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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]
St. Paul's Club
St. Paul's Club, Parish of St. Paul, Thorndon (president, the Rev. T. H. Sprott, M.A.; hon. secretary and treasurer, Rev. C. A Tisdall, M.A.) This club was started in the winter of 1893, for the benefit of the young men of the parish. The membership is not confined to the Anglican Church, but young men of all denominations are welcome. Nor is the membership confined to the residents of Thorndon; young men outside Thorndon may become members by being proposed and seconded, and passing a special ballot. The object of the club is stated to be the improvement of the young men of the parish, intellectually, morally, and physically. To attain this object the club has obtained from the St. Paul's vestry the use of the old Sydney Street schoolroom, and has there fitted up a gymnasium, a reading-room, and a smoking-room. In the gymnasium are found horse, and spring-board, Roman rings, ladders, dumbells, and Indian clubs. The reading-room contains a library of nearly two hundred volumes of standard fiction, and is supplied regularly with the Illustrated London News, The Sketch, Black and White, B.O.P., Harper's Monthly, The English Illustrated, Ludwig, Picture, and Windsor Magazines. Cribbage boards, cards, draughts, and chess abound; whilst many members amuse themselves with an air-gun. The club holds an annual picnic and sports. These sports are held under New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association rules, and are well patronised. Four members of the club represented Wellington at the 1895 championship meeting at Napier. The Club boasts of a flourishing page 386 minstrel troupe, which plays under the euphuistic name “The Sunflowers.” It is gratifying to the promoters of the club to know that since they made a beginning, several other clubs have been started in various parishes throughout New Zealand, on lines more or less similar to those on which the St. Paul's Club is run. The motto is “Quit you like men; be strong,” and is conspicuously worked on a beautiful banner presented to the club by Bishop Hadfield.