The Negro's church,.

Fellowship and Community Activities

155

clubs have finances as their major interest, the study showed
that practically all adult clubs make regular contributions to
the church treasury. These contributions do not usually include, or substitute for, the individual contributions of club
members to the church.
Church clubs customarily hold weekly meetings, in which
both social and business activities are conducted. In a majority of the churches these clubs meet in the homes of members more often than at the church; a procedure that keeps
down the expense for lighting, heating, and cleaning the
building, and lessens the likelihood of conflicts in respect to
meeting-places. Club meetings held in private homes are
also assured a larger attendance because the homes are less
formal and often nearer than the church building to the residences of many members.
RECREATIONAL WORK
Formal recreational work is not well developed in the
Negro churches. In many instances where churches have
advertised recreational work as a part of the program, the
actual promotion of this work has been short-lived. In many
cities the community recreational agencies, including the
Y. M. C. A. and city recreational facilities, have increased
their efforts to such an extent that churches have been unable
to compete either in gaining the attention of the people or
in obtaining financial support for the work. About 73 per
cent. of the 609 urban churches have no form of recreational
work, and 14 per cent. have only one activity, while 13 per
cent. have two or more kinds.
Recreational equipment, including gymnasiums or playgrounds, is owned by thirty of the 609 churches.
POLLING MINISTERIAL ATTITUDE ON RECREATION
A poll of the ministers upon their approval or disapproval
of various types of recreational work shows that 455, or