The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-12-30

Recently Henry W. Knight OF New
| York. d publisher connected with the
Methodist Book Concern, urged the
erection OF building containing q
hall for religious services and base
ment for billiard tables, pool tables, q
gymnasium, bowling alleys, swimming
baths, schools FOR sewing and cooking
and club rooms. Mr.. Knight stands
appalled, at the opposition his sug-
gestion meets with. Where one sup
ports 1t two opposes and one OF them
tue but could not be wheedled into
piety." 1t Is about time that churches
were looking the matter square in the
face. and looking al 1t In q rational
| manner.
Nothing more than what we see
around us Is needed to demonstrate
the fact that men will follow after
such means OF enjoyment, innocent
In themselves, as were mentioned by
Mr.. Knight. BY the use OF such at
fractions the church could not "whee-
die" men and women into piety, but
1t could bring them into good compa.
ny where temptations would not beset
them at every turn.
The time is not far distant when all
denominations OF Christians will have
to pay more attention to this matter
and bring into their midst an intelli-
gent, cheerful class Of people who are
not now willing to give up innocent
pleasures which tho churches forbid,
and become melancholy mlsanthro-
pists and religious recluses, Tho devil
has wonderful advantage now, as
church lines are drawn. All those en-
ioyments referred to by Mr.. Knight
are thrown to his Side and be has them
so graded and arranged that they
bring thousands OF recruits to his side
of the line that would naturally go to
the church side IL lit was less preiu-
diced and more liberal.
What the church wants Is to capture
the arms md ammunition OF the
enemy and draw the line at the sa-
looms, gambling den, RIGHTEOUSNESS,
profanity, dishonesty, and kindred
sins which should be left on the deviPs
side. II without doing evil that good
may come. the church can draw hu-
man beings away from vice, IL will
be doing far greater good than by
arguing over the right of women to
become exhorters and preachers or to
become delegates to conferences.
A new departure has already been
made in our city in this respect by the
organization OF the Young Mems
Christian Association, which is now re-
celving the support OF llberal-minded
mon OF all denominations. The asso-
citation has nearly all the eujoyments
that Mr.. Knight advocated. and the
consequence Is that many young men
now spend their evenings at the Young
Mems Christian Association rooms
that would otherwise spend them in
places Of amusement and recreation
with saloons and gambling rooms at
tached. Another departure from the
old lron-clad course is in the erection
of the West End Reading Rooms
through the enterprise OF Rodney
Street Presbyterian Church.
Many young men attend these rooms
to spend the evening. Those dlepoS-
cd to read find good library at hand,
those who want to take bath, find
every convenient facility, those who
want to exercise the muscles, have
dumb bells, pulleys, trapezes, horizon
tat lars, tumbling beds and Other
physical apparatus at hand. Besides
Il kindergarten school for small chill
dren is supported, and classes are
taught in drawing, sewing and cook
ing.
These people have got right dow
to the b of practical christianity
and the churches that do not taxi
hold of this Important matter in thu
same liberal spirit, will stand by ant
sac the crowd on the Devi1's side o
, tho line as now drawn, grow stronger
| and the churches on the other stdt
; grow weaker.