t i c i p a t e d w e re : b a s k e t - b a l l , sw im m ing,
r e a d i n g , m u s ic , h i k e s , a n d a summer camp i n G r i f f i t h P a r k .
The g i r l s o f s i x t e e n an d s e v e n te e n y e a r s o f a g e b e lo n g e d t o
t h e j u n i o r d e p a r tm e n t o f t h e Young Women * s M u tu a l Im p ro v em en t
A s s o c i a t i o n . T h is g ro u p w a s - p r i m a r i l y f o r s t u d y , b u t t h e y
d i d h a v e a b a s k e t - b a l l tea m . In th e S p r i n g o f t h e y e a r , th e y
h a d an a n n u a l S p r i n g F e s t i v a l , w h ic h was an e v e n in g o f
68
e n t e r t a i n m e n t by th e g i r l s .
G ro u p s f o r b o y s . A l l b u t two o f th e boys* c l u b s a t
t h e e i g h t c h u r c h e s i n c l u d e d i n t h i s p a r t o f t h i s s t u d y , w ere
m em bers o f n a t i o n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s — The Young Men * s C h r i s t i a n
A s s o c i a t i o n o r The Boy S c o u ts o f A m e ric a . T h o se c l u b s w h ich
w ere p a r t o f t h e Boy S c o u t m ovem ent w i l l b e c o n s i d e r e d f i r s t .
O n ly one c h u rc h h a d a t r o o p f o r Cub S c o u t s , w hich was
f o r b o y s u n d e r tw e lv e y e a r s o f a g e . T h is t r o o p m et a t
S t . Jam es E p i s c o p a l C h u rc h , and f o llo w e d th e u s u a l p ro g ram
l a i d down f o r Cub S c o u t s .
E ach o f th e c h u r c h e s s p o n s o re d a t r o o p o f Boy S c o u t s .
S c o u t in g i s open t o a n y b o y who i s tw e lv e y e a r s o f a g e o r
o v e r , who c o u ld r e p e a t a n d p r o v e t h a t he u n d e r s t o o d t h e
S c o u t O ath an d Law. The S c o u t O a th i s :
On my h o n o r I w i l l do my b e s t —
To do my d u t y to God and my c o u n t r y , an d t o o b ey
t h e S c o u t Law.
To h e l p o t h e r p e o p le a t a l l t im e s .
To k e e p m y s e lf p h y s i c a l l y s t r o n g , m e n t a l l y aw ake,
a n d m o r a l l y s t r a i g h t . ^
The S c o u t Law c o n s i s t s o f tw e lv e p o i n t s , w h ich i s sum m arized
a s f o l l o w s : A S c o u t i s t r u s t w o r t h y , l o y a l , h e l p f u l , f r i e n d l y ,
c o u r t e o u s , k i n d , o b e d i e n t , c h e e r f u l , t h r i f t y , b r a v e , c l e a n ,
a n d r e v e r e n t . ^ W h ile a S c o u t i s e n c o u ra g e d t o a t t e n d some
^ H andbook f o r Boys (R e v is e d e d i t i o n ; Hew Y ork: Boy
S c o u t s o f A m e ric a , 1 9 1 0 ) , p . 3 1 .
® I b i d . . p . 10.
69
c h u r c h an d m a i n t a i n some ty p e o f r e l i g i o u s l i f e , t h e r e i s no
dogma o r c r e e d a t t a c h e d to S c o u t in g . B e c a u se a t r o o p m et i n
a c e r t a i n c h u rc h d i d n o t mean t h a t t h e m em bers o f t h a t t r o o p
w ere i n a n y way a f f i l i a t e d w ith t h a t p a r t i c u l a r c h u r c h .
The p ro g ra m f o llo w e d b y t h e Boy S c o u t T ro o p s , w h ic h
m et i n th e c h u r c h e s i n c l u d e d i n t h i s s t u d y , was t h e u s u a l
Boy S c o u t P ro g ra m , w h ich i s b a s e d on l e a r n i n g i n t e r e s t i n g
and u s e f u l t h i n g s t o do d u r in g l e i s u r e tim e . The m ain f i e l d s
o f s tu d y f o r th e S c o u t a r e : w o o d c r a f t , f i r s t - a i d , swimming
an d l i f e - s a v i n g , o u td o o r c o o k in g a n d c a m p in g , s i g n a l i n g ,
map m a k in g , h i d i n g , and c i t i z e n s h i p . As th e S c o u t p a s s e s
r e q u i r e d t e s t s an d m e r i t b a d g e s i n t h e s e v a r i o u s f i e l d s o f
s t u d y , he i s p ro m o te d i n S c o u t i n g . N ot o n ly d o e s th e S c o u t
a t t a i n s e l f - p r o m o t i o n b y p a s s i n g t h e s e t e s t s , b u t h e l e a r n s
t o h e l p o t h e r s . S c o u t in g g i v e s u n u s u a l o p p o r t u n i t y f o r
l e a d e r s h i p , s i n c e n e a r l y e v e r y t r o o p c o n t a i n s a l l a g e s fro m
tw e lv e y e a r s u p . I n t h i s way, th e S c o u t l e a r n s to lo o k t o
t h e o l d e r b o y s f o r c o u n s e l and h e l p , a t th e same tim e h e l p i n g
a n d c o u n s e l l i n g t h e y o u n g e r b o y s .
Im m anuel P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u rc h was t h e o n ly c h u rc h w h ic h
h a d a S ea S c o u t T ro o p . Sea S c o u tin g i s f o r S c o u ts o f f i f t e e n
y e a r s o r o v e r , who a r e p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t e r e s t e d i n a p ro g ram
o f se a m a n sh ip a c t i v i t i e s .
The c l u b s o f t h e Young Men*s C h r i s t i a n A s s o c i a t i o n
w ere d i v i d e d i n t o f o u r g r o u p s , a c c o r d i n g to a g e . The P h a la n x ,
70
f o r young men o f c o l l e g e a g e , h a s a l r e a d y b e e n d i s c u s s e d . ^
The t h r e e d i v i s i o n s f o r y o u n g e r b o y s w ere; Y T r i b e s f o r
j u n i o r b o y s fro m n i n e t o tw e lv e y e a r s . J u n i o r H i-Y f o r b o y s
o f j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l , an d H i-Y f o r s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l b o y s .
S i x o f th e e i g h t c h u r c h e s h a d one o r m ore o f t h e s e Young
Men’ 8 C h r i s t i a n A s s o c i a t i o n c l u b s . C a t h e d r a l C h a p e l and t h e
C h u rch o f th e L a t t e r - D a y S a i n t s w ere t h e o n ly c h u rc h e s n o t
h a v in g a n y .
T h e s e c l u b s o r i g i n a t e d i n a way q u i t e d i f f e r e n t fro m
t h e Boy S c o u t T r o o p s . A c lu b o f t h i s ty p e u s u a l l y b e g a n b y
a g ro u p o f b o y s o f s i m i l a r a g e and i n t e r e s t fo rm in g a
n u c l e u s f o r " a c l u b . T h is g ro u p f o r m u la te d i t s p u r p o s e an d
o b j e c t i v e s , w h ic h w ere p r e s e n t e d to th e n e a r e s t b r a n c h o f f i c e
o f t h e Young Men’ s C h r i s t i a n A s s o c i a t i o n . The b r a n c h
E x e c u tiv e w ould th e n h e l p th e g ro u p f i n d a l e a d e r a n d c h u r c h
hom e. S o m etim es t h e s e c l u b s o r i g i n a t e d w ith t h e c h u r c h
i t s e l f when th e c h u r c h f e l t t h e r e was a g ro u p o f b o y s n e e d in g
s u c h a c l u b . Then t h e c h u r c h w o u ld u s u a l l y i n v i t e a l l t h e
b o y s o f t h a t a g e g ro u p to come t o g e t h e r to t a l k o v e r th e
fo rm in g o f su c h a c l u b . A f t e r c l u b s have b e e n fo rm e d , new
m em bers c o u ld o n ly j o i n w i t h th e a p p r o v a l o f t h e c lu b m em bers
A p r o s p e c t i v e member w ould v i s i t f o r a tim e o r tw o , an d th e n
be a s k e d t o s t a y away f o r one m e e tin g . The m em bers w ould
^ C f. a n t e , p . 57.
71
th e n v o t e a s t o w h e th e r o r n o t th e a p p l i c a n t s h o u ld be
a c c e p t e d i n t o m em b e rsh ip . By t h i s m e th o d , e a c h g ro u p was
k e p t hom ogeneous b o t h a s t o a g e and i n t e r e s t .
T h e se c lu b s a t a l l tim e s h a d t o m e a su re up to
s t a n d a r d s s e t by th e B o y s ’ Work C om m ittee w i t h i n th e c h u r c h
a s w e l l a s t h o s e s e t b y th e Young Men’ s C h r i s t i a n A s s o c ia
t i o n . The l e a d e r o f th e g ro u p m u st b e p r e p a r e d f o r su c h
l e a d e r s h i p b y a t t e n d i n g a c o u rs e i n l e a d e r s h i p w h ich m et
e v e r y m o n th . He m ust c o n tin u e t o be s a t i s f a c t o r y i n t h e e y e s
o f th e Young Men’ s C h r i s t i a n A s s o c i a t i o n . E a c h c lu b m u st
se n d a b o y to r e p r e s e n t th e c lu b a t a m o n th ly m e e tin g w i t h
o t h e r r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s fro m s i m i l a r c l u b s w i t h i n t h a t a r e a .
O b j e c t i v e s an d p l a n s w ere d i s c u s s e d a t t h e s e m e e ti n g s , so
t h a t a l l c l u b s w ould c a r r y o u t c e r t a i n p l a n s a s e m p h a siz e d
b y t h e m ain a s s o c i a t i o n . A s id e fro m t h i s , e a c h c lu b w as a
u n i t i n i t s e l f , e m p h a s iz in g th e l i n e s o f i t s own p a r t i c u l a r
i n t e r e s t s . Swimming was made p o s s i b l e f o r a l l t h e s e c l u b s
a t th e H ollyw ood Young Men’ s C h r i s t i a n A s s o c i a t i o n p l u n g e .
In t h e summer a l l t h e b o y s w ere e n c o u r a g e d t o go t o summer
cam ps m a i n t a i n e d b y th e A s s o c i a t i o n i n a n e a r b y m o u n ta in a r e a .
F o u r o f th e e i g h t c h u rc h e s h ad Y T r i b e s f o r j u n i o r
b o y s fro m n i n e t o tw e lv e y e a r s o f a g e . I n t h e s e f o u r
c h u rc h e s t h e r e w ere n i n e Y T r i b e s . T h ese c l u b s u s e d to b e
known a s F r i e n d l y I n d i a n s , and th e y h av e c a r r i e d on t h a t
ty p e o f t r a d i t i o n . The c lu b m et on ce a w eek. A t e a c h
72
m e e tin g t h e r e was u s u a l l y some ty p e o f r i t u a l o r r e l i g i o u s
o b s e r v a n c e , a b u s i n e s s m e e tin g , s o m e th in g o f an e d u c a t i o n a l
n a t u r e , an d a p h y s i c a l a c t i v i t y . I n t h e Y T r i b e s a l a r g e
p r o p o r t i o n o f t h e b o y s w ere a f f i l i a t e d w i t h t h e c h u r c h a t
w h ic h t h e c lu b m e t. T h re e o f t h e c h u r c h e s s p o n s o r in g Y
t r i b e s h a d gym nasium s w here t h e b o y s c o u ld p l a y b a s k e t - b a l l ,
v o l l e y b a l l , o r o t h e r games i n s e a s o n . The one c h u rc h w h ic h
was n o t t h u s e q u ip p e d , W i l s h i r e C r e s t P r e s b y t e r i a n , u s e d t h e
f a c i l i t i e s a t e i t h e r o f t h e o t h e r two P r e s b y t e r i a n c h u rc h e s
i n t h e a r e a .
J u n i o r Hi-Y* s w ere s p o n s o r e d b y f i v e o f t h e e i g h t
c h u r c h e s . T h e se f o u r c h u r c h e s h a d t h i r t e e n o f t h e s e c l u b s .
The J u n i o r H i-Y c lu b s w ere o r i g i n a l l y c a l l e d P i o n e e r s , t h e
name p a r t l y e x p l a i n i n g t h e i r m a jo r e m p h a s is . T h ese c l u b s
m et o n ce a w eek . I n c l u d e d i n e a c h m e e tin g w ere b u s i n e s s ,
some ty p e o f r e l i g i o u s e x e r c i s e , an d p l a y . The p r im a r y
i n t e r e s t o f m o st o f th e b o y s i n t h e s e c l u b s , was a t h l e t i c
g a m e s. T hey p la y e d b a s k e t - b a l l , b a s e b a l l , v o l l e y b a l l , and
s i m i l a r g a m e s. A l l b u t one o f t h e c h u rc h e s s p o n s o r in g t h e s e
g r o u p s h a d g ym nasium s, w h ere t h e b o y s c o u ld p r a c t i c e an d
p l a y . ( W i l s h i r e C r e s t P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u rc h , h a v in g no
gym nasium , u s e d th e gym nasium o f one o f t h e o t h e r n e a r b y
P r e s b y t e r i a n c h u r c h e s .) A r e g u l a r s c h e d u le o f c o m p e t i t i v e
gam es among t h e s e c l u b s was w o rk e d o u t b y r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s
fro m t h e v a r i o u s c l u b s .
73
The same f i v e c h u r c h e s t h a t s p o n s o r e d J u n i o r H i-Y
c l u b s s p o n s o r e d H i-Y c l u b s f o r b o y s o f h i g h s c h o o l a g e .
T h e re w ere tw e n ty - o n e su c h c lu b s m e e tin g i n t h e s e f i v e
c h u r c h e s . E ach c lu b m et o n c e a w eek. IVhile t h e m ain
i n t e r e s t o f t h e s e b o y s was i n a t h l e t i c s , a p a r t o f e a c h
m e e tin g was d e v o te d to r e l i g i o u s o r r i t u a l o b s e r v a n c e . T h e se
b o y s p l a y e d th e u s u a l gam es in s e a s o n , su c h a s b a s k e t - b a l l ,
v o l l e y b a l l , o r b a s e b a l l . E ach c lu b c o m p e te d w i t h o t h e r
c l u b s , f o l l o w i n g a r e g u l a r s c h e d u le w orked o u t b y a
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e c o m m itte e .
One c h u r c h , W i l s h i r e C r e s t P r e s b y t e r i a n , fo u n d t h a t
fro m th e J u n i o r H igh g ro u p u p , th e m a t t e r o f p r e j u d i c e
p r e s e n t e d q u i t e a p ro b le m . The b o y s , i n th e c lu b s t h a t m et
a t t h i s c h u r c h , w ere l a r g e l y fro m o u t s i d e t h e i r c h u rc h
f a m i l i e s . The J e w is h an d G e n t i l e b o y s d i d n o t m in g le
h a r m o n io u s ly — i f a g ro u p o f J e w i s h b o y s w ere p l a y i n g , th e y
w ould n o t a ll o w th e G e n t i l e b o y s t o j o i n w i t h them , and v i c e
v e r s a . F iv e o f t h e Y c l u b s s p o n s o r e d b y t h i s c h u rc h , w ere
l a r g e l y t h e i r own S unday s c h o o l b o y s . T h e se c l u b s p r e s e n t e d
no p ro b le m , b u t t h e o t h e r s w ere a c a u s e o f g r e a t c o n c e r n .
Im m anuel P r e s b y t e r i a n , w h ic h s p o n s o re d se v e n H i-Y
c l u b s and s i x t e e n Y c l u b s in a l l , fo u n d t h a t a b o u t f i f t y
p e r c e n t o f t h e b o y s w ere fro m t h e i r own c h u rc h f a m i l i e s .
T hey e n c o u ra g e d t h e b o y s to j o i n some c h u r c h , a n d i n s i s t e d
upon t h e r e b e in g some s o r t o f d e v o t i o n a l p e r i o d a t e a c h c lu b
74
m e e tin g .
T h is c h u rc h h a d r e c e n t l y h a d an i n t e r e s t i n g e x p e r i e n c e
i n b e g in n in g two g ro u p s f o r n e a r - d e l i n q u e n t s . One d a y th e
B o y s ’ Work D i r e c t o r fo u n d two o r t h r e e b o y s , who s e l l p a p e r s
a t t h e c o r n e r o f W i l s h i r e an d V erm o n t, p l a y i n g in t h e church* s
gym nasium . When t h e D i r e c t o r w a lk e d i n t o t h e gym nasium , th e
b o y s w ere f r i g h t e n e d and e x p e c te d t o be s e v e r e l y r e p r im a n d e d .
T hey w ere a g r e e a b l y s u r p r i s e d when h e e x p l a i n e d to them t h a t
h e was g l a d t o h av e them u s e t h e gym nasium , b u t t h a t i t was
u s u a l l y u s e d b y g ro u p s who b e lo n g e d to a c l u b . He a s k e d th e
b o y s i f t h e y h ad f r i e n d s who w ould l i k e t o j o i n them i n
fo rm in g a c l u b . As a r e s u l t o f t h i s , two s i m i l a r g r o u p s
w ere fo rm e d .
One e v e n in g , w h ile t h e y w ere h a v in g a c lu b m e e tin g ,
t h e D i r e c t o r w a lk ed i n and fo u n d s e v e r a l o f t h e b o y s sm o k in g .
A g a in th e b o y s e x p e c te d t o b e s e v e r e l y s c o l d e d . The
D i r e c t o r m e r e ly e x p l a i n e d t o them t h a t i t was n o t c u s to m a ry
t o smoke i n t h a t c h u r c h , t h a t t h e y h a d b e t t e r go o u t s i d e to
sm oke, and th e n r e t u r n f o r t h e i r m e e ti n g . The D i r e c t o r h a s
h a d no f u r t h e r d i f f i c u l t y o f a n y k in d w i t h e i t h e r o f t h e s e
g ro u p s o f b o y s . T h ey d i s c i p l i n e d e a c h o t h e r a n d w ere v e r y
w e ll- b e h a v e d g r o u p s . T hey e v en c a r r i e d on t h e i r own d e v o
t i o n s I s a t t h e i r m e e t i n g s .
A t Im m anuel P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u rch t h e r e was a b o x in g
c lu b f o r b o y s o f th e s e c o n d an d t h i r d g r a d e s . T h e se b o y s
75
m et e v e r y S a t u r d a y a f t e r n o o n f o r l e s s o n s an d p r a c t i c e i n
b o x i n g .
The C h u rch o f t h e L a t t e r - D a y S a i n t s s p o n s o re d no
Young Men’ s C h r i s t i a n A s s o c i a t i o n c l u b , b u t i t d i d h a v e a
c lu b f o r i t s own b o y s . T h is c lu b f o r b o y s o f f i f t e e n a n d
s i x t e e n y e a r s o f ag e was known a s t h e V a n g u a rd s . I t s
p ro g ra m was s i m i l a r t o t h a t o f t h e H i-Y c l u b , e x c e p t f o r
p l a c i n g m ore e m p h a sis on th e s i d e o f s t u d y a n d r e l i g i o n .
M ixed g ro u p s f o r b o y s an d g i r l s . A l l e i g h t o f t h e
c h u rc h e s h a d some ty p e o f r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t y i n w h ic h
b o y s and g i r l s p a r t i c i p a t e d t o g e t h e r a l t h o u g h o n ly s e v e n o f
t h e s e w ere o r g a n i z e d g r o u p s . F o r th o s e u n d e r j u n i o r h i g h
s c h o o l a g e , t h e o n l y m ixed g ro u p seem ed t o b e i n c o n n e c tio n
w i t h C h r i s t i a n E n d e a v o r S o c i e t y , an d o n l y tw o c h u r c h e s had
t h e s e o r g a n i z a t i o n s f o r t h o s e u n d e r tw e lv e y e a r s o f a g e .
