THE CZECHS OF CLEVELAND
whom Protestantism is not only a religion, but also an expression of freedom. Mizpah, which was planned as a Polish mission, but developed into a Bohemian one, has been self-supporting from the start, and it has the largest group of active young members. It is therefore quite probable that it may develop into a strong American church.
The Broadway Methodist Episcopal is, doing the largest work at present, and this is possible because it maintains its Bohemian organization only as supplementary to its English. Its Sunday school has long been an important influence in the community, and within the last few years a large program of community service has been undertaken. The new church on Broadway, opposite Magnet avenue, now nearing completion, will afford enlarged opportunities, and it is planned to retain the old building as a center for social activities. The work is social in the broadest sense, and every effort is made to avoid even the suspicion of proselyting.
National Halls
Among the Czechs of liberal thought, the national halls supply centers corresponding in a way to the church centers of the religiously loyal, and it must be admitted that the national halls offer more attractions on the social side than most of the churches. They are genuine social centers, and they thrive because they are the expression by the people themselves of their own definite social desires.
The largest and most important of these halls is the Bohemian National Hall at 4939 Broadway, and its organization may be described as typical of them all. It is owned by the community, having been erected in 1889 by personal gifts, money raised by bazaars and the like, and by contributions which took the form of shares of stock on the part of various organizations officially combining in the efforts for the building. These shares have been gradually paid off from the income of the building, until now, of the thirty-four societies having stock, none has more than $100. These societies include twelve chapters of C. S. P. S. and nine chapters of Women’s beneficiary organizations, the other thirteen societies having varied aims and purposes. The management rests in a board called the Patronat, consisting on two delegates from each of these societies. The Patronat annually elect from their own number a board of thirteen directors who are responsible for the management of the building during their term of office. Joseph Freka, as president of the board of directors, is a hard-working executive officer. Seventy-three societies meet here regularly, some as often as once a week, others only once a month. The property is now worth about $80,000. It consists of a large brick building, with stores on the front of the ground floor. Between these stores is a broad entrance to the hall proper. On the ground floor are the ticket stand, several large committee rooms, and a small theatre, designed especially for children’s entertainments. This room is also used for athletic work. Living quarters for the janitor ensure his continual presence. On the second floor is the large theatre, which with the balcony will seat 1000 persons. Check rooms, retiring rooms, refreshment room, dressing rooms for actors, and the stage, occupy the rest of the floor. The drop curtain is a view of one of the bridges of “Golden Prague” with the Hradcany in the background, and there are many sets of scenery. The third and fourth floors are divided into lodge rooms, and the numerous group photographs on the walls furnish material for a history of their respective organizations.
25
