The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-04-15
1T IS NOT A FAIRY GANG
Nothing Neurological in the Makeup
Of the Mandolin Club
INITIAL PUBLIC MEETING
solid s-carat Doctrine Expounded
BY the ErudIte and Polished
President of the Reform
Club OF the Seat of Learning.

MIssoULA, April 14.-The Mandolin
club held its Sunday evening session in
| X. p. hall tonight in honor of Easter and
| the members had invited generous
number of their friends to be present.
| that they might be satisfied that the club
| is not a mythical organization, as has
| been imagined in some quarters. The
hall was handsomely decorated with lilies
and green vines and presented a very att
tractive appearance. The meeting was
called to order at 9:15 O'Clock by The
President. The full membership of the
club was present, except Fat Bill, who is
out OF the city. The guests of the even
ing numbered about 40 and The Profess
sor, as accompanies, was aided in his eff
forts by a full orchestra.
The President announced to the guests
that this was the first time that the Man,
dolin club had ever held an open meeting
and 1t would probably be the last, as the
only object of this meeting was to show,
that the club is a genuine affair and not,
as some of its critics have repeatedly as
serted, an imaginary organization. "But,
the club's methods are SUCH" continued
The President, that our meetings must
be secret. We do an active work, in the
matter of local reform, but we. do it
quietly and do not care to announce all
our plans to the public. We discuss vital
topics and such of the discussions as will
benefit the public we publish. thank
the guests for the honor OF their presence
and / trust that they will appreciate the,
merits of the club before we adjouru.'' 4
OThe club then sang with fervor its own
song, Away, Away With Vice and Rum"
to the accompaniment of The Professor
and the orchestra, after which The Presi-
dent announced that the discussion of the
evening would be partic pated in by Lean
Bill and The Secretary, who would each
present briefly one side of tho question,
Resolved: That 1t more benefits q mans
soul to stay away from church than to 60
to look at other peoples Clothes" Lean
Bill took the negative, as he is an ardent
believer In tue efficacy of church attend
ance. He spoke, in part, as follows: 4,
"There seems to me but one side of the
question which has been stated here to-
night. 1 believe that, even IL the motive
of churchgoers is to look at Easter bon
nets, they will be benefited by attending
divine service, for / am certain that no
body can be so obtuse as not to receive
some benefit from church service, after
he is seated in the congregation. No mat
ter how interested he is in the millinery
and tailoring of others, he cannot help
hearing some of the sermon and some of
the music and he is bound to be improved
and bettered by it."
Lean Bill then proceeded to cite in-
stances that had come under his observa-
ton of people who had "gone to scoff and
remained to pray" and he stated that if
a man once gets inside a church he is
bound to receive some benefit from it. If
he has fallen from grace, it will set him
to thinking and will perhaps swing him
back into line. If be has never benin
the habit of attending church, he may be
inspired with new tastes that will better
his condition. -I et4t
Lean Bill was warmly applauded and
there did not seem to be much sentiment
in favor of The Secretary, when he arose
to state the stay-at-home side of the prop
osition. He was undaunted, however,
and started in bravely as follows:
II am of the opinion that an honest sim
ner is better than n hypocritical church,
goer. / have all respect for a man who
goes to church, inspired by proper mo-
tives. In fact, l frequently go. myself.
But have no use, whatever, for man
who goes-I use man In the general sense
to see what others wear or for any other
frivolous purpose. The man who stays at
home or goes out into the country finds
much in what he sees and hears to inspire
In him belief in God and q respect for
Him. Such man, to my way of think
ing, is n better man than the one who
goes to church without any sincere pur-
pose. One is honest and the other is
hypocrite." ~
The Secretary concluded by stating that
it had been his experience that hypo-
critic does more harm in a community
than any number of men of the other
class. "A man who goes to church SUM-
day that he may have luck at gambling
during the week, is no man for me. There
is at least one such man in this town, and
think that a man who stays away from
church is better than he is"
Another round of applause greeted
The Secretary and when the vote was
taken on the question, the result showed
that he had made some converts. The
members and guests were all invited to
vote and the result was as follows: At
firmative. "a; negative, %. rt1lr
The audience then joined in singing the
Doxology and the meeting adjourned, the
guests being firmly convinced that the
Mandolin club is a reality.