T h e s e m e e tin g s w ere h e l d i n t h e m o rn in g w h i l e r e g u l a r c h u rc h
w o r s h ip s e r v i c e was i n p r o g r e s s .
O n ly f o u r o f t h e c h u r c h e s h a d a n y ty p e o f o r g a n i z a t i o n
f o r b o y s an d g i r l s o f t h e j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l a g e . Two o f
t h e s e g ro u p s m et i n t h e m o rn in g d u r i n g t h e c h u r c h ’ s w o rs h ip
s e r v i c e an d two g r o u p s m et S un d ay e g e n in g . A t W i l s h i r e C r e s t
P r e s b y t e r i a n c h u rc h t h e g ro u p m et a s p a r t o f t h e C h u rc h o f
Y o u th p ro g ra m . The j u n i o r h i g h b r a n c h was a s e p a r a t e
o r g a n i z a t i o n w i t h i t s own o f f i c e r s and c o m m itte e s . A f t e r a
r e l i g i o u s m e e tin g and d i s c u s s i o n p e r i o d , th e g ro u p sa n g o r
76
p la y e d gam es a t t h e c h u r c h . Once a m o n th th e J u n i o r H ig h
d e p a r tm e n t h a d a p a r t y w h ic h in c l u d e d a l l o f j u n i o r h ig h
s c h o o l a g e who a t t e n d e d S u n d ay s c h o o l i n th e m o rn in g , th e
C h u rc h o f Y o u th i n th e e v e n in g , o r a n y o f th e c lu b a c t i v i
t i e s d u r i n g t h e w eek. The D i r e c t o r fo u n d t h a t t h e s e p a r t i e s
p r e s e n t e d q u i t e a p ro b le m , s i n c e th e g i r l s p r e f e r r e d s o c i a l
d a n c in g t o a n y o t h e r k i n d o f r e c r e a t i o n . The b o y s o f t h i s
a g e , on t h e o t h e r h a n d , w ere n o t m a tu r e e n o u g h t o be
i n t e r e s t e d i n d a n c i n g , an d p r e f e r r e d g am es. I t to o k a good
d e a l o f p l a n n i n g to make t h e s e a f f a i r s a s u c c e s s .
W i l s h i r e C h r i s t i a n C h u rc h ’ s j u n i o r h i g h g ro u p m et
S u n d ay e v e n in g f o r c h o i r r e h e a r s a l and r e l i g i o u s m e e tin g
o n l y . On W ednesday, t h i s same g ro u p came d i r e c t l y fro m
s c h o o l to t h e c h u r c h . The b o y s and g i r l s p la y e d b a s k e t - b a l l ,
v o l l e y b a l l , p in g - p o n g , o r o t h e r games u n t i l d i n n e r t i m e .
A t 6 :1 5 p .m . t h e y w ere s e r v e d a v e r y good d i n n e r f o r tw e n ty -
f i v e c e n t s ( t h e a d d i t i o n a l c o s t o f t w e n t y - f i v e c e n t s p e r
p e r s o n b e in g p a i d b y t h e c h u r c h ) . A f t e r d i n n e r t h e y h ad a
m e e tin g w h ich i n c l u d e d s i n g i n g . S c r i p t u r e r e a d i n g , p r a y e r ,
d i s c u s s i o n o f an a p p r o p r i a t e t o p i c , and o f p l a n n i n g f o r th e
n e x t w eek’ s m e e ti n g . W h ile t h i s g ro u p w h ic h m et W ednesday
a f t e r n o o n and e v e n in g , was com posed m o s t ly o f th o s e vdio
a t t e n d e d S u n d a y s c h o o l a n d t h e S unday e v e n in g s e r v i c e , o t h e r s
w ere a lw a y s welcome to com e.
A t W i l s h i r e P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u rc h , t h e j u n i o r h i g h g ro u p
77
met Sunday m o rn in g . They had a p a r t y a b o u t e v e r y f o u r o r s i x
w eeks. Som etim es t h e y had a w ie n ie bake a t th e b e a c h o r in
one o f th e p a r k s , b u t t h e m ost p o p u l a r ty p e o f p a r t y was th e
one h e l d a t th e home o f a c h u rc h member who l i v e d i n S i e r r a
M adre. On a S a t u r d a y n i g h t , t h e g roup would g a t h e r t h e r e
f o r an i n f o r m a l d i n n e r . A h i k e would u s u a l l y f o l l o w th e
d i n n e r . Then th e g ro u p would r e a s s e m b le f o r s i n g i n g , gam es,
and a g e n e r a l good tim e .
The j u n i o r h i g h g ro u p a t Immanuel P r e s b y t e r i a n C hurch
u s u a l l y had a p a r t y a b o u t once a m onth. The g ro u p p la n n e d
t h e i r own p a r t i e s w ith th e h e l p o f one o f t h e r e c r e a t i o n a l
d i r e c t o r s .
W hile a l l e i g h t o f t h e c h u rc h e s had r e c r e a t i o n a l
a c t i v i t i e s f o r th e b o y s and g i r l s o f s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l a g e ,
o n ly se v en o f them had o r g a n i z e d g ro u p s f o r t h o s e o f t h a t
a g e . I n s i x o f th e P r o t e s t a n t c h u rc h e s th e r e c r e a t i o n a l
p rogram c e n t e r e d a ro u n d th e g ro u p t h a t m et Sunday e v e n in g
f o r r e l i g i o u s s e r v i c e s .
A t S t . James E p is c o p a l c h u rc h th e g ro u p m et b e f o r e t h e
m e e tin g , f o r a s u p p e r w hich was p r o v id e d by t h e c h u rc h .
T h ere was no o t h e r a c t i v i t y o f a r e c r e a t i o n a l n a t u r e h e l d i n
c o n n e c tio n w i t h t h e Sunday e v e n in g s e r v i c e , b u t on W ednesday
e v e n in g s , t h e g ro u p u s u a l l y met i n t h e c h u r c h ’ s gymnasium.
T h e re th e y would p l a y b a s k e t - b a l l , v o l l e y b a l l , o r d a n c e .
Once e v e r y s i x o r e i g h t weeks th e g ro u p had a p a r t y . Some-
78
tim e s i t was a w ie n ie o r s t e a k bake a t th e b e a c h o r i n a
p a r k , som etim es a p a r t y a t w hich games w ere p la y e d , and
som etim es i t was a d a n c e . When th e y h ad a d a n ce th e y
engaged an o r c h e s t r a t o f u r n i s h th e m u sic .
W i l s h i r e C r e s t C hurch had r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s
e v e r y Sunday e v e n in g a f t e r t h e i r r e g u l a r C hurch o f Youth
m e e tin g . The g ro u p u s u a l l y sa n g , p la y e d gam es, o r o th e r w i s e
e n jo y e d t h e m s e lv e s . A bout once a month t h e g ro u p had a
p a r t y . I t m ig h t be a b e a c h p a r t y , a w ie n ie b a k e , an o r d i n a r y
p a r t y , o r a d a n c e . The D i r e c t o r fo u n d i t d i f f i c u l t to g e t
t h e g ro u p t o p la n an e n t e r t a i n m e n t f o r th e m s e lv e s , b u t t h a t
when th e y d i d p la n o n e , th e y r e a l l y e n jo y e d th e m s e lv e s .
A bout once o r tw ic e a y e a r , th e e n t i r e C hurch o f Y outh,
i n c l u d i n g j u n i o r h i g h , s e n i o r h i g h , and c o l l e g e g r o u p s , had
a b i g a f f a i r . T h is was u s u a l l y a p o t - l u c k d i n n e r , f o llo w e d
by a program , games, and d a n c in g .
W i l s h i r e P r e s b y t e r i a n C hurch h a d no r e c r e a t i o n a l
program i n c o n n e c tio n w ith t h e i r Sunday e v e n in g s e r v i c e .
About e v e r y f o u r o r s i x weeks th e g ro u p had some ty p e o f
w eek-day p a r t y : a w ie n ie b a k e , b e a c h p a r t y , o r o r d i n a r y
p a r t y . One S a t u r d a y e v e n in g a m onth t h e g ro u p m et in S i e r r a
Madre a t t h e home o f a member o f t h e c h u rc h . A f t e r an
in f o r m a l d i n n e r , th e g ro u p e n jo y e d a s h o r t h i k e . R e tu r n in g
to th e h o u s e , t h e y w ould p l a y gam es, s i n g , o r se e m otion
p i c t u r e s w hich some member o f th e g ro u p had t a k e n .
79
Immanuel P r e s b y t e r i a n Church d i d n o t o f t e n h av e
r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s on Sunday e v e n in g . About once a
m onth a l l th e C h r i s t i a n E nd eavo r S o c i e t i e s met t o g e t h e r
Sunday e v e n in g f o r a s i n g . R e fre sh m e n ts were u s u a l l y s e r v e d
b e f o r e th e group d is b a n d e d f o r th e e v e n in g . The h ig h s c h o o l
g ro u p , a b o u t once a m onth went t o t h e home o f one o f t h e
g ro u p a f t e r i t s r e g u l a r m e e tin g a t t h e c h u r c h . They would
s i n g and have r e f r e s h m e n t s . The g ro u p a l s o h a d a p a r t y
a b o u t once a m onth. The g ro u p , w ith t h e h e l p o f one o f th e
r e c r e a t i o n a l d i r e c t o r s , p la n n e d t h e i r own p a r t i e s . Once i t
was a h a y r i d e , som etim es a p i c n i c , and som etim es a p a r t y
a t w hich games were p l a y e d .
Immanuel P r e s b y t e r i a n C hurch had t h r e e c h o i r s f o r
b o y s and g i r l s . W hile t h e i r main em phasis was i n c h o i r
r e h e a r s a l , th e y d i d have some ty p e o f p a r t y o r s o c i a l a f f a i r
once o r tw ic e a y e a r .
A t W i l s h i r e C h r i s t i a n Church th e young p e o p le were
u n i t e d in th e C h r i s t i a n Y outh F e l l o w s h i p — a program d e s ig n e d
f o r t h e young p e o p le o f th e D i s c i p l e s o f C h r i s t . The m a jo r
em p h a sis o f t h i s F e l lo w s h i p was to u n i t e i t s young p e o p le in
su c h s t u d y and a c t i o n a s would l e a d to b u i l d i n g a C h r i s t i a n
w o r ld . A t th e same tim e , th e young p e o p le o f t h i s c h u rc h
were e n c o u ra g e d to j o i n t h e i r f o r c e s w i t h s i m i l a r g ro u p s in
o t h e r d e n o m in a tio n s in a c o n c e r t e d e f f o r t to b u i l d t h i s
C h r i s t i a n w o r ld . The Y o u th B o ard , w hich was th e c a b i n e t f o r
8 0
t h e F e l lo w s h i p , was composed o f r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s from e a c h
age g ro u p , th e p r e s i d e n t o f e a c h o r g a n i z a t i o n w hich had
y o u th m em bership, a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e from th e o f f i c i a l b o a rd
o f th e c h u rc h , and th e Y outh D i r e c t o r . T h is b o a rd made
reco m m en d atio n s to th e v a r i o u s g ro u p s c o n c e r n in g p o l i c i e s
w hich would l e a d to w a rd g r e a t e r u n i f i c a t i o n o f e f f o r t and
p u r p o s e . 5
The h ig h s c h o o l group o f th e C h r i s t i a n Y outh F e llo w
s h i p u s u a l l y went t o th e home o f one o f i t s members a f t e r
i t s Sunday e v e n in g r e l i g i o u s m e e tin g . The h i g h s c h o o l g ro up
m et a t th e c h u rc h w i t h th e c o l l e g e age g ro u p e v e r y o t h e r
F r i d a y e v e n in g f o r r e c r e a t i o n a l p u r p o s e s . At t h a t t im e , t h e y
p la y e d games o f a l l k i n d s , w hich i n c l u d e d b a s k e t - b a l l , v o l l e y
b a l l , b a d m in to n , t e n n i s , b a s e b a l l , and p in g - p o n g . The g ro u p
t h a t met t h e r e d u r i n g th e week was l a r g e l y th e same g ro u p o f
boy s and g i r l s who a t t e n d e d S unday S c h o o l and Sunday e v e n in g
f e l l o w s h i p , a l t h o u g h o t h e r s were welcome to a t t e n d . A p a r t y
o f some k in d was u s u a l l y h e ld once a m onth in a d d i t i o n to
t h e s e o t h e r g e t - t o - g e t h e r s j u s t m e n tio n e d .
The h i g h s c h o o l grou p o f th e E pw orth League a t
W i l s h i r e M e th o d is t Church h ad some s o r t o f r e c r e a t i o n a l
a f f a i r a f t e r i t s r e g u l a r Sunday e v e n in g m e e tin g . One week
^ M erle E , F i s h , J r . , "A S tu d y o f th e C h r i s t i a n Y outh
F e l lo w s h i p o f t h e W i l s h i r e C h r i s t i a n C h urch o f Los A n g e le s ,
( u n p u b l is h e d M a s t e r ’ s t h e s i s , th e U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u th e rn
C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e le s , 1 9 4 2 ), p p . 2 , 1 6,
81
th e g ro u p s t a y e d a t t h e c h u rc h and p la y e d s h u f f l e b o a r d ,
p in g - p o n g , C h in ese c h e c k e r s , c a rro m s , o r some su c h game.
The n e x t Sunday e v e n in g th e g ro u p would go t o th e home o f
one o f i t s members a f t e r th e r e g u l a r m e e tin g . In th e home,
t h e y would u s u a l l y s i n g so n g s, have s o c i a l d a n c in g , and
h av e a g e n e r a l good tim e . Once e v e r y two m onths t h i s g ro u p
h a d a s o c i a l e v e n in g d u r i n g th e week. W hile games were
p r o v id e d f o r some, th e m a j o r i t y e n jo y e d s o c i a l d a n c i n g .
C a t h e d r a l C hapel had an o r g a n i z a t i o n c a l l e d Chi Rho
f o r bo y s and g i r l s o f h ig h s c h o o l a g e . T h is g ro u p met e v e r y
T h u rsd a y e v e n in g . A t 7 :3 0 p.m . th e d o o rs were lo c k e d and no
l a t e - c o m e r s were a d m i t t e d . T h is u s u a l l y a t t r a c t e d from
e i g h t y t o one h u n d red b o y s and g i r l s . The f i r s t p a r t o f t h e
e v e n in g was g iv e n o v e r t o r e l i g i o u s i n s t r u c t i o n , and p u p i l
p a r t i c i p a t i o n in d i s c u s s i o n s d e a l i n g w i t h l i f e p r o b le m s .
T h is p a r t o f th e e v e n in g had been p r e v i o u s l y p la n n e d and
t h o s e p a r t i c i p a t i n g p r e p a r e d f o r t h e i r p a r t i n i t . A f t e r
t h a t , f o llo w e d games and d a n c in g . The g ro u p was p l a n n i n g a
m i n s t r e l show t o w hich t h e p a r e n t s would be i n v i t e d . The
show would p r o b a b l y be g iv e n b e f o r e th e c l a s s g r a d u a t i n g
from th e e i g h t h g r a d e , so a s to a r o u s e th e e n th u s ia s m o f
t h e s e boys and g i r l s , and e n c o u ra g e them t o j o i n t h e Chi Rho.
The C hurch o f th e L a t te r - D a y S a i n t s had no o r g a n i z a t i o n
w hich com bined t h e b o y s and g i r l s o f h i g h s c h o o l a g e . T h is
g ro u p , h ow ever, was i n c lu d e d in th e s o c i a l a f f a i r s s p o n s o re d
82
b y th e M utual Im provem ent A s s o c i a t i o n . T h is in c l u d e d a
s o c i a l dance a t l e a s t once a m onth. The d a n ce was a w e l l -
p la n n e d a f f a i r f o r w hich th e b e s t a v a i l a b l e o r c h e s t r a was
en g ag ed t o p l a y . At l e a s t once d u r i n g t h e m onth t h e r e was
some o t h e r ty p e o f r e c r e a t i o n a l program : a m o t i o n - p i c t u r e ,
a d r a m a tic p e rfo rm a n c e , o r a c a r n i v a l .
Thus i t may be seen t h a t r e c r e a t i o n a l f a c i l i t i e s were
o f f e r e d in f u l l o r l i m i t e d p ro g ram s, by t h e c h u rc h e s o f t h e
W i l s h i r e D i s t r i c t . They c o v e r e d , in f u l l o r in p a r t , a lm o s t
e v e r y ty p e o f r e c r e a t i o n known. They h ad been f o s t e r e d and
p la n n e d f o r e v e r y age g ro u p .
CHAPTER V
SOCIAL VALUES OP CHURCH RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS
One o f th e p u r p o s e s o f t h i s s t u d y was to a s c e r t a i n
what s o c i a l v a l u e s th e c h u rc h e s aim ed to a c h i e v e th ro u g h
t h e i r r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ra m s, and how w e l l t h e i r aim s were
b e in g a c c o m p lis h e d . The aim s were a s c e r t a i n e d b y f i n d i n g
o u t why t h e c h u rc h e s had e s t a b l i s h e d r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ra m s.
An e f f o r t was a l s o made t o d e te rm in e what had been th e
t r a i n i n g o f t h e i r r e c r e a t i o n a l l e a d e r s . I n o r d e r t o a s c e r
t a i n th e s o c i a l v a lu e s w h ich th e c h u rc h e s w ere a c c o m p lis h in g
th ro u g h t h e i r r e c r e a t i o n , a q u e s t i o n n a i r e was c i r c u l a t e d
among o v e r two h u n d re d p a r t i c i p a n t s .
R easons f o r e s t a b l i s h i n g t h e s e p r o g ra m s . I n t h e
q u e s t i o n n a i r e u s e d i n t h i s s tu d y , th e q u e s t io n was a sk e d ;
^ ’What do you c o n s i d e r th e p u rp o se o f r e c r e a t i o n in y o u r
c h u r c h ? " T hree p u rp o s e s w ere s u g g e s te d , w ith a p l a c e t o
c h e c k e i t h e r y e s " o r " n o ’’ a f t e r e a c h ite m . T h ere was a
sp a ce l e f t f o r t h e l i s t i n g o f o t h e r p u r p o s e s . Of th e tw e n ty -
one q u e s t i o n n a i r e s i n c l u d e d in t h i s s t u d y , t h r e e d i d n o t h a v e
an y o f th e lo w er p a r t f i l l e d i n a t a l l .
As to th e p u rp o s e , "To a t t r a c t g ro u p s t o c h u rc h member
s h i p , " t h e r e seemed to be l i t t l e a g re e m e n t. F iv e c h u rc h e s
c h ec k ed " y e s " , f o u r c h ec k ed " n o " , w h ile n i n e f a i l e d to c h e c k
84
e i t h e r . The f i v e t h a t check ed " y e s " were n o t i n c l u d e d among
t h e e i g h t c h u rc h e s w hich had th e more e x t e n s i v e r e c r e a t i o n a l
p ro g ra m s. Two o f th e e i g h t c h u rc h e s h a v in g e x t e n s i v e r e c r e a
t i o n a l prog ram s an sw e red " n o ," w h ile th e r e s t ig n o r e d t h a t
p u rp o se e n t i r e l y .
T h ere seemed to be a lm o s t u n i v e r s a l a g re e m e n t a s to
