The form of the constitution and ritual will be governed by the age which they seek to serve.  Boys from ten to fourteen years may not rise to the splendid formality of the Knights of King Arthur.  Possibly the idealization of the best Indian traits will serve them better.  From fourteen to seventeen or eighteen the knighthood ideals are most satisfying, while one may question their utility after that when the youth turns to reflection and debate and is suited by civic and governmental forms of organization.  It must not be assumed that any one type of organization is good for all ages and does not need to be supplemented, modified, or superseded as the boy makes his adolescent ascent.

If the pastor has limited time and limited help he will do well to center his attention on the important period of twelve to fifteen years; and in order to do his work properly in the club meetings and on the gymnasium floor especially, he should have an adult helper as soon as the attendance exceeds ten in number.  It is far more important to do the training well than to make a great showing in numbers and at the same time fail in creating a proper group standard and in developing individual boys.  In the ordinary improvised church gymnasium one man to every ten boys is a good rule.

In a church club that grew to have a membership of sixty, the following grouping for gymnasium privileges was found to work well:  boys ten, eleven, and twelve years old, from 4:15 to 5:30 in the afternoon; boys thirteen, fourteen, and fifteen years old, from 7:00 to 8:15 the same evening; and boys sixteen, seventeen, and eighteen years old, from 8:15 to 9:30.  Such a use of the plant secures economy of time, heating, etc., and with a little help one may give every boy two gymnasium sessions a week, which is not too much.  If possible, showers and lockers should be provided; and in classification for gymnasium work allowance should be made for retarded boys and for boys of extraordinary ability, so that they may play with their equals irrespective of strict classification by age.  The best single test for classification is weight.

The leader will do well to see that everything is right and clean in conversation and practice in the locker-room and showers.  Also, foolish prudery and shamefacedness must be wholesomely banished, and it will benefit rather than harm the boys for their leader, after having taken them through the exercises, to join them in the pleasure and stimulation of the shower bath.

Not only the leader but as many interested church people as possible should “back” the boys by attending their meets and games with other teams.  Remember that in order to command their full loyalty some loyalty to them must be shown.  The important function of the annual or semi-annual banquet should not be overlooked.  Such an affair is inexpensive and unquestionably an event in the life of every member.  The mothers will always be glad to provide the food