Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-03-23

New York Sun, March 18th.
The Rev. DR.. w. S. Rainsford of St.
Georges Church, the originator OF the
idea of the church saloon, lectured on
his scheme before large audience in
the chapel of ST. Chrysostoms Church,
at 500 Seventh avenue last night. DR..
Rainsford's lecture had been extensively
advertised, and everybody interested
had been invited. Those who came
proved to be very much interested, some
of them even excited.
Dr. Rainsford began by saying that
most of the saloons in England were
owned by the distillers and brewers, and
that this system was being gradually
introduced here.
when all of our saloons are held in
this way" said DIR. Rainsford. ut is
going to be a serious thing. The only
thing that we can do is to meet fire with
ire. Alcohol has come here TO stay. 1t
has always been in use and always will
be. have been whacked and lam
basted almost every day by somebody
ever since | first made public my solu-
ton of the saloon question. The whack-
ings have never hurt me any, however,
and tonight am just as firm in my
belief that my solution is the only feas-
ible one as | was when first proposed
1t, and l can stand twice as much lam
basting in the future as | have had in
the past, and still remain of the same
mind. To tell the truth, every whack
administered to me has made me swell
up with pride.
YAH the men who keep saloons are
not bad men. have met saloon keepers
who were good men, although imagine
1t would be difficult to convince some
Prohibitionists of this fact. say right
now that | do not believe in prohibition
at all. You cannot force men to be
good by law. | thiEk that my scheme
is the only one that will do any good,
and in proof cite the case of Norway.
twenty-five years ago more liquor
per capita was sold there than in any
other country in the world. 1t was esti-
mated that in the course Of one year an
average of four gallons of liquor for
each and every man, woman and child
in Norway had been sold. In Gothen-
berg the better classes bought up each
saloon as its license expired, then SO.
cured new licenses and ran the saloons
in their own way. They sold only the
best quality of liquors, and all Of the
| profits outside OF 5 per cent, which was
retained for expenses, was turned over
to the municipality. The result has been
that in the last 10 years the cases of
delirium tremens in Norway have fallen
off "a per cent. This system does not
include beer sellers. In Norway house
which sells beer is known as a temper
| ance house.
This is the system l want to intro
duce here. | wanted to start saloon
connection with my church, but came
to the conclusion that one place of the
kind in this large city would be of no
use. want to see the day when clubs
will be started on every block in every
street in this city for the purpose af sell.
ing good beer and good whiskey, none
to be served to drunken men nor to
those likely to become drunk, and hone
| to be sold after certain hours at night
Make no secret of the place, but throw
open the blinds and create place where
you would not be ashamed to take your
wife. The present retail trade is the
greatest swindle on earth. The Gothen-
berg system has got TO come here, and
the time will come when the LIQUOR
business in this city will be in the hands
of the best people instead of in the hands
of the worst, as it is now.
A fairly well-dressed man, who had
made himself conspicuous several times
during the evening by bursts Of ap.
plause, got up and said:
"Fm jagged, for fair, but I've listened
to your remarks pretty carefully, Dr.
Ralnsford, and to say the east YOU are
logical. Yes, sir" went on this citizen,
to the amusement of the younger ele-
ment in the hall md the horror of the
old ladies present. elm pretty well
jagged. You may not believe It, but
| am
You'd better sit down." said DR..
Rainsford. Some Of the people in the
room agreed with the doctor, while
others urged the man to keep on. After
making few more remarks about his
jag the man sat down. He was heard
from several times before the evening
was out. A young man who said his
name was Coleridge A. Hart got up to
speak.
Never in my life" said Mr.. Hart
"until now have heard of a minister
of the gospel who advocated fighting
| the devil with fire. always heard that
the devil was to be fought with the doc
trine of the Holy Ghost, and tell you
it is the only right way to fight sin. DR.,
| Rainsfords idea is nonsense, | say.
Some others and | started a club on the
lines of DIR. Rainsford's Sunday.school
saloons some time ago. We divided it
into three classes. In the first light
wines could be INDUCED in the second
good liquors were allowed, while in the
third total abstinence was the rule.
Before the club had been going three
months every member in it belonged to
the second class, and half of them were
drunkards. Don't fight fire with fire,
but fight it with the Holy Ghost. How
would it look to go into II church saloon
of the kind the reverend doctor advo.
Gates and read signs OH the wall Golden
Text-Mint Juleps.' Sunday school
Cocktails Speciality Wouldn't that
be-"
Mr.. Hart was interrupted at this point
by o storm of Kisses. He tried to go on,
but the crowd would not let HIM. There
were more Kisses when small voice
came from corner as follows:
I'm Jagged, but you're logical, doctor,
and"
A tall, severe-looking man, with
minister's waistcoat, bald head, and iron
gray beard, arose and said:
rs this TO be free and open discus.
sion?''
at is" replied the Rev. DR.. Sill, who
officlated as chairman.
and may say what think"
"You may"
"rhen," said the man. 81 want to say
that DIR. Rainsford's church saloon is
the most Internal invention Of the devil,