w h e th e r th e p u rp o se o f r e c r e a t i o n was "To d e v e lo p c h a r a c t e r ."
F i f t e e n c h u rc h e s c h e c k e d " y e s " , and th e o t h e r t h r e e f a i l e d
to answ er t h a t q u e s t i o n .
On t h e q u e s t io n a s to w h eth er one o f t h e p u rp o s e s o f
th e church* s r e c r e a t i o n a l program was "To p r e v e n t d e lin q u e n c y
in co m m u n ity ," ‘ te n f e l t t h a t i t was one o f i t s p u r p o s e s .
O nly one checked " n o " , and th e r e a s o n f o r h i s r e s p o n s e was
e x p l a i n e d by h i s comments a t th e b o tto m o f t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e ,
where he s t a t e d ; "Our r e c r e a t i o n a l program i s f o r th e c h u rc h .
R e c r e a t i o n a l eq u ip m en t i s s m a ll . The c h i l d r e n in my c h u rc h
a r e w e l l p r o v id e d w i t h r e c r e a t i o n e ls e w h e r e ." Eeven f a i l e d
t o check e i t h e r " y e s " o r "ho" f o r t h i s p u r p o s e .
Some o f th e o t h e r p u rp o s e s w hich t h e c h u rc h e s hoped to
a c c o m p lis h th r o u g h t h e i r r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro gram s were l i s t e d a s ;
"To prom ote a c q u a in t a n c e and s o c i a l d e v e lo p m e n t."
" G e n e ra l s o c i a l i n t e g r i t y . "
" P ro v id e a wholesome e n v iro n m e n t f o r an i m p o r ta n t
a r e a o f l i f e . "
" P r i m a r i l y to g iv e wholesome a c t i v i t y f o r y o u th
o f B i b le s c h o o l . "
85
"To a s s i s t th e y o u n g s t e r s in t h e i r l e i s u r e t i m e ."
"To show th e young p e o p le t h a t C h r i s t i a n r e c r e a
t i o n i s m ost b e n e f i c i a l and t h a t i t c e r t a i n l y i s more
w o r t h w h i l e ."
" I f C h r i s t i a n c h a r a c t e r i s d e v e lo p e d i t w i l l
a t t r a c t i n d i v i d u a l s to c h u rc h m em b ersh ip ."
T hrough th e p e r s o n a l i n t e r v i e w w i t h th e m i n i s t e r s
and r e c r e a t i o n a l w o rk ers i n th e c h u rc h e s w hich had e x t e n s i v e
p ro g ra m s , i t was p o s s i b l e t o l e a r n more o f t h e r e a l p u rp o s e s
w hich th e c h u rc h e s hoped to a c c o m p lis h th r o u g h t h e i r r e c r e a
t i o n a l p ro g ram s. In th e e i g h t c h u rc h e s i n w h ich a more
th o r o u g h s tu d y was made, a l l b u t one o f th e m i n i s t e r s were
m ost e n t h u s i a s t i c a b o u t a r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ram , and f e l t
t h a t t h e c h u rc h sh o u ld p r o v i d e f o r t h a t p a r t o f th e l i v e s
o f i t s p e o p le .
In one c h u r c h , th e r e c r e a t i o n a l p rogram was m a in ta in e d
t o a i d in t h e d e v e lo p m e n t o f C h r i s t i a n c i t i z e n s h i p . The
m i n i s t e r f e l t t h a t i t d i d h e l p in p r e v e n t i n g d e li n q u e n c y , and
t h a t th e Sunday e v e n in g Church o f Y outh k e p t th e young p e o p le
from a t t e n d i n g Sunday e v e n in g m o v ie s. On th e more p o s i t i v e
s i d e , he f e l t t h a t i t s h o u ld "p ro m o te a c q u a in t a n c e and s o c i a l
d e v e lo p m e n t." The G ir ls * Work D i r e c t o r , who a l s o s e r v e d as
R e l i g i o u s E d u c a tio n D i r e c t o r , w anted th e young p e o p le t o f e e l
t h a t th e c h u r c h had r e c r e a t i o n a l o p p o r t u n i t i e s w hich s a t i s
f i e d t h e i r n e e d s . She d e s i r e d to h a v e t h e young p e o p le f e e l
t h a t t h e y c o u ld f i n d w hat t h e y w anted in r e c r e a t i o n among th e
c h u rc h g ro u p , w here t h e r e was a more vÆiolesome a tm o s p h e re .
8 6
In t h i s c h u rc h t h e y had no d i f f i c u l t y i n a t t r a c t i n g g ro u p s ,
b u t r a t h e r in p r o v i d in g f a c i l i t i e s t o accommodate th e g ro u p s
w hich came t h e r e f o r r e c r e a t i o n . Most o f t h e young p e o p le
f i n d i n g r e c r e a t i o n a t t h i s c h u rc h were from o u t s i d e th e
m em bership and c h u rc h f a m i l i e s .
A m i n i s t e r in a c h u rc h o f th e same d e n o m in a tio n a s
th e one j u s t m e n tio n e d , f e l t t h a t r e c r e a t i o n was " p r i m a r i l y
to g iv e wholesome a c t i v i t y f o r y o u th o f B i b le s c h o o l ." The
a s s i s t a n t m i n i s t e r , who was i n c h a rg e o f th e r e c r e a t i o n a l
p a r t o f th e church* s p ro g ram , f e l t t h a t one r e a s o n th e c h u rc h
sh o u ld m a i n ta in r e c r e a t i o n a s p a r t o f i t s p rogram was b e c a u s e
t h e young p e o p le l i k e d i t . He f e l t , h o w ev er, t h a t i t c o u ld
n o t be j u s t i f i e d f o r t h a t r e a s o n , e x c e p t on a te m p o ra ry
b a s i s . He t h o u g h t t h a t th e r e c r e a t i o n a l program c o u ld o n ly
j u s t i f y i t s e l f i n th e lo n g nun by b e in g a means o f b r i n g i n g
th o s e who p a r t i c i p a t e d in i t , i n t o a c l o s e r r e l a t i o n s h i p
w ith J e s u s C h r i s t a s t h e i r S a v i o u r . U n le s s r e c r e a t i o n
a id e d in d e e p e n in g th e s p i r i t u a l l i f e o f th e I n d i v i d u a l , he
f e l t i t s h o u ld n o t c o n ti n u e to f u n c t i o n . The e l d e r s would
a llo w no a c t i v i t i e s w hich were n o t sp o n s o re d and s u p e r v i s e d
by th e c h u rc h , and t h e y o b j e c t e d to s o c i a l dan cin g #
T h is c h u rc h , t h e r e f o r e , made l i t t l e e f f o r t t o r e a c h
young p e o p le o f t h e n e ig h b o rh o o d u n l e s s t h e y were c o n n e c te d
w i t h th e c h u r c h o r B i b l e s c h o o l. On t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e y d i d
e n c o u ra g e g ro u p s to u s e t h e church* s o u td o o r p a t i o , w hich
87
was paved and e q u ip p e d f o r b a s k e t - b a l l , an d even l e n t them
b a l l s w i t h w h ic h to p l a y . They e n c o u ra g e d th e g ro u p d o in g
s o , to o r g a n i z e and form a g ro u p r e s p o n s i b l e t o th e c h u rc h ,
and to p l a c e i t s e l f u n d e r th e s u p e r v i s i o n o f th e c h u r c h .
They d i d n o t c o n s i d e r t h a t r e c r e a t i o n s h o u ld be u s e d a s a
" b a i t " to draw p e o p le i n t o c h u rc h m em bership , b u t d i d f e e l
t h a t i t sh o u ld be u s e d to deepen th e s p i r i t u a l l i f e o f th e
p a r t i c i p a n t s .
A t t h e t h i r d c h u rc h o f th e same d e n o m in a tio n a s t h e
above tw o, th e m i n i s t e r f e l t t h a t "The r e c r e a t i o n program a t
i t s b e s t m ust be r e l a t e d in o r g a n i c way t o a l l o t h e r a s p e c t s
o f th e c h u rc h p ro g ra m ." He f e l t t h a t " a c h i e v i n g t h i s in
f u l l e r f a s h i o n " was t h e i r p ro b le m . The a s s i s t a n t m i n i s t e r ,
who was known a s " M i n i s t e r o f E d u c a t i o n ," had c h a rg e o f t h e
r e c r e a t i o n a l program o f th e c h u rc h . He gave t h r e e r e a s o n s
f o r h a v in g r e c r e a t i o n a s p a r t o f th e e n t i r e program o f t h e
c h u r c h . F i r s t , he w an ted th e young p e o p le to f e e l t h a t th e
c h u rc h o f f e r e d a p l a c e where th e y c o u ld f i n d wholesome
r e c r e a t i o n and f e l l o w s h i p . He d e s i r e d t h e young p e o p le to
know t h a t th e c h u rc h o f f e r e d a p la c e f o r a l l p h a s e s o f
C h r i s t i a n l i v i n g ; s p i r i t u a l , e d u c a t i o n a l , s e r v i c e f o r o t h e r s ,
and r e c r e a t i o n a l e n jo y m e n t. C l o s e l y r e l a t e d t o t h a t was h i s
secon d r e a s o n ; th e c h u r c h o f f e r s a b e t t e r p l a c e f o r r e c r e a t i o n
th a n co m m ercial i n t e r e s t s p r o v i d e . ViTithin th e c h u r c h , th e
a tm o sp h e re i s wholesome and s h o u ld a p p e a l to th e f i n e r s i d e
88
o f man, w h ile th e com m ercial i n t e r e s t s o u t s i d e t h e c h u rc h
o f t e n t o l e r a t e an e n v iro n m e n t w hich a p p e a ls t o th e b a s e r
s i d e o f man. H is t h i r d , and a s he term ed i t th e " p r a c t i c a l "
r e a s o n , was t h a t s i n c e p l a y was a u n i v e r s a l d e s i r e o f young
p e o p le , i t c o u ld be u s e d a s an e n t e r i n g wedge. I t m ig h t
a t t r a c t th e y o u th to t h e c h u r c h , where t h e y w ould l e a r n th e
C h r i s t i a n way o f l i f e .
The A s s i s t a n t D i r e c t o r o f C h r i s t i a n E d u c a tio n a t t h i s
c h u rc h was a l s o i n c h a rg e o f t h e r e c r e a t i o n a l pro g ram o f th e
g i r l s . The a im s and p u rp o s e s o f g i r l s * c lu b s a s she saw them
w ere; to l e a r n o f J e s u s and h i s l i f e and t e a c h i n g s , so t h a t
th e g i r l would e x p e r i e n c e him a s S a v io u r and m a n i f e s t t h a t
l o y a l t y in h e r d a i l y l i f e and c o n d u c t; to d e v e lo p a C h r i s t l i k e
c h a r a c t e r in c o n f o r m ity t o t h e e t h i c a l t e a c h i n g o f J e s u s
C h r i s t ; to f o s t e r in th e g i r l t h e d e s i r e to j o i n t h e c h u rc h ;
to l e a d e a c h g i r l to see in l i f e and th e u n i v e r s e , God*s
p u rp o se and p l a n ; to d e v e lo p th e c o m p le te p e r s o n a l i t y o f e a c h
g i r l th ro u g h p h y s i c a l h e a l t h , m e n ta l e f f i c i e n c y , i n d u s t r y and
t h r i f t , e a s e i n m aking p r o p e r l y a l l s o c i a l c o n t a c t s w ith a l l
k in d s o f p e o p le , v o c a t i o n a l g u id a n c e , h e a r t y p a r t i c i p a t i o n
in wholesome a v o c a t i o n a l and c u l t u r a l p u r s u i t s , w o rth y home
m em bership, p a r t i c i p a t i o n in c h u rc h a c t i v i t i e s , r e g u l a r
p r a c t i c e o f w o r s h ip , p r a y e r and B i b le s tu d y ; and t o p r o v id e
f a c i l i t i e s so t h e g i r l may be a b le t o l i v e h e r l i f e a t i t s
8 9
b e s t i n a l l th e r e l a t i o n s h i p s o f l i f e . ^
The m i n i s t e r o f a n o th e r c h u rc h e x p la in e d h i s i d e a s on
r e c r e a t i o n in t h i s way;
A f t e r a good many y e a r s o f e x p e r im e n tin g w i t h
r e c r e a t i o n a l program s in th e c h u rc h , we a r e coming
t o f e e l t h a t a C h u r c h - c e n te r e d program b e s t e x p r e s s e s
th e s o r t o f t h i n g which a C hurch sh o u ld be d o in g in
t h e f i e l d o f r e c r e a t i o n . In o t h e r w o rd s, we do n o t
f e e l t h a t o u r jo b i s to r u n a p la y g ro u n d ty p e o f
r e c r e a t i o n , v a l u a b l e a s t h a t i s , n o r a gymnasium
ty p e o f r e c r e a t i o n su c h a s m ig h t be s p o n s o re d by
an a t h l e t i c c lu b . We f e e l t h a t o u r p h a se o f
r e c r e a t i o n sh o u ld be i n th e f i e l d o f c h a r a c t e r
d e v e lo p m e n t. The p r e v e n t i o n o f d e li n q u e n c y would
be o n l y a m in o r p h a s e , and c h u rc h m em bership sh o u ld
a l s o be o f s e c o n d a r y im p o r ta n c e . We f e e l t h a t to
be o f th e h i g h e s t v a l u e , r e c r e a t i o n s h o u ld be l i n k e d
up w ith th e c r e a t i o n o f a p p r e c i a t i o n o f h i g h e r
v a l u e s w hich th e C hurch i s su p p o sed to prom ote
and i n c u l c a t e th ro u g h i t s many form s o f r e l i g i o u s
s e r v i c e s .
The p u rp o se a s m e n tio n e d on th e q u e s t i o n n a i r e f i l l e d b y t h a t
c h u rc h was, " t o p r o v id e a wholesome en v iro n m en t f o r an
i m p o r t a n t a r e a o f l i f e . " The comments a s to t h e s u c c e s s
w hich t h e r e c r e a t i o n a l program had in t h a t c h u rc h , were;
" P a r t i s s o c i a l and p r o d u c t i v e o f wholesome f u n . P a r t i s
o v e r l y c o m p e t i t i v e and n o t i n t e g r a t e d i n t o t o t a l y o u th
p ro g ra m ." T hese comments w ere made by th e A s s i s t a n t M i n i s t e r ,
S e c u re d from a m im eographed s h e e t e n t i t l e d , "Aims and
P u rp o s e s o f G ir ls * C lu b s, Immanuel P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u rc h ," w hich
was w r i t t e n and g iv e n to I n v e s t i g a t o r by M iss L e a f a d e l M i l l e r ,
A s s i s t a n t D i r e c t o r o f C h r i s t i a n E d u c a tio n , a t Immanuel
P r e s b y t e r i a n C hurch.
^ Q uoted from a l e t t e r w r i t t e n to i n v e s t i g a t o r b y
D r. W i l l s i e M u r tin , m i n i s t e r o f W il s h i r e M e th o d is t C hurch,
90
who had d i r e c t c h a rg e o f r e c r e a t i o n . He f e l t t h a t g ro u p s
s h o u ld n o t j u s t u se th e c h u rc h a s a m e e tin g p l a c e , h u t sh o u ld
be a p a r t o f th e e n t i r e c h u rc h program i f th e y i n t e n d to u s e
t h e c h u rc h b u i l d i n g . He m a i n t a i n e d t h a t r e l i g i o n c o u ld n o t
be d i v i d e d i n t o c o m p a rtm e n ts, b u t sh o u ld embody one*s whole
l i f e . H is t h e o r y was t h a t in t h e m orning th e young p e o p le
r e c e i v e d i n s t r u c t i o n in th e p r i n c i p l e s o f C h r i s t i a n l i v i n g ,
a t t h e e v e n in g young p e o p le * s m e e tin g th e y d i s c u s s e d th e
p ro b lem s w hich were m et i n C h r i s t i a n l i v i n g , and t h a t
r e c r e a t i o n gave them an o p p o r t u n i t y to p u t t h e s e p r i n c i p l e s
i n t o p r a c t i c a l u s e .
The m i n i s t e r o f a c h u rc h , w hich had been known a s a
young p e o p l e ’ s c h u rc h f o r t w e n t y - f i v e y e a r s , w ro te a l e t t e r
i n s t e a d o f f i l l i n g in t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e . I n t h e l e t t e r he
e x p r e s s e d th e b e l i e f t h a t t h e W il s h i r e d i s t r i c t p r e s e n t e d
q u i t e a d i f f e r e n t p rob lem from m ost s e c t i o n s o f t h e c i t y , in
t h a t t h e young p e o p le were a l r e a d y p r o v id e d w ith to o many
o r g a n i z a t i o n s , and t h a t t h e i r s o c i a l l i v e s w ere to o crowded
w ith a c t i v i t i e s . He u rg e d t h a t an e f f o r t be made to s i m p l i f y
t h e s o c i a l l i f e o f t h e young p e o p le , r a t h e r th a n t o a d d to i t .
The woman in c h a rg e o f r e c r e a t i o n a t one o f th e o t h e r
l a r g e c h u rc h e s f e l t t h a t t h e r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ram sh o u ld be
f o r c h a r a c t e r b u i l d i n g , and n o t j u s t p l a y f o r t h e sake o f
p l a y . She f e l t t h a t to o o f t e n p l a y had been j u s t p l a y , when
t h e r e sh o u ld hav e been th o u g h t and p l a n n i n g b a c k o f i t so
91
t h a t i t would l e a d t o th e d e v elo p m en t o f f i n e r c h a r a c t e r s .
At a n o th e r c h u r c h , th e r e c r e a t i o n a l program was an
e s s e n t i a l p a r t o f i t s r e g u l a r o r g a n i z a t i o n . W hile t h i s
p a r t i c u l a r c h u rc h e n c o u ra g e d i t s young p e o p le t o be s o c i a b l e ,
f r i e n d l y , and p o p u la r among p e o p le o u t s i d e th e c h u rc h , th e y
l e n t e v e r y i n f l u e n c e to s e e t h a t a l l th e c l o s e f r i e n d s h i p s
w ere m a i n t a i n e d w i t h in th e c h u rc h g ro u p . T h at was one r e a s o n
f o r e s t a b l i s h i n g th e r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ram . They a l s o
b e l i e v e d i n k e e p in g t h e i r young p e o p le b u sy and h a p p y . They
k e p t t h e i r s o c i a l a f f a i r s on t h e h i g h e s t p o s s i b l e p l a n e , so
t h a t t h e i r young p e o p le would n o t be te m p te d to se e k t h e i r
r e c r e a t i o n i n q u e s t i o n a b l e p l a c e s . They had so many e d u c a
t i o n a l and r e c r e a t i o n a l program s t a k i n g p l a c e w i t h i n th e
c h u r c h , t h a t t h e a v e r a g e member would h av e no d e s i r e to go
e l s e w h e r e .
The m i n i s t e r o f a n o th e r c h u rc h s t a t e d in t h e q u e s t i o n
n a i r e t h a t " g e n e r a l s o c i a l i n t e g r i t y " was th e p u rp o s e o f
r e c r e a t i o n w i t h in th e c h u rc h . He f u r t h e r s t a t e d : "We r e g a r d
r e - c r e a t i o n a l f a c i l i t i e s a s o n ly a p a r t o f th e w hole d e v e lo p
m en t— an d t h a t r e a l i n t e g r a t i o n o f l i f e l i e s in th e re a lm o f
