The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-12-30
The Organization Of Social Clubs
Who're Innocent Games May
Be Played.
Rev. DR.. James II. Darlington, the
Father of tho New
Movement.
DR.. John Halls InvitatIo1 20 an Oyster
Gupper-The Guild or clubhouse
How Arranged.

Rev. DR.. james H. Darlington does not
look the author of q new movement, % DR..
Dixon and others have denominated him.
His smile and laugh have nothing in com
mon with our notions Of the great common
German reformer. clad in priestly garb, and
Of solemn visage. On the contrary, DR..
Darlington ia the picture Of energetic
youth, progressive and American in senti-
ment and imbibsd with the spirit Of his
mission to strengthen and develop churchly
feeling among the large body Of people
whom the church by ordinary means finds
it hard to catch. For this reason he favors
tho organization of clubs, associations,
guilds, or whatever they may be termed,
which shall serve as anxiliaries to the
church. and where churohmen shall be per
mitted to enjoy some Of the pleasures Of
life Usually tabooed by tho strictly ortho-
dox.
Upon the basis Of this idea the rector
promoted the Arlington club as q gathering
place for young men. whose innocent
games and pleasures would prove an at
traction, and where smoking was not inter-
diotsd. where alcoholic beverages were
strictly prohibited md gambling in every
form d%isallowed.
There has been n prejudice against the
name of Club and the prejudice is partly
justified" said DIR. Darlington. "The
name Of association or society will pass
and is adopted, but the club ia considered
wicked. I cannot see the reason why. In
the old stvle Sunday school books tho bad
boy belongs to a club while the good boy
is q member Of the society," Clubs gener-
ally are in the category of political and So
cial, and tho social and drinking elements
are combined in them. The practical diff
ference in the way of names was that
women could and would listen to the term
association but could not listen il you
spoke of a club. There is q distinction,
but it is arbitrary.
"Dr. John Hall was once at a prayer meet
ing whore he met an old friend from his
former HON in Ireland. After the meeting
he invited his friend to partaks of an oys-
at him in Advertisements, exclaiming: You
don't mean that, and after a prayer meet
ing?, v g
Hall.
Sure. you don't mean to get drunk
after such a service as that of to-night?'
responded his Irish friend.
THE explanation followed that an oyster
supper in the old country involved heavy
drinking, while DR.. Halls request was sim
ply the American invitation to enjoy the
customary stew or fry. Here oysters do
not necessarily go with liquor. ana SO with
clubs, they do not need a barroom or side
board because they are clubs"
The doctor continues: "As a total alb
stalner from the use of both alcohol and
tobacco, l want to state it as my deliberate
opinion that tobacco (barring out the
deadly cigarette, which cannot be defended
in any shape or form doos little if any
harm whatever. Alcohol and tobacco are
not necessarily linked together, AZ the good
women engaged in the temperance cause
assume. Inebriate homes may charge upon
a patient abstention from tobacco. but this
After the Arlington club was started-and
it was a temperance club-a clergyman
anonymously wrote to a UNCONVENTIONAL
paper that the cigar smoke which rolled out
of the upper window of tho club-room re-
minded him Of the pit of darkness! Such
indiscriminate condemnation could not do
other than harm.
"Our churches are generally we'll at
tended by women and children. She is an
abnormal woman who is not %religiously in
clined. Men are more worldly, and il is
not until age and bitter experience have
church of their childhood. There is the
young man, however, whom we do not
reach, unless they COM from religious
homes. II you do get them they complain,
with moro or less reason. that the churches
are out Of sympathy. with the young mans
church with which they are connected"
What is your remedy, doctor? How
would You meet the difficulty"
III our churches. instead of having q
seating capacity of 1000 and a chapel seat
ing half that number" answered DR.. OAR
build in its place a guild or church club
house, l think the church would find it an
Improbable aid. The large church can
hold all that the chapel would hold and
would give moro breathing space. Our Ro-
man Catholic neighbours understand this
fully and rarely make mistakes"
"As to the guild or club house itself?"
This guild or club house ought to CON
sist of n number Of rooms. 1 would begin
in the cellar with a bowling alley for ten or
nine pins. and on the floor parallel with
the street a general assembly room for on
which tho young folks could gather in
numbers. On the second floor several
rooms for meetings Of societies attached to
the church. On the next 1oor should be
comfortable hooks for all sorts of games,
including dominoes, checkers and bill
room for amateurish photography, an art
that is increasing in favor all over the
country The clergyman should relig-
iously keep out of his study and pass from
one room to the other and enpaRe in con-
versntion with the young mon and women.
and there use his innumerabls opportun-
tiles for conversion, acting as friend as
well as pastor. ! do not think it would in
jure his influence with them at all If oc-
casionally ho bowled a game of tenpirs.
"Of course in a home SO organized and
controlled by the church authorities, no
profanity. vulgarity or gambling, even. for
the smallest stake, would be permitted or
attempted. The fact. also. that women,
mothers, sisters, and wives of the young
men, would and should find II place in other
rooms where they could engage in embroid-
cry and filling the missionary barrel would
prove a check OH exoesses.
'.The building should be brilliantly lighted
and tho young people themselves should
after it, the sexton attending to the
fires, etc. Husband md wife would accom-
pany zach other to such a place. The sale
of mineral water on the premises would
almost if not wholly pay the expenses. AS
John Wesley said, he did not propose that
the devil should have all the good things. so
should secure the good things Of this
life. and the church Us one common mother,
should SEQ that we do not abuse them"
Good Looks.
Good looks are moro than skin deep, de-
~ II