A TRUST FOR YOUTH
[To the. Editor of THE SPECTATOR.]
Sin,—In your admirable article on "A Trust for Youth," you point out that the problem of ' youth ' extends to 22 at least and you cannot cut it short even then."
This can be borne out by those who have had experience of and have taken a practical interest in clubs for youths and young men, the inclusion of the latter resulting in their un- conscious steadying influence upon the younger members.
It is an astonishing and lamentable fact that far too many parishes in town and country alike are still to be found without any such clubs at all.
This, to the ordinary layman, would seem greatly to reflect upon the sound judgement and a conception of his sphere of general usefulness on the part of the parson, as, at any rate, the nominal head of the parish, not merely quel parson, but even more so as fellow man, and as such, both as parson and man, should endeavour tobe the friend of all his parishioners and to study their interests in every way, whatever their particular form of creed may be.
Such clubs, however, do exist already in both town and country parishes, founded by and carried on under the aegis of the liberal-minded parson—which are eminently satisfactory and successful—:the secret of their success being that they are , purely and simply social and in no sense of a definitely religious character.
In towns interest is sustained—maybe—by means of a gymnasium, where possible,, and, by a friendly rivalry with other clubs in billiards and tournaments of various kinds; while, in the country their popularity can be further assured, by the means of cricket and football teams.
County Councils, moreover, have, in some cases, even seen fit to make a grant to such clubs for the teachings of shorthand, book keeping, wood carving, &c.
The Prince of Wales's Trust and all that it implies should— as it undoubtedly will—arouse the sympathy and .support of the whole nation, and cause the heads of parishes to take into their serious consideration the paramount importance of such clubs as forming a _very, if not the most, important feature of their parochial organizations, while it will be a definite encouragement to those who are carrying on such clubs at present, perhaps, under .considerable financial diffi- culties.
If the social and moral life of succeeding generations can thus be raised, to quote the closing words of your article, this "will be a fine memorial of the kind which the King has in every sense deserved.”—Yours faithfully, — C. LESLIE NORRIS.
The Constitutional Club, Northumberland Avenue,
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