d e c i s i o n , e v a l u a t i o n . and t r u t h . " I n t a l k i n g t o t h e i n v e s
t i g a t o r , he e x p r e s s e d th e d e s i r e to have a c h u rc h w ith no
o r g a n i z a t i o n s . He f e l t t h a t he would l i k e to h ave a l l h i s
tim e t o d e v o te t o l i v i n g a C h r i s t i a n l i f e and i n f l u e n c i n g
o t h e r s in th e C h r i s t i a n way o f l i v i n g . He f e l t t h a t
92
r e c r e a t i o n d i d n o t r e - c r e a t e , b u t t h a t i t was o n l y an
a c t i v i t y u n l e s s th e p e rs o n a l r e a d y had th e power to make
d e c i s i o n s and e v a l u a t e . I t was h i s b e l i e f t h a t C h r i s t i a n i t y
d i d r e - c r e a t e , and t h a t r e c r e a t i o n would be r e - c r e a t i v e o n l y
t o a p e rs o n who a l r e a d y had t h a t ty p e o f c h a r a c t e r . When a
G i r l S c o u t T roop w an ted to be sp o n s o re d b y h i s c h u r c h , he
d i s a p p r o v e d i t . He c o n s i d e r e d th e Boy S c o u t T roop i n h i s
c h u rc h a s a c a u s e o f a n n o y a n c e . (T h a t p a r t i c u l a r t r o o p had
such a f i n e r e p u t a t i o n t h a t t h e r e was alw ay s a lo n g w a i t i n g
l i s t o f a p p l i c a n t s . I t had e s t a b l i s h e d t h a t r e p u t a t i o n
b e c a u s e o f th e h i g h p e r c e n t a g e o f i t s members who made
r a p i d p r o g r e s s i n S c o u t i n g .) He had found t h a t t h e S c o u t
m a s te r p u t o u t o f th e t r o o p bo y s who f a i l e d t o make s a t i s
f a c t o r y p r o g r e s s , and t h a t th e n th e bo y s were i n c l i n e d to
h o ld th e c h u rc h to blam e f o r t h e i r d i s m i s s a l . He e x p r e s s e d
t h e s e n tim e n t t h a t such o r g a n i z a t i o n s a s t h e Boy S c o u ts
were o n l y f o r d e r e l i c t s . He th o u g h t t h a t th e home, and n o t
th e c h u rc h , sh o u ld p r o v id e f o r th e r e c r e a t i o n a l i n t e r e s t s
o f t h e young p e o p le .
T r a i n i n g and q u a l i f i c a t i o n o f t h e i r l e a d e r s and
s u p e r v i s o r s . L i t t l e was known a b o u t th e r e c r e a t i o n a l
l e a d e r s in th e t h i r t e e n c h u rc h e s w hich had l i m i t e d p ro g ra m s.
Two o f t h e s e c h u rc h e s i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e y employed p a r t - t i m e ,
p a id d i r e c t o r s f o r b o th boys* and g i r l s * w ork, w ith one o f
93
them h a v in g a p a r t - t i m e v o l i m t a r y d i r e c t o r of d r a m a t i c s a s
w ell* T h re e c h u rc h e s had p a r t - t i m e v o l u n t a r y boys* work
d i r e c t o r s , w h ile a n o t h e r c h u rc h had p a r t - t i m e v o l u n t a r y
d i r e c t o r s f o r b o t h boys* and g i r l s * w ork. Seven c h u rc h e s
i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e y had no ty p e o f r e c r e a t i o n a l d i r e c t o r ,
e i t h e r p a i d o r v o l u n t a r y . S in c e t h e r e was no p l a c e on th e
q u e s t i o n n a i r e f o r t h e q u a l i f i c a t i o n o r t r a i n i n g o f t h e s e
l e a d e r s , n o t h i n g f u r t h e r was a s c e r t a i n e d a b o u t th o s e in
c h a rg e o f t h e r e c r e a t i o n o f t h e t h i r t e e n c h u rc h e s t h a t had
l i m i t e d p ro g ra m s.
Two o f t h e e i g h t c h u rc h e s w i t h more e x t e n s i v e
r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ram s had no p a id em ployees a s s i s t i n g in
t h i s k in d o f w ork. T h is d i d n o t mean t h a t th e y had no
a d e q u a te w o rk e rs . In th e c a s e o f C a t h e d r a l C h a p e l, a l l
th e r e c r e a t i o n a l work was c a r r i e d on by th e p r i e s t s o f th e
p a r i s h . These men were t r a i n e d p r i m a r i l y f o r t h e p r i e s t
hood, b u t had l e a r n e d th ro u g h p r a c t i c a l e x p e r i e n c e how t o
a s s i s t i n th e r e c r e a t i o n a l a f f a i r s . In th e C h urch o f t h e
L a t t e r - D a y S a i n t s t h e r e w ere no p a id em ployees e x c e p t t h e
g a r d e n e r and c u s t o d i a n . A l l t h e i r o t h e r w o r k e r s , i n c l u d i n g
th e B is h o p , d o n a te d t h e i r l e i s u r e tim e to s e r v i c e f o r t h e i r
c h u rc h . C h ild r e n w ere t a u g h t from th e t o d d l e r ag e on, to
p a r t i c i p a t e in t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f th e c h u rc h , even in th e
Sunday m orning w o rs h ip s e r v i c e . As t h e y grew o l d e r t h e y
i n c r e a s e d in know ledge o f r e l i g i o u s , p h i l o s o p h i c a l , and
94
e d u c a t i o n a l m a t t e r s , and w ere g iv e n i n c r e a s e d r e s p o n s i b i l i t y
w i t h i n th e c h u rc h . I n t h a t way, t h e i r e n t i r e m em bership was
t r a i n e d t o l e a d and to s e r v e , and t h o s e who showed o u t s t a n d
i n g a b i l i t y were t h e ones ch osen t o l e a d .
I n f i v e o f t h e r e m a in in g c h u rc h e s th e r e c r e a t i o n a l
program was in c h a rg e o f an a s s i s t a n t m i n i s t e r , w h ile i n
th e s i x t h c h u rc h th e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y was t u r n e d o v e r to th e
R e l i g i o u s E d u c a tio n and G i r l s ’ Work D i r e c t o r . T hese
m i n i s t e r s w ere ( w i t h t h e e x c e p tio n o f one) young men who had
r e c e n t l y become m i n i s t e r s . A l l o f t h e s e men w ere o r d a in e d
m i n i s t e r s , who th r o u g h s p e c i a l t r a i n i n g and e x p e r ie n c e were
i n t e r e s t e d in th e r e c r e a t i o n a l s i d e o f c h u rc h w ork, a n d ,
t h e r e f o r e , were a b le t o assum e th e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r i t s
s u c c e s s .
Immanuel P r e s b y t e r i a n C hurch had two f u l l - t i m e p a id
em ployees u n d e r th e s u p e r v i s i o n o f th e A s s i s t a n t M i n i s t e r .
The A s s i s t a n t M i n i s t e r was a v e r y young man who seemed t o be
e x c e e d i n g ly p o p u l a r w i t h t h e young p e o p le , and e n t e r e d
w h o l e - h e a r t e d l y i n t o th e s p i r i t o f r e c r e a t i o n . The B o y s’
Work D i r e c t o r was a g r a d u a t e o f Chapman C o lle g e and was a t
t h a t tim e t a k i n g two c o u r s e s a t t h a t c o l l e g e , one o f w hich
was on th e u s e o f r a d i o i n e d u c a ti o n and r e c r e a t i o n . He
b e l i e v e d t h a t r e c r e a t i o n a l work sh o u ld be c a r r i e d on o n ly
by young men, and he p la n n e d on e n t e r i n g th e r e g u l a r m i n i s t r y
w i t h i n th e n e x t f i v e o r t e n y e a r s , and l e a v i n g h i s f i e l d o f
95
s e r v i c e f o r a yo u n g er man. He had s e rv e d a s B o y s’ Work
D i r e c t o r a t th e F i r s t P r e s b y t e r i a n C hurch o f P a sa d e n a f o r
s i x y e a r s b e f o r e coming to Im m anuel. He was a s s i s t e d i n
h i s c lu b a c t i v i t i e s b y a p a r t - t i m e p a id c o l l e g e s t u d e n t ,
who gav e a b o u t t h i r t y h o u r s a week to th e c h u rc h . T h is
young man had grown up in c h u rc h c lu b g ro u p s in a d d i t i o n
to h i s r e g u l a r u n i v e r s i t y t r a i n i n g . T h ere w ere f i f t e e n
p a r t - t i m e v o l u n t a r y b o y s ’ w o rk e rs . Among t h e s e were f i v e
c o l l e g e s t u d e n t s who had grown up i n c h u rc h c lu b a c t i v i t i e s *
The o t h e r men w ere e i t h e r q u i t e young o r r a t h e r o l d , s i n c e
th e d e s i r a b l e age g ro u p h ad been c a l l e d i n t o a c t i v e m i l i t a r y
s e r v i c e . Most o f t h e s e c l u b l e a d e r s w ere, h o w ev er, e i t h e r
c o l l e g e s t u d e n t s o r c o l l e g e g r a d u a t e s .
The g i r l s ’ work a t t h i s c h u rc h was u n d e r th e
im m ed iate d i r e c t i o n o f a f u l l - t i m e p a id G i r l s ’ Work
D i r e c t o r , o r A s s i s t a n t D i r e c t o r C h r i s t i a n E d u c a tio n , a s she
was d e s i g n a t e d . She was a c o l l e g e g r a d u a te who had s p e c i a l
i z e d in v o c a t i o n a l g u id a n c e a s w e ll a s r e l i g i o u s e d u c a t i o n .
(W hile t h i s s t u d y was n e a r i n g c o m p le tio n , she was ta k e n
i n t o th e p e r s o n n e l d i v i s i o n o f one o f th e l a r g e a i r p l a n e
f a c t o r i e s . ) W hile she was a woman o f m id d l e - a g e , she seemed
to h a v e th e p o i n t - o f - v i e w o f th e young, and was g r e a t l y
i n t e r e s t e d in t h e i r l i v e s and a c t i v i t i e s . W hile she h ad a
l e a d e r in c h a rg e o f e a c h g i r l s ’ c l u b , she was p r e s e n t f o r
a t l e a s t p a r t o f e a c h g r o u p ’ s m e e tin g . She f e l t t h a t she
96
n e ed e d t h a t c o n t a c t w i t h th e g i r l s so she would know them
b e t t e r and be th u s b e t t e r a b le to g u id e and c o u n s e l them .
She h a d d e v e lo p e d q u i t e a system t o e n a b le h e r b e t t e r t o
g u id e th e g i r l s , and to o r g a n iz e t h e c lu b s to b e s t f i t
t h e i r n e e d s . When a g i r l e n t e r e d a c l u b , she f i l l e d i n a
r e c o r d s h e e t , showing th e main f a c t s c o n c e r n in g h e r f a m i ly ,
s c h o o l, c lu b a f f i l i a t i o n s , and i n t e r e s t s . W ith in a s h o r t
tim e th e D i r e c t o r made a v i s i t to t h e home o f th e g i r l , a t
w hich tim e she h a d th e p a r e n t f i l l i n a n o t h e r s h e e t , g iv in g
th e home b a c k g ro u n d and th e g i r l s a t t i t u d e w i t h i n th e home,
h e r h e a l t h , a t t i t u d e to w a rd s c h o o l, l e i s u r e - t i m e a c t i v i t i e s ,
s o c i a l r e l a t i o n s h i p s and g e n e r a l a t t i t u d e s a s o b s e rv e d by
th e p a r e n t s . T h is m ethod h e lp e d h e r to g e t b e t t e r a c q u a i n t e d
w i t h th e g i r l s i n a s h o r t e r tim e , an d by p o o l in g th e
i n t e r e s t s and n e e d s o f a l l th e i n d i v i d u a l g i r l s t h a t composed
a c lu b , to p la n a program to s u i t th e n e e d s and i n t e r e s t s o f
t h e g ro u p .
A t t h e tim e o f th e p e r s o n a l i n t e r v i e w w ith t h e l e a d e r s
a t S t . Jam es E p is c o p a l C hurch, t h e fo rm e r a s s i s t a n t m i n i s t e r
h a d l e f t , and th e new a s s i s t a n t th o u g h c h o s e n , had n o t begun
to s e r v e . The i n t e r v i e w , was t h e r e f o r e , o n ly w i t h th e
m i n i s t e r . As m e n tio n e d p r e v i o u s l y , he was n o t s y m p a th e tic
to w a rd r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s and d i s a p p r o v e d o f y o u t h ’ s
p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n a n y o f th e r e l i g i o u s p a r t o f t h e i r
g a t h e r i n g s . He to o k c o m p lete c h a r g e o f th e r e l i g i o u s p a r t
97
o f th e Sunday e v e n in g young p e o p l e ’ s m e e tin g , s i n c e he f e l t
t h a t h i s seven y e a r s o f c o l l e g e t r a i n i n g l e a d i n g to w ard t h e
m i n i s t r y h ad p r e p a r e d him to do i t b e t t e r th a n c o u ld t h e
young p e o p le . The a s s i s t a n t t h a t had been ch osen h ad
g r a d u a t e d from O c c i d e n t a l C o lle g e w ith h i g h h o n o r s , a s w e l l
a s h a v in g g r a d u a te d from t h e Church D i v i n i t y S c h o o l o f th e
P a c i f i c . He h a d been a member o f t h a t c h u r c h f o r two or
t h r e e y e a r s in h i s boyhood, and would have c h a rg é o f a l l
r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s upon h i s r e t u r n .
D u rin g th e p r o g r e s s o f t h i s s t u d y , W il s h i r e C h r i s t i a n
C hurch had changed D i r e c t o r s o f Y outh t h r e e t i m e s . The
f i r s t two were young men who h ad g r a d u a te d from Chapman
C o l le g e , h a v in g s p e c i a l i z e d i n r e l i g i o u s e d u c a ti o n a n d '
a c t i v i t i e s f o r young p e o p le . E ach o f t h e s e was a p a r t - t i m e
p a id d i r e c t o r , who d e v o te d t h e r e s t o f h i s tim e t o c o n t i n u
in g h i s s t u d y in p r e p a r a t i o n f o r t h e m i n i s t r y . The t h i r d
was a p a r t - t i m e p a id d i r e c t o r , who s p e n t th e r e s t o f h e r
tim e w o rk in g f o r h e r D o c to r o f P h ilo s o p h y d e g re e a t th e
U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u th e rn C a l i f o r n i a . She h ad h a d a g r e a t
d e a l o f e x p e r i e n c e a lo n g r e c r e a t i o n a l l i n e s , h a v in g d i r e c t e d
a s many a s s i x and seven h u n d re d a t a t im e . T hese d i r e c t o r s
o f y o u th were u n d e r th e d i r e c t s u p e r v i s i o n o f th e a s s i s t a n t
m i n i s t e r , who, w h ile n o t a young man, had m a i n t a i n e d an
a c t i v e i n t e r e s t i n th e C h r i s t i a n E n d eav or and o t h e r
a c t i v i t i e s o f th e young p e o p le .
98
â t t h e W i l s h i r e C r e s t . P r e s b y t e r i a n C hurch, th e
R e l i g i o u s E d u c a tio n and G i r l s ’ Work D i r e c t o r h ad t h e
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r th e r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ram . She h a d grown
up in t h a t c h u rc h so was w e ll a c q u a i n t e d w i t h i t s p e o p le and
t h e i r p ro b le m s . She had g r a d u a te d from Chapman C o l le g e ,
s p e c i a l i z i n g in r e l i g i o u s e d u c a tio n and r e c r e a t i o n a l w ork.
She was a f u l l - t i m e , p a id w o rk e r a t t h i s c h u rc h . She had
o r g a n iz e d a c o u n c i l composed o f a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e from e a c h
o f th e g r o u p s . T h is c o u n c i l was to s tu d y th e e n t i r e r e c r e a
t i o n a l p ro g ram , so a s t o p la n and u n i f y i t to an even
g r e a t e r e x t e n t i n th e f u t u r e . She was p l a n n i n g g ro u p
m e e tin g s to t r a i n th e p e o p le in th e u se o f l e i s u r e tim e in
th e home. She f e l t t h a t d u r i n g t h e em ergency f a c i n g t h e
c o u n t r y , p e o p le w ere s t a y i n g home m ore, and t h a t t h e home
n e ed e d h e l p in l e a r n i n g t o have i t s members p l a y t o g e t h e r
h a p p i l y a n d h a r m o n io u s ly . She was a s s i s t e d by a p a r t - t i m e
p a id b o y s ’ work d i r e c t o r . He was a u n i v e r s i t y s t u d e n t who
was p r e p a r i n g f o r t h e m i n i s t r y , b u t was p a r t i c u l a r l y
i n t e r e s t e d in work f o r b o y s . He s e r i o u s l y o b j e c t e d t o th e
m anner i n w hich boys were a d m i t te d i n t o m em bership i n th e
b o y s ’ c l u b s . He f e l t t h a t a more d e m o c r a tic way s h o u ld be
worked o u t , so t h a t a n y boy w is h in g to j o i n a c h u rc h c lu b
c o u ld do s o .
The A s s i s t a n t M i n i s t e r a t W i l s h i r e M e th o d is t C hurch
h a d c h a rg e o f a l l y o u th r e c r e a t i o n from th e h i g h s c h o o l age
99
u p . He was an o r d a in e d m i n i s t e r who, tho ugh n o t s p e c i a l l y
t r a i n e d a lo n g r e c r e a t i o n a l l i n e s , h ad h ad a g r e a t d e a l o f
e x p e r i e n c e in r e c r e a t i o n among l a r g e g r o u p s . . A B o y s’ Work
D i r e c t o r was in c h a rg e o f a l l b o y s ’ c lu b s* He was a p a r t -
tim e , p a id w o rk e r, d e v o ti n g h i s a f t e r n o o n s and e v e n in g s to
t h i s w ork. In t h e m o rnin gs he was a t t e n d i n g a u n i v e r s i t y .
The w if e o f t h e a s s i s t a n t m i n i s t e r s u p e r v i s e d th e g i r l s ’
c lu b s a l t h o u g h each c lu b h a d i t s own l e a d e r . T hese l e a d e r s
had to m eet th e s t a n d a r d s s e t f o r l e a d e r s by The G i r l S c o u t
and G i r l R e se rv e o r g a n i z a t i o n s .
â t Y /ils h ir e P r e s b y t e r i a n C hu rch, r e c r e a t i o n was in
c h a rg e o f th e A s s i s t a n t M i n i s t e r . He had had seven y e a r s
o f c o l l e g e in p r e p a r a t i o n f o r t h e m i n i s t r y , b u t no s p e c i a l
t r a i n i n g a lo n g r e c r e a t i o n a l l i n e s . He had t o r e l y on
v o l u n t a r y p a r t - t i m e h e l p e r s to c a r r y on th e w ork o f th e
c l u b s .
ATTITUDE OP THE PARTICIPANTS
TOWARD THESE PROGRAMS
The a t t i t u d e o f th e p a r t i c i p a n t s to w a rd th e r e c r e a
t i o n a l program s was a s c e r t a i n e d by means o f t h e q u e s t i o n
n a i r e s t h a t were u s e d , and th r o u g h c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h a few who
w ro te t h e i r names a t th e b o tto m t h e r e o f . One h u n d re d e i g h t y
o f t h e s e q u e s t i o n n a i r e s were s e c u r e d from th e i n v e s t i g a t o r ’ s
c l a s s e s i n th e j u n i o r h ig h s c h o o l where she t a u g h t . Two-
100
f i f t h s o f t h e s e s t u d e n t s w ere s e v e n th g r a d e , o n e - f i f t h w ere
e i g h t h g r a d e , and t w o - f i f t h s w ere n i n t h g ra d e p u p i l s .
T w en ty -se v en w ere s e c u re d from two o f th e c h u rc h e s t h a t had
more e x t e n s i v e r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ra m s. T h is made a t o t a l o f
two h u n d re d seven q u e s t i o n n a i r e s to b e s t u d i e d .
These q u e s t i o n n a i r e s w ere s e p a r a t e d in t h e f o l l o w i n g
m anner;
97 showed m em bership in one o r more g ro u p s s p o n s o re d
b y th e c h u rc h e s in t h e W i l s h i r e d i s t r i c t ;
41 showed no m em bership in one o f t h e s e g ro u p s ;
14 i n d i c a t e d m em bership in S c i e n t i s t c h u rc h e s
w hich had no r e c r e a t i o n a l program ;
27 f a i l e d t o i n d i c a t e t h e c h u rc h a f f i l i a t i o n ;
28 i n d i c a t e d a f f i l i a t i o n w i t h c h u rc h e s o u t s i d e
W i l s h i r e d i s t r i c t .
Of t h e n i n e t y - s e v e n t h a t b e lo n g e d to one o r more g ro u p s
s p o n s o re d b y th e c h u rc h e s i n c l u d e d in t h i s s t u d y , e i g h t y -
one ch ec k ed *^Xou e n jo y t h e ty p e o f r e c r e a t i o n offered^^ and
e ig h t y - tw o c h ec k ed ^^You l i k e b e in g w ith t h e g ro u p w hich
b e l o n g s , ” a s t h e i r r e a s o n s f o r b e l o n g i n g . Only e i g h t e e n
b e lo n g e d b e c a u s e t h e i r p a r e n t s w anted them t o , w h ile e i g h t
f a i l e d t o g iv e any r e a s o n f o r b e l o n g i n g . A n o th e r r e a s o n
t h a t was w r i t t e n i n , nam ely; *^offers an o u t l e t o f t a l e n t
and g i v e s a s p i r i t u a l u p l i f t . ” T h is was th e comment o f a
boy who b e lo n g e d to b o th a Y c lu b and a C h r i s t i a n E n deavo r
g ro u p . A g i r l s c o u t gave ”e d u c a t i o n a l ” a s a r e a s o n f o r
101
■belonging. One o f t h e g i r l s ‘ b e lo n g in g t o th e G i r l s F r i e n d l y
S o c i e t y commented: " I t ’ s a good c lu b w i t h a w o rth y c a u s e .
I am a C a th o l i c b u t I a t t e n d t h e s e m e e tin g s an d go t o my
c h u r c h . ” As r e a s o n s f o r b e lo n g in g to t h e C h r i s t i a n
E nd eavo r ty p e o f o r g a n i z a t i o n , t h e s e r e a s o n s were g iv e n ;
”To g e t o u t o f home w o r k ,” ” e d u c a t i o n a l , ” " I n t e r e s t e d in
work done and s e r v i c e s , ” and " b e c a u se I am c o n v in c e d t h a t
th e C h r i s t i a n way o f l i f e i s t h e o n ly way o f l i f e w o rth
l i v i n g . ” As a r e a s o n f o r b e lo n g in g t o a d a n c in g c lu b she
s t a t e d ; ”I have a c h an c e to m eet some p e o p l e . ”
In th e boys* c l u b s th e ty p e o f p rogram seemed to be
a s t r o n g e r r e a s o n f o r b e lo n g in g th a n was th e f e l l o w s h i p
w ith t h e g r o u p , t h i r t y - n i n e g i v i n g th e fo rm e r a s a r e a s o n
f o r m em bership, w h ile o n ly t w e n t y - f i v e gave t h e l a t t e r
r e a s o n . The r e a s o n s g iv e n f o r b e lo n g i n g to t h e G i r l S c o u ts
was in a b o u t th e same p r o p o r t i o n , b u t in th e G i r l s F r i e n d l y
S o c i e t y , f e l l o w s h i p was a more u s u a l r e a s o n f o r m em bership.
I n t h e m ixed g ro u p s f o r boys and g i r l s t h e r e a s o n s were
a b o u t e q u a l l y d i v i d e d b e tw ee n t h e ty p e o f prog ram and
f e l l o w s h i p .
In a n sw er to t h e q u e s t i o n , ”What do you e n jo y m ost
i}
a b o u t b e lo n g in g to t h i s g r o u p ? ” , " f e l l o w s h i p ” was t h e
a n sw e r g iv e n m ost f r e q u e n t l y . F i f t y m e n tio n e d i t one way
o r a n o t h e r , t h o s e in C h r i s t i a n E n deavo r ty p e o f g ro u p s
q u a l i f y i n g i t b y s a y in g th e y e n jo y e d b e in g w i t h p e o p le o f
102
s i m i l a r i d e a l s . The members o f th e s c o u t i n g t r o o p s , b o th
boys and g i r l s , m e n tio n e d e n jo y in g l e a r n i n g new t h i n g s more
f r e q u e n t l y th an f e l l o w s h i p . The boys o f th e Y C lubs spoke
o f r e c r e a t i o n , s p o r t s , "g o in g o u t and d o in g t h i n g s , ” a lm o s t
a s f r e q u e n t l y a s th e y d i d t h e f e l l o w s h i p . The o t h e r t h i n g s
m o st e n jo y e d w ere m e n tio n e d to o i n f r e q u e n t l y t o b e c l a s s i
f i e d , e x c e p t l i k i n g th e l e a d e r , which was m e n tio n e d by s i x
p e o p le . One s a i d ; " I l i k e t h e C hurch o f Y outh b e c a u s e I
can d i s c u s s w ith o t h e r p e o p le my own age th e p ro b lem s w hich
have been t r o u b l i n g m e .” A n o th e r in s p e a k in g o f C h r i s t i a n
E n d eav o r s a i d : " F e llo w s h ip w ith o t h e r s who have t h e same
i d e a l s and a r e s t r i v i n g tow ard th e f u l f i l l m e n t o f a
C h r i s t i a n l i f e . ”
I t would seem a p p a r e n t t h a t t h e m a j o r i t y o f t h o s e
who d i d b e lo n g to t h e g ro u p s sp o n s o re d b y t h e c h u rc h w ere
s a t i s f i e d , f o r s e v e n t y - f i v e o f them h ad no s u g g e s t i o n s f o r
im p ro v in g th e g ro u p o r i t s p rogram . Many o f t h e s e w ro te
in " p e r f e c t a s i t i s , ” o r some such comment. Ten o f t h o s e
b e lo n g in g to t h e C h r i s t i a n E nd eavo r g ro u p s and t h e d a n c in g
c lu b s th o u g h t more members would be an im provem ent. S i x .
s u g g e s te d t h a t b e t t e r o r d e r , a t t e n d i n g to b u s i n e s s , o r l e s s
n o n s e n s e , was a way to im prove th e b o y s ’ c l u b s . A l l th e
o t h e r s u g g e s t i o n s w ere to o s c a t t e r e d to have an y s i g n i f i c a n c e ,
b e in g m e n tio n e d b y t h r e e o r l e s s p e o p le .
The r e a s o n m ost f r e q u e n t l y g iv e n f o r n o t b e lo n g in g
103
by th e f o r t y - o n e who a t t e n d e d no c h u rc h - s p o n s o r e d c l u b , was
" h a v e n ’ t t i m e , " w hich was g iv e n by e i g h t e e n p e o p le . "Too
f a r to go” was t h e r e a s o n g iv e n b y e le v e n . O nly f o u r gave
" h a v e n o t been i n v i t e d ” a s t h e i r r e a s o n ; a t o t a l o f se v e n
h a d n o t j o i n e d b e c a u s e t h e y e i t h e r d i d n o t l i k e th e l e a d e r ,
th e g ro u p , o r th e ty p e o f p ro g ram . T h ree f a i l e d to s t a t e
an y r e a s o n f o r n o t b e lo n g i n g . P o u r g i r l s b e lo n g e d to G i r l
S c o u t T roops e ls e w h e r e , and gave t h a t a s t h e i r r e a s o n f o r
n o t b e lo n g in g a t t h a t c h u rc h . "Not o ld enough” was g iv e n
a s a r e a s o n b y f o u r . (The Temple to w hich t h e s e r e f e r r e d
had a d a n c in g c lu b f o r c h i l d r e n beyond t h e s e v e n th g ra d e
and t h e s e were s e v e n th g r a d e r s . ) O th e r r e a s o n s , su c h a s
"D on’ t know an y o f t h e g i r l s in th e g r o u p , ” "d o n ’ t c a r e , ”
" I f th e Temple s p o n s o re d o t h e r a c t i v i t i e s su c h a s p i c n i c s ,
e t c . would g e t a l o t o f e n t h u s i a s m , ” were g iv e n by
i n d i v i d u a l s .
F o u r te e n o f th o s e f i l l i n g in q u e s t i o n n a i r e s were
members o f th e C hurch o f C h r i s t , S c i e n t i s t , wiiich sp o n s o re d
no r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s o f any k i n d . One o f t h e s e
S c i e n t i s t c h i l d r e n w ro te i n : "The onljr re a s o n t h e y have
r e c r e a t i o n i s t o g e t p e o p le to go to th e c h u rc h . They
s h o u ld go f o r t h e r e l i g i o n . ” A n o th e r commented; "Our
c h u rc h o u g h t to have them . I t h i n k i t would i n t e r e s t u s
more i n g o in g , a l t h o u g h I go r e g u l a r l y to Sunday s c h o o l . ”
T w en ty -se v en f a i l e d t o i n d i c a t e t h e i r c h u rc h
104
a f f i l i a t i o n , b u t d i d n o t a t t e n d any r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t y
in c o n n e c tio n w ith any c h u rc h . H ere a g a i n , th e r e a s o n
m ost f r e q u e n t l y g iv e n was " h a v e n ’ t t i m e , ” w hich was g iv e n
b y e le v e n . T h re e foun d i t "Too f a r t o g o , ” t h r e e d i d n o t
" l i k e th e ty p e o f p ro g ra m ," w h ile f o u r f a i l e d to g i v e any
r e a s o n . The o t h e r r e a s o n s w ere ch ec k ed b y o n ly one o r two.
The r e a s o n s w r i t t e n in c o u ld be summed up in l a c k o f
i n t e r e s t in c h u r c h , o n l y one s a y i n g , " I w ould l i k e t o t h o u g h . "
The t w e n t y - e i g h t q u e s t i o n n a i r e s t h a t were f i l l e d in by
c h i l d r e n whose a f f i l i a t i o n s w ere w i t h c h u rc h e s o u t s i d e th e
W i l s h i r e d i s t r i c t , were a n a ly z e d f o r c o m p a r a tiv e p u r p o s e s .
Seven o f t h e s e showed m em bership in one o r more c h u rc h
g r o u p s , t h r e e w ere members o f th e C h r i s t i a n S c i e n t i s t
C h urch , and e i g h t e e n a t t e n d e d no c h u rc h r e c r e a t i o n a l g r o u p s .
The r e a s o n g iv e n b y t h e s e c h i l d r e n f o r n o t b e lo n g in g were
in t h e same p r o p o r t i o n a s t h o s e a f f i l i a t e d w i t h c h u rc h e s
w i t h i n th e W i l s h i r e d i s t r i c t .
Even i f i t i s assum ed t h a t a l l tw e n ty - s e v e n o f th o s e
who f a i l e d to d e s i g n a t e c h u rc h a f f i l i a t i o n were c o n n e c te d
w i t h th e c h u rc h e s w i t h i n th e W i l s h i r e d i s t r i c t ( p r a c t i c a l l y
a l l h ad to l i v e t h i n t h a t a r e a in o r d e r to a t t e n d t h a t
p a r t i c u l a r j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l ) , f i f t y - f o u r p e r c e n t o f t h e
c h i l d r e n were a t t e n d i n g some c h u r c h - s p o n s o r e d g ro u p , t h i r t y -
e i g h t p e r c e n t were n o t a t t e n d i n g any su c h g ro u p , and e i g h t
p e r c e n t w ere a t t e n d i n g a S c i e n t i s t c h u r c h . Of t h o s e
105
a t t e n d i n g c h u rc h e s o u t s i d e th e W i l s h i r e d i s t r i c t , tw e n ty -
f i v e p e r c e n t a t t e n d e d c h u r c h - s p o n s o r e d g r o u p s , s i x t y - f o u r
p e r c e n t a t t e n d e d no su ch g r o u p , and e le v e n p e r c e n t
a t t e n d e d S c i e n t i s t c h u r c h e s . T h is would seem to i n d i c a t e
t h a t th e c h u rc h e s o f t h e W il s h i r e d i s t r i c t s a t i s f i e d th e
n e e d s o f th o s e who p a r t i c i p a t e d in t h e i r r e c r e a t i o n a l
p ro g ra m s •
CHAPTER VI
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
T h is s t u d y i s c o n c lu d e d b y (1) sum m arizing t h e
n a t u r e , s c o p e , and f i n d i n g s o f t h e s t u d y ; (2) fo rm in g
c o n c l u s i o n s a s to how t h e p u r p o s e s o f th e s tu d y have been
f u l f i l l e d ; and (3) m aking rec o m m e n d a tio n s.
SUMMARY
I t seemed a d v i s a b l e to make su c h a s t u d y a s t h i s f o r
th e f o l l o w i n g r e a s o n s : (1) th e amount o f l e i s u r e tim e
a v a i l a b l e to t h e a v e r a g e p e rs o n had i n c r e a s e d r a p i d l y ;
(2) th e m anner in w hich t h a t l e i s u r e tim e was u s e d was a
p o w e rfu l f a c t o r in d e te r m i n i n g w h e th e r s o c i e t y sh o u ld be
c o r r u p t o r w e l l - b a l a n c e d and c u l t u r a l ; (3) t h e c h u rc h e s
h a d alw ay s sto o d f o r c h a r a c t e r b u i l d i n g an d th e im provem ent
o f s o c i e t y ; and t h e r e f o r e , (-4) i t seemed d e s i r a b l e t o
a s c e r t a i n in w hat way t h e c h u rc h e s w ere m e e tin g t h i s
c h a l l e n g e o f l e i s u r e .
The c h u r c h was c o n s i d e r e d a s a s o c i a l i n s t i t u t i o n ,
w hich a lt h o u g h m a i n t a i n e d p r i m a r i l y f o r r e l i g i o u s w o r s h ip ,
i n c l u d e d r e c r e a t i o n a s one o f i t s f u n c t i o n s . R e c r e a t i o n was
g iv e n a b ro a d i n t e r p r e t a t i o n , so a s t o i n c l u d e a l l a c t i v i t i e s
w h ich were engaged in f o r p l e a s u r e , and w hich te n d e d to
1 0 7
r e l a x one from th e s t r e n u o u s a c t i v i t i e s o f e v e r y d a y l i v i n g .
S in c e i t was i m p o s s i b l e to s t u d y t h e r e c r e a t i o n a l p rog ram s
o f a l l o f th e c h u r c h e s , t h e s tu d y was l i m i t e d t o an a r e a
w h ich was d e s i g n a t e d a s th e W il s h i r e d i s t r i c t ,
A re v ie w o f t h e l i t e r a t u r e w hich r e f l e c t e d th e
a t t i t u d e o f t h e c h u rc h to w ard r e c r e a t i o n was m ade. S in c e
t h e c h u rc h a r o s e d u r in g th e p e r i o d o f t h e Roman Em pire
when t h e p e o p le a b u se d t h e i r l e i s u r e b y g o in g t o g r e a t
a c c e s s e s i n c o r r u p t and l i c e n t i o u s l i v i n g , th e e a r l y
C h r i s t i a n c h u rc h o p p o sed a n y ty p e o f p l a y . T h is a t t i t u d e
re m a in e d r a t h e r c o n s t a n t e x c e p t f o r a p e r i o d d u r in g t h e
f o u r t e e n t h c e n t u r y when p h y s i c a l e d u c a ti o n an d r e c r e a t i o n
w ere p e r m i t t e d in some o f th e u n i v e r s i t i e s w hich t h e c h u rc h
had e s t a b l i s h e d . A gain t h e c h u rc h r e v e r t e d to i t s f i r s t
a t t i t u d e o f o p p o sin g p l a y in a n y o f i t s fo rm s, and m ain
t a i n e d i t s o p p o s i t i o n u n t i l t h e l a s t g e n e r a t i o n .
I t seemed e v i d e n t from a l l th e l i t e r a t u r e r e v ie w e d ,
t h a t th e c h u r c h was coming to r e a l i z e t h e n e e d o f p r o v i d in g
wholesome r e c r e a t i o n n o t o n ly t o c o u n t e r a c t th e e v i l s o f
m is u s e d l e i s u r e , b u t b e c a u se r e c r e a t i o n had d e f i n i t e power
i n c h a r a c t e r b u i l d i n g . A number o f s t u d i e s had been made
show ing t h e u s e o f m o t i o n - p i c t u r e s , dram a, l i b r a r i e s , o r
gymnasiums i n c e r t a i n c h u r c h e s . T here w ere o t h e r s t u d i e s
made w hich showed th e s o c i a l a t t i t u d e s o f a few s e l e c t e d
c h u r c h e s . T here h a d , how ever, been no s t u d y su ch a s t h i s .
108
Q u e s t i o n n a i r e s were s e n t t o t h e f o r t y - t w o c h u rc h e s
w i t h in th e d e f i n e d a r e a . A f t e r r e p e a t e d a t t e m p t s to g e t a
c o m p le te r e t u r n , th e s tu d y was f i n a l l y l i m i t e d to tw e n ty -o n e
c h u rc h e s whose r e p l i e s i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e y were a t t e m p t i n g
t o c a r r y on some ty p e o f r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ram . T h i r t e e n o f
t h e s e had su c h l i m i t e d program s t h a t o n ly th e q u e s t i o n n a i r e s
were u s e d i n s tu d y in g t h e i r r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ra m s. The
e i g h t c h u r c h e s , t h a t had more e x t e n s i v e r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ra m s,
w ere s t u d i e d more i n d e t a i l by t h e i n v e s t i g a t o r h a v in g one o r
more p e r s o n a l i n t e r v i e w s w i t h t h e i r l e a d e r s . A s e c o n d - ty p e
q u e s t i o n n a i r e was u s e d among th e p a r t i c i p a n t s in o r d e r t o
a s c e r t a i n t h e i r a t t i t u d e to w a rd th e c h u rc h - s p o n s o r e d
r e c r e a t i o n .
C hurch- s p o n s o re d r e c r e a t i o n f o r a d u l t s . A l l b u t f o u r
o f th e c h u rc h e s i n c l u d e d in t h i s s t u d y h a d some ty p e o f
o r g a n i z a t i o n f o r women w hich I n c l u d e d s o c i a b i l i t y a s p a r t
o f i t s p ro g ram . P r o b a b ly even th e s e , f o u r c h u rc h e s had
s i m i l a r o r g a n i z a t i o n s , b u t m e r e ly f a i l e d to c h e c k them on
t h e i r q u e s t i o n n a i r e s , s i n c e r e c r e a t i o n was n o t c o n s i d e r e d
a s th e p rim a r y p u rp o s e o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n . T h ere were
f o r t y - o n e o r g a n i z a t i o n s among th e s e v e n te e n c h u rc h e s t h a t
d i d r e p o r t su ch g ro u p s f o r women. W hile m ost o f t h e s e
o r g a n i z a t i o n s were p r i m a r i l y f o r m i s s i o n a r y work o r f o r
a d v a n c in g th e w ork o f t h e p a r t i c u l a r c h u rc h , th e y a l l h ad
109
some ty p e o f s o c i a l a f f a i r in c o n n e c tio n w i t h t h e i r m e e tin g s .
T w o - th ir d s o f t h e c h u rc h e s s p o n s o re d a men’ s c lu h .
F e llo w s h ip was one o f t h e p rim a ry p u rp o s e s o f e a c h o f t h e s e
men’ s c l u b s . The men e i t h e r g a t h e r e d f o r b r e a k f a s t ,
d i n n e r , o r f o r a sm oker. I n a d d i t i o n to t h i s more s o c i a l
s i d e , th e y u s u a l l y had a program w h ich in c l u d e d s p e a k e r s
on su c h t o p i c s a s c i v i c a f f a i r s , p o l i t i c a l m a t t e r s , o r
s p o r t s . The men’ s c lu b f r e q u e n t l y c a r r i e d on some ty p e o f
a c t i v i t y t o prom ote some p h a se o f t h e c h u rc h w ork, such a s
a i d i n g in t h e d e v e lo p m e n t o f more b o y s ’ c l u b s , p r o v i d in g
p ro m in e n t s p e a k e r s f o r t h e young p e o p l e ’ s g r o u p s , o r
s p o n s o r in g an a l l - c h u r c h p i c n i c .
T h ere were n o t a s many o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n w hich men
and women m et t o g e t h e r f o r s o c i a l p u r p o s e s . O nly e i g h t
c h u rc h e s r e p o r t e d a n y su c h o r g a n i z a t i o n , b u t t h e s e e i g h t
c h u rc h e s had f o u r t e e n s u c h g r o u p s . Some o f t h e s e were
S unday e v e n in g C h r i s t i a n E ndeavor g ro u p s t h a t h ad some
s o c i a l a f f a i r s i n c o n n e c tio n w i t h them . One was a d r a m a tic
c l u b , and one an o r g a n i z a t i o n f o r b u s i n e s s men and women.
F iv e c h u rc h e s had g ro u p s f o r m a r r i e d c o u p l e s . W ith t h e s e
g r o u p s , p a r t i e s , d a n c e s , o r o t h e r t y p e s o f s o c i a l g a t h e r
i n g s w ere a v e r y i m p o r t a n t p a r t o f t h e i r p ro g ram .
C h urch- s p o n s o re d r e c r e a t i o n f o r young p e o p l e . O nly
tw e lv e o f th e tw e n ty -o n e c h u rc h e s o f f e r e d an y ty p e o f
r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t y f o r young p e o p le o f c o l l e g e a g e .
1 1 0
T h ere w ere f o u r o r g a n i z a t i o n s f o r women, who met f o r s t u d y
and s o c i a b i l i t y . S ix o f t h e seven c lu b s f o r young men were
u n d e r t h e Young Men’ s C h r i s t i a n A s s o c i a t i o n . The s e v e n t h
was th e "M Men” o f t h e C hurch o f th e L a t t e r - D a y S a i n t s .
A l l o f t h e s e g ro u p s i n c l u d e d s t u d y and d e v o t i o n s in t h e i r
w eek ly m e e ti n g s , b u t t h e i r m a jo r em p h a sis was in a t h l e t i c
gam es. They com peted w i t h s i m i l a r team s i n su c h games a s
v o l l e y b a l l and b a s k e t - b a l l . T h ere seemed to be a g r e a t e r
demand f o r m ixed g ro u p s among young p e o p le , f o r e le v e n
c h u r c h e s r e p o r t e d o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h i s t y p e . E ig h t o f
t h e s e met Sunday e v e n in g s f o r a r e l i g i o u s s e r v i c e , w hich
i n c l u d e d d i s c u s s i o n s o f p ro b lem s p e r t a i n i n g to t h i s ag e
l e v e l . The o t h e r t h r e e g ro u p s met on a w e e k -d a y n i g h t f o r
a s i m i l a r ty p e o f p ro g ram . Some o f th e g ro u p s met d u r i n g
t h e week f o r a t h l e t i c gam es, su c h a s b adm inton o r v o l l e y
b a l l , b u t a l l o f them had p a r t i e s , d i n n e r s , o r d a n c e s a t
l e a s t e v e r y s i x w eek s.
C h u rc h -s p o n s o re d r e c r e a t i o n f o r g i r l s and b o y s . The
tw e lv e c h u rc h e s t h a t h a d c l u b s f o r g i r l s , p r o v id e d tw e n ty -
two su c h c l u b s . Some o f t h e s e were a f f i l i a t e d w i t h su c h
n a t i o n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s a s C am pfire G i r l s , G i r l R e s e r v e s , o r
G i r l S c o u t s , b u t most o f them were c lu b s d e s i g n e d to m eet
th e n e e d s o f t h e p a r t i c u l a r g ro u p o f g i r l s t h a t b e lo n g e d .
T h ese g ro u p s m et once a week f o r s t u d y , h a n d c r a f t , and gam es.
Ill
A l l b u t t h r e e o f t h e c h u rc h e s h ad some k i n d o f c lu b
f o r b o y s ; th e e i g h t e e n c h u rc h e s had a t o t a l o f s i x t y - n i n e
b o y s ’ c l u b s . F o r t y - e i g h t o f t h e s e were a f f i l i a t e d w ith
th e Young Men’ s C h r i s t i a n A s s o c i a t i o n and s e v e n te e n w ith
th e Boy S c o u ts o f A m e ric a, l e a v i n g o n ly f o u r w hich were
n o t members o f t h e s e two g r e a t n a t i o n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s .
The Y. C lu bs em ph asized a t h l e t i c s an d s p o r ts m a n s h ip ,
a l t h o u g h r e l i g i o u s o r r i t u a l o b s e rv a n c e was a p a r t o f e ac h
m e e tin g . The S c o u t t r o o p s em p h asized know ledge and a c t i v i
t i e s w hich had to do w ith th e g r e a t o u t d o o r s . A l l o f
t h e s e c lu b s m et once a week t o a s s i s t t h e bo y in h i s w e l l -
ro u n d e d d e v e lo p m e n t.
O r g a n i z a t i o n s i n w hich th e bo ys and g i r l s met
t o g e t h e r w ere fo u n d in s i x t e e n o f t h e c h u r c h e s . S i x t e e n
o f t h e t w e n t y - e i g h t g ro u p s in t h i s c l a s s i f i c a t i o n w ere o f
t h e C h r i s t i a n E nd eavo r t y p e , m e e tin g e i t h e r Sunday m o rn ing
o r e v e n in g . The o t h e r g ro u p s were e i t h e r c h o i r s o r g ro u p s
m e e tin g d u r in g th e week f o r r e l i g i o u s i n s t r u c t i o n and
r e c r e a t i o n . Most o f t h e g ro u p s m e e tin g Sunday e v e n in g had
some ty p e o f r e c r e a t i o n a f t e r th e m e e tin g . Two g ro u p s had
no r e c r e a t i o n on Sunday e v e n in g , b u t met once d u r i n g t h e
week t o p l a y gam es, one o f t h e s e g ro u p s h a v in g d i n n e r
t o g e t h e r a f t e r t h e i r p l a y p e r i o d . A l l o f t h e g ro u p s had
p a r t i e s a t l e a s t once e v e r y s i x w eeks. T hese p a r t i e s
v a r i e d from o u td o o r p a r t i e s a t th e b e a c h o r p a r k , to p a r t i e s
1 1 2
a t w hich games w ere p la y e d , o r even d a n c e s in some o f t h e
c h u rc h e s w hich p e r m i t t e d s o c i a l d a n c in g .
R e aso n s f o r e s t a b l i s h i n g th^ese p ro g ra m s . I n t h e
q u e s t i o n n a i r e u s e d i n t h e s t u d y , th e q u e s t i o n was a s k e d ,
"IVhat do you c o n s i d e r t h e p u rp o se o f r e c r e a t i o n i n y o u r
c h u rc h ? " T h re e p u r p o s e s were s u g g e s te d ; (1) t o a t t r a c t
g ro u p s to c h u r c h m em bership; (2 ) t o d e v e lo p c h a r a c t e r ; and
( 3) to p r e v e n t d e li n q u e n c y in com m unity. O nly f i f t e e n o f
t h e c h u rc h e s c h ec k ed a n y o f t h e s e p u r p o s e s . F iv e th o u g h t
a t t r a c t i n g g ro u p s t o c h u rc h m em bership was a p u rp o s e t o be
g a i n e d , tw e lv e c o n s i d e r e d c h a r a c t e r d e v elo p m e n t a p u r p o s e ,
and t e n aim ed t o p r e v e n t d e li n q u e n c y , th r o u g h r e c r e a t i o n .
T hrou gh p e r s o n a l i n t e r v i e w s w ith t h e m i n i s t e r s o f t h e
c h u rc h e s t h a t h ad more e x t e n s i v e r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ram s, i t
was p o s s i b l e to o b t a i n a c l e a r e r view o f t h e p u r p o s e s th e y
e x p e c te d to a c c o m p lis h th ro u g h r e c r e a t i o n . A l l o f t h e
m i n i s t e r s e x c e p t o n e , w ere e n t h u s i a s t i c a b o u t m a i n t a i n i n g
r e c r e a t i o n a s an i n t e g r a l p a r t o f t h e w hole c h u rc h p ro g ra m .
None o f t h e m i n i s t e r s who w ere i n t e r v i e w e d f e l t t h a t
r e c r e a t i o n s h o u ld be u se d a s a " b a i t " t o a t t r a c t g ro u p s
t o c h u rc h m em b ersh ip, b u t m ost o f them f e l t t h a t i t sh o u ld
make t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s f e e l t h a t wholesome r e c r e a t i o n was a
p a r t o f C h r i s t i a n l i v i n g . The m a j o r i t y o f t h e m i n i s t e r s
f e l t t h a t th ro u g h t h e c lu b p ro g ram , th e c lu b members s h o u ld
become b e t t e r a c q u a i n t e d w ith J e s u s and h i s t e a c h i n g s , and
113
t h a t t h e i r s p i r i t u a l l i v e s sh o u ld t h e r e b y be e n r i c h e d .
T r a i n i n g and q u a l i f i c a t i o n s o f t h e r e c r e a t i o n a l
l e a d e r s . L i t t l e was known a b o u t t h e r e c r e a t i o n a l l e a d e r s
in t h e t h i r t e e n c h u rc h e s w hich had l i m i t e d p ro g ra m s, e x c e p t
t h a t two o f them em ployed p a r t - t i m e p a id d i r e c t o r s f o r b o t h
b o y s ’ and g i r l s ’ work* P o u r h ad p a r t - t i m e v o l u n t a r y
w o r k e r s , w h ile seven had no r e c r e a t i o n w o r k e r s . In t h e
c h u rc h e s w i t h e x t e n s i v e r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ra m s, t h e m i n i s t e r
o r h i s a s s i s t a n t , t h e p r i e s t , o r t h e b is h o p ( i n t h e L a t t e r -
Day S a i n t s Church) was i n c h a rg e o f t h e r e c r e a t i o n . In a l l
b u t one c h u rc h he was a young man who, a l t h o u g h t r a i n e d
p r i m a r i l y f o r t h e m i n i s t r y , had t h r o u g h s p e c i a l t r a i n i n g ,
i n t e r e s t , o r e x p e r i e n c e , become i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e r e c r e a
t i o n a l s i d e o f t h e c h u r c h ’ s p ro g ram . F o ur o f t h e s e c h u rc h e s
h ad a t l e a s t one p a r t - t i m e p a id r e c r e a t i o n a l d i r e c t o r , w i t h
one o f them h a v in g two f u l l - t i m e and one p a r t - t i m e w o r k e r s .
These b o y s ’ and g i r l s ’ work d i r e c t o r s w ere m o s t ly c o l l e g e
g r a d u a t e s who h ad s p e c i a l i z e d in r e l i g i o u s e d u c a ti o n and
r e c r e a t i o n a l w ork, o r e l s e were c o l l e g e s t u d e n t s p r o c e e d in g
w i t h su c h t r a i n i n g .
A t t i t u d e o f th e p a r t i c i p a n t s to w a rd r e c r e a t i o n a l
p r o g r a m s . The a t t i t u d e o f th e p a r t i c i p a n t s to w a rd th e
r e c r e a t i o n a l pro g ram s was a s c e r t a i n e d by means o f two
h u n d re d seven q u e s t i o n n a i r e s , m ost o f w hich were f i l l e d in
1 1 4
b y s t u d e n t s in a j u n i o r h ig h s c h o o l i n t h e h e a r t o f t h e
W i l s h i r e d i s t r i c t * N in e ty - s e v e n o f t h e s e b o y s and g i r l s
were members o f one o r more c lu b s s p o n s o r e d by th e
c h u r c h e s i n c l u d e d in t h i s s t u d y . F i f t y - f i v e w ere a f f i l i
a t e d w ith t h e s e c h u rc h e s b u t d i d n o t b e lo n g to a n y c h u rc h -
sp o n s o re d r e c r e a t i o n a l g r o u p . ( F o u r te e n o f t h e s e w ere,
h o w e v er, members o f C h r i s t i a n S c ie n c e c h u rc h e s t h a t o f f e r e d
no r e c r e a t i o n f a c i l i t i e s . ) T w e n ty - e ig h t w ere a f f i l i a t e d
w i t h c h u rc h e s o u t s i d e th e a r e a o f t h i s s t u d y , a n d th e
o t h e r s f a i l e d to i n d i c a t e t h e i r c h u rc h a f f i l i a t i o n . The
n i n e t y - s e v e n t h a t were members o f r e c r e a t i o n a l g ro u p s
s p o n s o re d b y t h e c h u r c h e s o f th e W i l s h i r e d i s t r i c t e n jo y e d
th e g ro u p and t h e ty p e o f program w h ich i t o f f e r e d . F e llo w
s h ip was th e answ er m ost f r e q u e n t l y g iv e n to t h e q u e s t i o n ,
"What do you e n jo y m ost a b o u t b e lo n g i n g t o t h i s grou p?"
The members o f t h e b o y s ’ c lu b s and t h e G i r l S c o u ts m e n tio n e d
l e a r n i n g new t h i n g s , and " g o in g o u t and d o in g t h i n g s " a lm o s t
a s f r e q u e n t l y a s th e y d i d f e l l o w s h i p . S e v e n t y - f i v e o f t h e s e
n i n e t y - s e v e n h a d no s u g g e s t i o n s f o r im p ro v in g th e g ro u p o r
i t s p rogram , w ith a l a r g e num ber w r i t i n g in " p e r f e c t a s i t
i s . " The r e a s o n s m ost f r e q u e n t l y g iv e n by t h o s e who were
n o t members o f c h u r c h - s p o n s o r e d g ro u p s f o r n o t b e lo n g in g
w ere; "H aven’ t t i m e , " o r "Too f a r to g o ."
1 1 6
CONCLUSIONS
The p u rp o se o f t h i s s t u d y was; (1) t o a s c e r t a i n to
w hat e x t e n t t h e c h u rc h e s o f t h e W il s h i r e D i s t r i c t w ere
d e v e l o p in g r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ra m s; (2) to d e te r m in e th e
r e a s o n s f o r w hich t h e c h u rc h e s hav e e s t a b l i s h e d t h e s e
p ro g ra m s; (3) to d i s c o v e r w h e th e r o r n o t t h e s e c h u rc h
p ro gram s have s a t i s f a c t o r i l y f i l l e d th e r e c r e a t i o n a l n e e d s
o f t h e i r c l i e n t a g e ; and (4) to i n t e r p r e t t h e s o c i a l v a lu e
o f t h e s e r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ra m s. In c o n c l u s i o n , an e f f o r t
w i l l be made to s e e i f t h e s e f o u r p u rp o s e s w ere a c c o m p lis h e d ,
t o make re c o m m e n d a tio n s, and t o s u g g e s t f u t u r e s t u d i e s .
To w hat e x t e n t have t h e c h u rc h e s o f t h e W i l s h i r e
D i s t r i c t d e v e lo p e d r e c r e a t i o n a l program s? I t would seem
s a f e to s t a t e t h a t l e s s th a n t h r e e - f o u r t h s o f t h e c h u rc h e s
i n th e W i l s h i r e a r e a h ad an y k in d o f r e c r e a t i o n a l p rogram .
T h is s t a t e m e n t i s b a s e d on t h e f a c t t h a t o f t h e f o r t y - t w o
c h u rc h e s t o w hich q u e s t i o n n a i r e s w ere s e n t , tw e n ty -o n e
i n d i c a t e d t h a t th e y h a d some ty p e o f r e c r e a t i o n a l pro gram ,
w h ile seven were known to have no su ch p rogram . (The seven
i n c l u d e d th e f i v e t h a t r e p l i e d to t h a t e f f e c t and t h e two
C h r i s t i a n S c ie n c e c h u rc h e s t h a t were known t o h av e n o n e .)
Of th e r e m a in in g f o u r t e e n , we can assum e t h a t v e r y l i t t l e ,
i f a n y , o f a r e c r e a t i o n a l n a t u r e was o f f e r e d . The one
h u n d re d e i g h t y j u n i o r h ig h s c h o o l p u p i l s , who f i l l e d in
1 1 6
q u e s t i o n n a i r e s , r e p o r t e d o n ly f o u r c h u r c h e s , e x c e p t t h e
tw e n ty - o n e i n c l u d e d in t h i s s tu d y , t h a t had a n y ty p e o f
r e c r e a t i o n . One o f t h e s e had a G i r l S c o u t T ro o p , one a
y o u th f e l l o w s h i p , and two had d a n c in g c l u b s . T h is w ould
seem to i n d i c a t e t h a t n o t more th an t h i r t y c h u rc h e s a t th e
m ost h ad any ty p e o f r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t y t o o f f e r to t h e
p e o p le o f t h e W i l s h i r e d i s t r i c t .
From t h e i n f o r m a t i o n a v a i l a b l e from t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e s
s e n t t o t h e c h u r c h e s and from th e q u e s t i o n n a i r e s g iv e n t o t h e
p a r t i c i p a n t s , i t a p p e a re d e v i d e n t t h a t w h a te v e r r e c r e a t i o n
was o f f e r e d b y a n y , e x c e p t th e e i g h t c h u rc h e s c l a s s i f i e d
th r o u g h o u t t h i s s t u d y a s th o s e w ith e x t e n s i v e r e c r e a t i o n a l
p ro g ra m s, was v e r y l i m i t e d i n n a t u r e . The e i g h t c h u r c h e s ,
whose program s have been d e s c r ib e d , in d e t a i l in t h i s s t u d y ,
o f f e r e d v e r y f u l l p ro g ra m s, w ith a c lu b f o r e a c h se x and
e v e r y age g ro u p . I t would be c o n c lu d e d , t h e n , t h a t l e s s
th a n t h r e e - f o u r t h s o f t h e c h u rc h e s o f th e W i l s h i r e d i s t r i c t
o f f e r e d even l i m i t e d r e c r e a t i o n a l f a c i l i t i e s to th e p e o p le
o f t h e com m unity. On th e o t h e r h a n d , a b o u t o n e - f i f t h o f
them o f f e r e d v e r y f u l l and c o m p le te r e c r e a t i o n a l f a c i l i t i e s ,
w h ich would s u i t a l l age g ro u p s and ty p e s o f i n t e r e s t s .
What were t h e r e a s o n s f o r w hich th e c h u rc h e s have
e s t a b l i s h e d t h e s e p ro g ra m s? I t seemed a p p a r e n t t h a t a l l
t h e c h u rc h e s t h a t re s p o n d e d to t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e s c o n s i d e r e d
th e p r im a r y p u r p o s e o f t h e i r pro g ram s was to d e v e lo p
117
c h a r a c t e r , and d i r e c t l y o r i n d i r e c t l y to h e l p p r e v e n t
d e li n q u e n c y . The c h u r c h e s w ith more e x t e n s i v e r e c r e a t i o n a l
p ro g ram s had a l o n g - r a n g e view o f r e c r e a t i o n . They e n d ea v
o r e d to h e l p t h e young p e o p le d i s c u s s and f a c e th e p ro b lem s
w hich p r e s e n t e d th e m s e lv e s to p e o p le o f t h e i r a g e s . They
t r i e d to d e v e lo p t h e i n t e r e s t s and t a l e n t s o f t h e members
o f t h e g ro u p so t h a t t h e y c o u ld l i v e l i f e more f u l l y . They
em p h asized p h y s i c a l and m e n ta l h e a l t h and d e v e lo p m e n t, a s
w e ll a s t e a c h i n g th e g ro u p s th e jo y o f s e r v i c e f o r o t h e r s .
T hey aim ed to d e v e lo p C h r i s t i a n c h a r a c t e r s , who th r o u g h
f o l l o w i n g th e t e a c h i n g s o f J e s u s , w ould l i v e n o b l e r l i v e s
and become more w o rth y members o f home and s o c i e t y .
Have t h e s e c h u rc h p ro g ram s s a t i s f a c t o r i l y f i l l e d th e
r e c r e a t i o n a l n e e d s o f t h e i r c l i e n t a g e ? I n o r d e r to answ er
t h i s q u e s t io n s a t i s f a c t o r i l y , i t would have been n e c e s s a r y
t o s u r v e y th e W i l s h i r e d i s t r i c t w i t h some ty p e o f q u e s t i o n
n a i r e w hich would have I n q u i r e d i n t o th e r e c r e a t i o n a l
i n t e r e s t s and a s k e d many o t h e r p e r t i n e n t q u e s t i o n s c o n c e r n
in g t h e m anner in w hich t h e s e i n t e r e s t s w ere b e in g s a t i s
f i e d . A n o th e r s u r v e y w ould n e ed t o be made to d e te r m in e how
t h e young p e o p le were s p e n d in g t h e i r l e i s u r e tim e . The
i n v e s t i g a t o r w i l l h ave to b a s e h e r c o n c l u s i o n s on t h e
f i n d i n g s o f t h i s s t u d y .
I t would seem t h a t m ost o f t h e p e o p le o f t h i s W i l s h i r e
d i s t r i c t w ere f i n d i n g s u f f i c i e n t r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s to
1 1 8
o c c u p y t h e i r l e i s u r e t im e . One m i n i s t e r who r e p l i e d to th e
q u e s t i o n n a i r e s t a t e d t h a t h i s young p e o p le were w e l l
p r o v id e d w ith r e c r e a t i o n e ls e w h e r e . A n o th e r m i n i s t e r f e l t
t h a t an e f f o r t sh o u ld he made to s i m p l i f y th e r e c r e a t i o n a l
o p p o r t u n i t i e s o f t h e young p e o p le — t h a t t h e y were s u r r o u n d e d
w i t h to o many o r g a n i z a t i o n s and t h a t t h e i r s o c i a l l i v e s were
to o crow ded. The i n v e s t i g a t o r would a g r e e w ith t h e s e two
m i n i s t e r s f o r a l a r g e p r o p o r t i o n o f th e c h i l d r e n o f j u n i o r
h i g h sc h o o l a g e , whom she h a s t a u g h t i n t h a t a r e a d u r i n g
th e p a s t te n y e a r s . The s c h o o l d ay has been le n g t h e n e d a s
th e amount o f l e i s u r e h as i n c r e a s e d , s i n c e th e s c h o o ls o f f e r
many a c t i v i t i e s and o r g a n i z a t i o n s in w hich p u p i l s may
p a r t i c i p a t e a f t e r s c h o o l. Many o f t h e p a r e n t s p r o v id e f o r
th e r e c r e a t i o n o f t h e i r c h i l d r e n and young p e o p le d u r i n g th e
w e e k -e n d s . *^Haven*t t i m e ” was t h e r e a s o n m ost f r e q u e n t l y
g iv e n b y t h e p u p i l s who i n d i c a t e d on t h e i r q u e s t i o n n a i r e
t h a t th e y b e lo n g e d to no c h u r c h - s p o n s o r e d r e c r e a t i o n a l g ro u p .
From t h e s e v a r i o u s s o u r c e s o f i n f o r m a t i o n , i t would seem
t h a t t h e r e c r e a t i o n a l n e e d s o f t h e young p e o p le a t l e a s t ,
w ere b e in g ' f i l l e d .
What s o c i a l v a l u e s have t h e s e r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ram s?
T here was no b a s i s f o r m aking a n y c o n c lu s io n c o n c e r n in g th e
s o c i a l v a l u e s o f t h e r e c r e a t i o n a l pro g ram s in th e c h u rc h e s
h a v in g l i m i t e d p ro g ra m s. I n m ost o f t h e c h u rc h e s w i t h
e x t e n s i v e r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro g ra m s, t r a i n e d l e a d e r s w ere i n
119
c h a rg e to se e t h a t th e prog ram s v/ere c a r r i e d on in a c c o r d
a n c e v /ith a c c e p t e d s t a n d a r d s . The p e r s o n a l i t y o f th e
p a r t i c i p a n t s was d e v e lo p e d th ro u g h l o c a t i n g t h e i r i n t e r e s t s
and t a l e n t s and h e l p i n g them d e v e lo p t h e s e . T h a t t h e y
d e r i v e d p l e a s u r e from t h e i r r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s , was
e v i d e n t from th e f a c t t h a t m ost of them b e lo n g e d to th e
g ro u p s e i t h e r b e c a u s e t h e y l i k e d t h e ty p e o f program o r t h e y
e n jo y e d b e in g w i t h t h e g ro u p t h a t a t t e n d e d . V ery few o f
them b e lo n g e d to th e g ro u p s b e c a u se t h e i r p a r e n t s w an ted
them to b e lo n g , w hich m eant t h a t t h e y were c o n t i n u i n g to
a s s o c i a t e w i t h t h e g ro u p b e c a u se o f th e g e n u in e p l e a s u r e
i t a f f o r d e d them . O nly a few had a n y s u g g e s t i o n s a s to how
th e g ro u p o r p rogram c o u ld be im p ro v ed , b u t seemed
th o r o u g h ly s a t i s f i e d w ith i t a s i t th e n e x i s t e d . A n o th e r
s o c i a l v a lu e to be d e r i v e d from r e c r e a t i o n i s th e t r a i n i n g
o f t h e e m o tio n s . Many o f th e p a r t i c i p a n t s spoke a b o u t i t
t e a c h i n g them t o be good s p o r t s .
One o f t h e m ost im p o r ta n t s o c i a l v a l u e s o f r e c r e a t i o n
i s t e a c h i n g p e o p le t o l i v e t o g e t h e r h a rm o n io u s ly . T h is
v a lu e was a c h i e v e d in g r e a t m easu re f o r t h e t h i n g m e n tio n e d
m o st f r e q u e n t l y b y t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s , a s g i v i n g t h e g r e a t e s t
p l e a s u r e , was th e f e l l o w s h i p . In th e c l u b s , t h e i n d i v i d u a l s
had t o l e a r n to p l a y t o g e t h e r , work t o g e t h e r , s e r v e t o g e t h e r ,
w o rs h ip t o g e t h e r , and to r e s p e c t th e r i g h t s o f one a n o t h e r
in a l l t h e s e a c t i v i t i e s . Many o f th e p a r t i c i p a n t s m e n tio n e d
1 2 0
t h a t th e y were m aking f r i e n d s t h a t t h e y hoped would c o n ti n u e
to e x i s t in th e y e a r s to come. T h u s, i t seemed t h a t t h e
s o c i a l v a l u e s g e n e r a l l y e x p e c te d fro m r e c r e a t i o n , w ere
b e in g r e a l i z e d t h r o u g h th e r e c r e a t i o n a l program s o f t h e s e
c h u r c h e s .
R ecom m end ations. I t would be a d v i s a b l e f o r t h e
c h u rc h e s t h a t h ad r e c r e a t i o n a l f a c i l i t i e s to b e t t e r
p u b l i c i z e i t among t h e i r m em bers. U n d o u b te d ly t h i s was
done in m ost o f t h e c h u r c h e s , b u t th e i n v e s t i g a t o r o b s e rv e d
t h a t many o f th e p u p i l s a t s c h o o l w ere n o t a c q u a i n t e d w i t h
th e r e c r e a t i o n a l p ro gram s o f th e c h u rc h e s w ith w hich t h e y
w ere a f f i l i a t e d . Many o f them w ro te on t h e i r q u e s t i o n n a i r e s
s t a t e m e n t s t o t h e e f f e c t t h a t t h e i r c h u rc h e s h a d no
r e c r e a t i o n a l f a c i l i t i e s t h a t t h e y knew a b o u t, when t h e
i n v e s t i g a t o r knew t h a t t h e s e c h u rc h e s d i d have some ty p e
o f r e c r e a t i o n w hich was i n t e n d e d f o r t h a t age g ro u p .
The c h u rc h e s t h a t d i d h ave v e r y c o m p le te r e c r e a t i o n a l
p ro g ra m s, su c h a s would m eet th e n e e d s o f a l l a g e s and
i n t e r e s t s , were m o s t ly l o c a t e d a lo n g W i l s h i r e B o u le v a rd
w i t h in a few m i l e s o f e a c h o t h e r . A r e a s o n g iv e n f r e q u e n t l y
by th o s e who b e lo n g e d t o no c h u r c h - s p o n s o r e d r e c r e a t i o n a l
g r o u p s , was " t o o f a r t o g o ." I t would seem a d v i s a b l e f o r
more o f t h e s m a l l e r c h u rc h e s to e x te n d t h e i r r e c r e a t i o n a l
p ro gram s so t h e s e c h i l d r e n c o u ld f i n d c h u r c h - c e n t e r e d
121
r e c r e a t i o n t h a t was n o t to o f a r away.
F u r t h e r s t u d y . I t i s s u g g e s te d t h a t a f u r t h e r s tu d y
c o u ld be made w hich would d e te rm in e more a c c u r a t e l y how
w e ll th e n e e d s o f th e c h i l d r e n o f th e W il s h i r e d i s t r i c t
a r e b e in g s a t i s f i e d . How a r e t h e s e c h i l d r e n , who make
up th e t h i r t y - e i g h t p e r c e n t who a r e a t t e n d i n g no c h u rc h -
s p o n s o re d r e c r e a t i o n a l g r o u p s , s p e n d in g t h e i r l e i s u r e tim e?
¥vhat can be done to b r i n g them i n t o c o n t a c t w i t h d e s i r a b l e
r e c r e a t i o n a l g r o u p s , and to g e t them i n to u c h w ith some
ty p e o f r e l i g i o u s t r a i n i n g .
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The M acm illan Company, 1934. 244 p p .
P an g b u rn , Weaver W e n d e ll, A d v e n tu re s in R e c r e a t i o n .
New York; A. 8 . B a rn e s and Company, I n c o r p o r a t e d , 1936.
138 p p .
P o w e ll, W arren Thomson, R e c r e a t i o n i n C hurch and Community.
New York; The Abingdon P r e s s , 1938. 136 p p.
R ic h a r d s o n , Norman E . , The C hurch a t P l a y . New Y ork: The
Abingdon P r e s s , 1922. 317 p p .
R ig g s , A u sten P ox, M .D ., P l a y — R e c r e a t io n in a B a la n c e d L i f e .
New Y ork: D o u b le d ay , Doran and Company, I n c o r p o r a t e d ,
1935. 235 p p .
R ohrbough, Lynn, Handy I I . D e la w a re , O hio: C hurch R e c r e a t io n
S e r v i c e , 1931.
Sherm an, D av id , H i s t o r y o f th e R e v is io n o f th e D i s c i p l i n e o f
th e M e th o d is t E p i s c o p a l C h u rc h . New Y ork: N e ls o n , 1874.
S im k o v itc h , Mary K ., Group L i f e . New York: A s s o c i a t i o n
P r e s s , 1940. 98 pp.
S l a v s o n , Sam uel R i c h a r d , C r e a t i v e Group E d u c a t i o n . New York;
A s s o c i a t i o n P r e s s , 1937. 240 p p.
W egener, A l b e r t B . , C hurch and Community R e c r e a t i o n .
New York; The M acm illan Company, 1924. 248 p p .
Young, Howard P . , C h a r a c t e r Through R e c r e a t i o n . P h i l a d e l p h i a ;
A m erican S unday S c h o o l U nio n, 1915. 291 p p .
B. PERIODICAL ARTICLES
B o g a rd u s, Emory S . , "Ten S t a n d a r d s f o r Group W ork,"
S o c io lo g y and S o c i a l R e s e a r c h , N ovem ber-D ecem ber, 1936.
1 2 5
Coe, G. A ., " C h i ld r e n w i t h i n th e C h u rc h ," C h r i s t i a n C e n t u r y .
5 6 :1 5 8 1 -2 , December 20, 1959.
D odds, H. ?v., "P ro blem s o f L e i s u r e in an I n d u s t r i a l Age;
S i g n i f i c a n c e o f W ork," V i t a l S p e e c h e s . 4 :6 1 9 - 2 1 ,
A u gust 1, 1938.
E astm an , F r e d , "The P r e s e n t S t a t e o f R e l i g i o u s D ram a," The
C h r i s t i a n C e n t u r y , 5 8 :2 8 6 - 7 , F e b r u a r y 26, 1941.
E b e r h a r d t , H. E . , "M eetin g Modern C i t y P r o b le m s ," M is s i o n a r y
R e v ie w , 6 1 :2 6 6 - 9 , J u n e , 1939.
F o l g e r , M. P . , "Why n o t h a v e a C h urch L i b r a r y , " M i s s i o n a r y
R ev iew , 6 2 :4 1 5 , S e p te m b e r, 1939.
G r i f f i t h , A. E . , "G uide t o t h e Use o f A d u lt L e i s u r e T im e ,"
R e c r e a t i o n . 3 1 :6 1 7 , J a n u a r y , 1938.
H a r k n e s s , G . , "C hurch and t h e S t u d e n t , " C h r i s t i a n C e n tu r y ,
5 5 :1 1 2 -1 3 , J a n u a r y 26, 1938.
H y g e ia , 1 5 :8 6 4 , S e p te m b e r, 1937, " R e c r e a t io n * s C o n t r i b u t i o n
to C h a r a c t e r . "
L indem an, E. C. , "Y outh an d L e i s u r e , " A n n als o f t h e A m erican
Academy o f P o l i t i c a l and S o c i a l S c i e n c e . 1 9 4 :5 9 -6 6 ,
November, 1937.
M cK inley, J . , " E x p e rim e n t i n C hurch C o - r e c r e a t i o n , C o l l i n g -
wood Avenue P r e s b y t e r i a n C hurch, T o le d o , O h io ,"
R e c r e a t i o n , 3 3 :3 8 2 - 3 , O c to b e r, 1939.
M cN utt, P . V ., " R e c r e a t io n and t h e N a t i o n a l M o r a le ,"
R e c r e a t i o n , 3 3 :5 4 3 - 6 , J a n u a r y , 1940.
P l a n t , J . S . , " R e c r e a t io n and t h e S o c i a l I n t e g r a t i o n o f th e
I n d i v i d u a l , " R e c r e a t i o n , 3 1 :3 3 9 -4 2 , S e p te m b e r, 1937.
R u s s e l l , R. V ., "Y outh P ro b lem o f th e C i t y , " M i s s i o n a r y
R e v ie w , 6 1 :2 7 0 - 2 , J u n e , 1938.
S c h n itm a n , L. S . , " L e i s u r e Demands More R e c r e a t i o n a l
F a c i l i t i e s , " A r c h i e t e c t u r a l R e c o rd . 8 1 :1 5 2 , J u n e , 1937.
S c h u l t z , G. D . , "Fun i n C h u rc h ," B e t t e r Homes and G a r d e n s ,
1 6 :4 9 , D ecem ber, 1937.
S q u i r e , T om ., "C h urch and D ram a," T h e a t r e A r t s M o n th ly ,
2 3 :6 5 3 - 6 0 , S e p te m b e r, 1939.
1 2 6
W aldron, Webb, "A C hurch f o r A l l P e o p l e ," R e a d e rs D i g e s t .
4 0 :2 3 -2 5 , A p r i l , 1942.
Woodward, H. M ., " R e c r e a t i o n , A P h ilo s o p h y o f J o y f u l L i v i n g ,"
R e c r e a t i o n . 3 1 :5 8 7 -9 0 , J a n u a r y , 1938.
W renn, C. G ., and D. L. H a r le y , "Time on T h e i r H a n d s,"
I I R e c r e a t i o n . 3 5 :3 6 1 - 6 , S e p te m b e r, 1941.
C. UNPUBLISHED MATERIALS
AChe8on, John M ., "The E v a l u a t i o n o f Boy and G i r l C hurch
C lubs i n R e l a t i o n to th e Program o f R e l i g i o u s E d u c a t i o n ."
U n p u b lish e d M a s te r* s t h e s i s in S c h o o l o f R e l i g i o n , The
U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u th e rn C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e le s , 1926.
A p p le g a te , J . M ., "An I n d u c t i v e S tu d y o f S e l e c t e d G roups o f
Young P e o p le * s R e l i g i o u s A c t i v i t i e s in th e S o u th w e st
S e c t i o n o f Los A n g e le s ." U n p u b lis h e d M a s te r* s t h e s i s
in S c h o o l o f R e l i g i o u s E d u c a tio n , The U n i v e r s i t y o f
S o u th e rn C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e le s , 1932,
B acon, C h a r le s M., " C h r i s t i a n E d u c a tio n T hroug h R e c r e a t io n
in C e r t a i n S e m i - r u r a l C h u rc h e s ." U n p u b lish e d M a s te r* s
t h e s i s i n S c h o o l o f R e l i g i o n , The U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u th e rn
C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e le s , 1938.
B e l l , L o m e , "A S tu d y o f t h e C h r i s t i a n C i t i z e n s h i p Prog ram
in C e r ta in C hu rch es in S o u th w e st Los A n g e l e s ," Unpub
l i s h e d M a s te r* s t h e s i s in S c h o o l o f R e l i g i o n , The
U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u th e r n C a l i f o r n i a , 1931.
B e n t l e y , A. I . , " S o c i a l and U to p ia n T hought i n th e W r i t in g
o f J o s e p h S m ith and O th e r Mormons." U n p u b lish e d M a s te r* s
t h e s i s . The U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u th e rn C a l i f o r n i a , Los
A n g e le s , 1940.
B o t h e l l , E le a n o r G ., "The V alue o f P a r t i c i p a t i o n in a Group
Work P rogram : A S tu d y o f F i f t y Members o f th e G i r l
R e s e rv e s o f th e Young Women*s C h r i s t i a n A s s o c i a t i o n
T h ree Y e a rs o r More A f t e r M em bership." U n p u b lish e d
M a s t e r ’ s t h e s i s . The U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u th e rn C a l i f o r n i a ,
Los A n g e le s , 1940.
B r a t t o n , J . W esley, "A S o c i a l and R e c r e a t i o n a l Program in
R e l i g i o u s E d u c a t i o n . " U n p u b lish e d M a s t e r ’ s t h e s i s in
E d u c a tio n , The U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u th e r n C a l i f o r n i a ,
Los A n g e le s , 1939.
127
Brenem an, M abel I . , "A S tu d y o f th e S o c i a l Program and t h e
S o c i a l W e lf a r e S e r v i c e o f th e F i r s t M e th o d is t E p is c o p a l
C hurch o f Los A n g e l e s ." U n p u b lish e d M a s t e r ’ s t h e s i s
in S o c io lo g y , The U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u th e rn C a l i f o r n i a ,
Los A n g e le s , 1939.
Brov/n, C lau d e A ., "A S u rv e y o f th e R e c r e a t i o n a l C u rric u lu m
o f S e l e c t e d C h u r c h e s ," U n p u b lish e d M a s t e r ’ s t h e s i s in
S c h o o l o f R e l i g i o n , The U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u th e r n
C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e le s , 1939.
Cannon, C h a r le s H . , "A S u rv e y o f L e i s u r e Time A c t i v i t i e s
on t h e J u n i o r High S c h o o l L e v e l . " U n p u b lis h e d M a s t e r ’ s
t h e s i s in E d u c a tio n , The U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u th e rn
C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e le s , 1936.
C ra n e , Alma E . , " P a r t i c i p a t i o n o f Young P e o p le in t h e C hurch
o f J e s u s C h r i s t o f t h e L a t t e r - D a y S a i n t s , " U n p u b lish e d
M a s t e r ’ s t h e s i s in S o c i o lo g y , The U n i v e r s i t y o f
S o u th e r n C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e le s , 1937.
D a v is , J e s s i e M ,, "A S tu d y o f th e H i s t o r i c a l Growth o f t h e
S o c i a l Em phasis in C h r i s t i a n i t y , " U n p u b lish e d M a s t e r ’ s
t h e s i s in S c h o o l o f R e l i g i o n , The U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u th e rn
C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e le s , 1940.
D a v is , R alph E . , "A S tu d y o f th e S o c i a l A t t i t u d e o f th e
C o n g r e g a t io n a l C h urches in th e U n ite d S t a t e s . "
U n p u b lis h e d M a s t e r ’ s t h e s i s i n S o c io lo g y , The U n i v e r s i t y
o f S o u th e r n C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e le s , 1916.
P a n n in g , Leah I . , "A S tu d y o f th e Use o f M otion P i c t u r e s in
th e P rogram s o f C e r t a i n P r o t e s t a n t C h u rc h e s ." Unpub
l i s h e d M a s t e r ’ s t h e s i s in R e l i g i o n , The U n i v e r s i t y o f
S o u th e r n C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e le s , 1938,
F i s h , M erle E . , "A S tu d y o f t h e C h r i s t i a n Y outh F e l lo w s h i p
o f th e W i l s h i r e C h r i s t i a n C hurch o f Los A n g e l e s ."
U n p u b lish e d M a s t e r ’ s t h e s i s in S o c io lo g y , The U n i v e r s i t y
o f S o u th e r n C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e le s , 1942,
H anlon , J e n n i e , "A S tu d y o f t h e L e i s u r e Time A c t i v i t i e s o f
a Group o f J u n i o r H igh S c h o o l G i r l s . " U n p u b lis h e d
M a s t e r ’ s t h e s i s i n E d u c a t i o n , The U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u th e rn
C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e le s , 1937.
H i n k e t, Raymond H ., " B a s ic S o c i a l P ron oun cem ents o f R e p r e
s e n t a t i v e P r o t e s t a n t C hurches in th e U n ite d S t a t e s ,
1 9 2 5 -1 9 3 5 ." U n p u b lis h e d M a s t e r ’ s t h e s i s in S o c i o lo g y ,
The U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u th e r n C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e le s , 1935,
128
K eene, G e r tr u d e B ., " D i s t i n c t i v e S o c i a l V a lu e s o f th e
P e n t e c o s t a l C hu rch es: A S o c i o l o g i c a l F i e l d S t u d y ,"
U n p u b lish e d M a s t e r ’ s t h e s i s in S o c io lo g y , The U n i v e r s i t y
o f S o u th e rn C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e le s , 1939.
Kempin, A l b e r t J . , " L e a d e r s h ip E d u c a tio n in t h e C hurch o f
God i n S o u th e rn C a l i f o r n i a . (An H i s t o r i c a l and
O b s e r v a t i o n a l P r o j e c t ) ." U n p u b lish e d M a s t e r ’ s t h e s i s
in t h e S c h o o l o f R e l i g i o n , The U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u th e r n
C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e le s , 1940,
M a r s h a l l , T. R . , "The R e c r e a t i o n a l P ro blem s o f 735 J u n i o r
and S e n i o r High S c h o o l P u p i l s in T o r r a n c e , C a l i f o r n i a . "
U n p u b lish e d M a s t e r ’ s t h e s i s in S o c i o lo g y , The U n i v e r s i t y
o f S o u th e rn C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e le s , 1942,
M erenback, E u la S . , "The V alue and Use o f R e l i g i o u s Drama
i n C e r t a i n S e l e c t e d C hurches i n Los A n g e l e s ." U n p u b lis h
ed M a s t e r ’ s t h e s i s i n S c h o o l o f R e l i g i o n , The U n i v e r s i t y
o f S o u th e rn C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e le s , 1935.
M e rk le y , J , L . , "A S u rv e y o f L e i s u r e Time A c t i v i t i e s o f
J u n i o r High S c h o o l B o y s ," U n p u b lish e d M a s t e r ’ s t h e s i s
in E d u c a tio n , The U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u th e rn C a l i f o r n i a ,
Los A n g e le s , 1933.
M o rr is o n , D a is y , "A S u rv e y o f L e i s u r e Time A c t i v i t i e s o f
E le m e n ta r y P u p i l s , " U n p u b lish e d M a s t e r ’ s t h e s i s in
E d u c a tio n , The U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u th e rn C a l i f o r n i a ,
Los A n g e le s , 1933.
Neum eyer, E s t h e r S . , "A S tu d y o f A t t i t u d e s and S o c i a l V a lu es
o f The W i l s h i r e M e th o d is t E p is c o p a l C hurch, The B ’Nai
B ’R i t h C o n g r e g a tio n , and The F i r s t U n i t a r i a n C hurch o f
Los A n g e l e s ." U n p u b lis h e d M a s t e r ’ s t h e s i s i n S o c io lo g y ,
The U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u th e r n C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e le s , 1932.
P e n d e l l , Thomas R . , "A S tu d y o f t h e M e th o d is t Y outh M ovem ent."
U n p u b lish e d M a s t e r ’ s t h e s i s i n S c h o o l o f R e l i g i o n , The
U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u th e r n C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e le s , 1938,
R eed, O s c a r P . , "The S tu d y o f Young A d u lts in th e T e a c h in g
L e a rn in g S i t u a t i o n in S e l e c t e d C h u rc h e s ." U n p u b lish e d
M a s t e r ’ s t h e s i s in S c h o o l o f R e l i g i o n , The U n i v e r s i t y
o f S o u th e rn C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e le s , 1941.
R e ev e s, F lo y d M ., "A S tu d y o f th e V alue o f t h e Gymnasium in
The C i t y C hurch P ro g ra m ." U n p u b lish e d M a s t e r ’ s t h e s i s
i n S c h o o l o f R e l i g i o n , The U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u th e rn
C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e le s , 1928.
1 2 9
RI c h i e y. Mary J . , "A S tu d y o f th e S o c i a l A c t i v i t i e s o f th e
C a t h o l i c C hurch in Los A n g e l e s ." U n p u b lis h e d M a s t e r ’ s
t h e s i s in S o c io lo g y , The U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u th e r n
C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e le s , 1916.
S l a t e r , P a u l in e L . , "The D evelopm ent o f D e s i r a b l e C h a r a c t e r
T r a i t s T hrough L e i s u r e - t i m e A c t i v i t i e s o f t h e C r e a t i v e
T y p e ." U n p u b lis h e d M a s t e r ’ s t h e s i s in E d u c a ti o n , The
U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u th e rn C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e le s , 1937,
S te p h e n s , G e r tr u d e A ., "A S tu d y o f th e L e i s u r e Time
A c t i v i t i e s o f a Group o f F i f t y F i f t h and S i x t h G rade
Boys in Los A n g e le s . U n p u b lish e d M a s t e r ’ s t h e s i s in
S o c i o lo g y , The U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u th e rn C a l i f o r n i a ,
Los A n g e le s , 1935.
W ahlstrom , C a th e r in e L . , "A S tu d y o f P rogram s and L e a d e r s h i p
f o r Camp F i r e G i r l s . " U n p u b lis h e d M a s t e r ’ s t h e s i s in
S o c i o lo g y , The U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u th e rn C a l i f o r n i a ,
Los A n g e le s , 1935.
APPENDIX
Name of Church Name of Pastor
131
A ddress ^ Number o f members
Does your church have a recreational program? Yes . No
Check (%/) the groups or clubs, sponsored by your church. If more than one
of each, please indicate the ntimber instead of the check.
Boy Scout Girl Scout
' Cub Scout Brownies
Pioneers Friendly Society
Comrades Camp Fire Girls
Friendly Indians Girl Reserves
Woodcraft Rangers Girl Pioneers
Hi-y Others
Phalanx '
Others
Epworth League Hobby
Christian Endeavor Photographic
Ladies * Aid Dramatic
Sewing Circle Literary
Men's Club Dancing
Others Story Hour
Others
Check (/) the athletic activities sponsored by your church:
Gymnasium Classes Badminton Baseball Others
Basketball Tennis Swimming____ ______
Volleyball Skating Others
Please indicate in the correct column, the number of each of the following
types of workers, employed by your church:
_______PAID VOLUNTARY .
Full-time Part-time Full-time Part-time None
Boys' Work Director
Girls' Work Director
Special Recreation Leader
Director of Dramatics
Other leaders to direct recrea-
tion and group work activities
What facilities have you for recreation? Please check (^/)
Club Rooms Camp Moving-picture equipment
Library Swimming Pool Others
What do you consider the purpose of recreation in your church:
To attract groups to church membership? Yes No To develop character? Yes No
To prevent deliquency in cononunity? Yes No _____
Any other purpose . ,
Do you feel you have been successful in acconqplishing thèse objectives?
Yes _ _ _ No ____
State your frank opinion about the recreation program of your church.
What do you regard as the values? What are the weaknesses?
1 3 2
1725 Club View D riv e
Los A ng eles^ C a l i f .
A p r i l 1 2 , 1941
As m i n i s t e r o f an a c t i v e c h u r c h , you a r e , o f c o u r s e ,
i n t e r e s t e d in th e c h a r a c t e r d e v elo p m e n t o f o u r p r e s e n t d a y
y o u th . T h e re seems to be g e n e r a l a g re e m e n t t h a t r e c r e a
t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s do i n f l u e n c e c h a r a c t e r , a l t h o u g h t h e r e
i s a d i f f e r e n c e o f o p in io n a s to th e e x t e n t o f such
i n f l u e n c e .
As a m o th e r , t e a c h e r , and c h u rc h member, I am p e r s o n
a l l y i n t e r e s t e d in know ing w hat t h e c h u rc h e s a r e d o in g a lo n g
r e c r e a t i o n a l l i n e s . In p a r t i a l f u l f i l l m e n t o f a M a s t e r ’ s
d e g r e e in S o c i o lo g y , I am m aking a s tu d y o f t h e r e c r e a
t i o n a l p rogram s o f th e C hu rches o f th e W i l s h i r e d i s t r i c t *
May I e n l i s t y o u r c o o p e r a t i o n in m aking t h i s s tu d y
c o m p lete ? I f so , I t r u s t you o r one o f y o u r a s s i s t a n t s
w i l l f i l l i n th e e n c lo s e d q u e s t i o n n a i r e a s f u l l y a s
p o s s i b l e . In t h i s s t u d y r e c r e a t i o n i s b e in g d e f i n e d a s
i n c l u d i n g " a c t i v i t i e s w h ich r e - c r e a t e body and m ind,
r e s u l t i n g in t h e r e s t o r a t i o n o f o n e ’ s e x h a u s te d pow ers
th r o u g h r e l a x a t i o n from th e more s e r i o u s p u r s u i t s o f l i f e . "
T hank you f o r y o u r c o o p e r a t i o n in t h i s m a t t e r .
S i n c e r e l y y o u r s .
133
Do you attend any meetings or recreational activities held in connection
with any church? Regularly . Sometimes Never
Name of Church ' ___ : Address ___ ____
Put a check (7 ) in front of any of the following groups or clubs which this
church sponsors:
Boy Scout Epworth League Hobby Club
Hi-Y Christian Endeavour Photographic Club
Girl Scout Church of Youth """""^Dramatic Club
_Camp Fire Girls Youth Fellowship Literary Club
jGirls Friendly Society Others Dancing Club
Others Others
Please put a check (/) after any of the above groups to which you belong.
Reason you belong to any of the above groups: .
Parents want you to
You enjoy the type of recreation offered
You like being with the group which belongs
Other reason
What do you enjoy most about belonging to this group?
What suggestions would you make for improving the group, or its recrea
tional program?
If you do not belong to any of the above groups, why?
Too far to go Don't like the leader
Haven't time Don't like the type of program
_Have not been invited Don't like the mixing religion and rec-
^Don't like the group reation
Any other reason_________________
If you haven't been able to say (on this questionnaire} all that you
wish to say about the recreational program of this church, or if you
are willing to talk further with me about it^ please put your name below.
1 3 4
LIST OP CHURCHES SENT QUESTIONNAIRES
C hurclies w h ich d i d n o t r e p l y C hu rches w i t h l i m i t e d
r e c r e a t i o n
Bapa I
B 'N a i Ruhen
E tz Ja c o b
F a i r f a x Temple
F i f t h Avenue L u th e ra n
F i r s t E v a n g e l i c a l
H o ly S p i r i t
S h i n t o C hurch o f T e n rik y o
S t . B a s i l ’ s
S t . B re n d a n ’ s
S t . G r e g o r y ’ s
S t . M ary’ s J a p a n e s e M is s io n
T h ir d C h i r o t h e s i a n
T h i r t y - s e c o n d C hu rch o f
C h r i s t , S c i e n t i s t
T w e n t y - s i x t h C hurch o f
C h r i s t , S c i e n t i s t
W i l s h i r e I Am
C h urches o f f e r i n g no
r e c r e a t i o n
A l l S o u ls C hurch
N i n t h C hurch o f C h r i s t ,
S c i e n t i s t
T w e n t y - f i f t h C hurch o f
C h r i s t , S c i e n t i s t
U n i t y C hurch
W este rn J e w is h
Amanda C hapel
A r l i n g t o n A ve. C h r i s t i a n
B e th e l E v a n g e l i c a l L u th e ra n
C h r i s t t h e King
Cochran Avenue B a p t i s t
Mogen D a v id C o n g re g a tio n
P ic o H e ig h ts C h r i s t i a n
S c h a e f l e M em orial
S i n a i Temple
S t . P a u l ’ s M e th o d is t
S t . Thomas C a t h o l i c
W i l s h i r e B a p t i s t
W i l s h i r e B lv d . Temple
C h urches w i t h e x t e n s i v e
r e c r e a t i o n
C a t h e d r a l C hapel
Church o f t h e L a t t e r - D a y
S a i n t s
Im manuel P r e s b y t e r i a n
S t . Jam es E p is c o p a l
W i l s h i r e C h r i s t i a n
W i l s h i r e C r e s t P r e s b y t e r i a n
W i l s h i r e M e th o d is t
W i l s h i r e P r e s b y t e r i a n

Asset Metadata

Creator McCrory, Muriel G. (author)

Core Title A study of the recreational programs of the churches in the Wilshire district of Los Angeles

Contributor Digitized by ProQuest (provenance)

Degree Master of Arts

Publisher University of Southern California (original)

Tag OAI-PMH Harvest,philosophy, religion and theology,Social Sciences

Format application/pdf (imt)

Language English

Permanent Link (DOI) https://doi.org/10.25549/usctheses-c39-396173

Unique identifier UC11313258

Identifier EP65637.pdf (filename),usctheses-c39-396173 (legacy record id)

Legacy Identifier EP65637.pdf

Dmrecord 396173

Document Type Thesis

Format application/pdf (imt)

Rights McCrory, Muriel G.

Type texts

Source University of Southern California (contributing entity), University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses (collection)

Access Conditions The author retains rights to his/her dissertation, thesis or other graduate work according to U.S. copyright law. Electronic access is being provided by the USC Libraries in agreement with the au...

Repository Name University of Southern California Digital Library

Repository Location USC Digital Library, University of Southern California, University Park Campus, Los Angeles, California 90089, USA