The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-03-16
MICHIGAN LETTER.
DETROIT CRUSADE.

A crusade is in course at Detroit for
the purpose of enforcing the closing OF
saloons on Sundays. The chief factor
is stiff prosecuting attorney who is
forcing all saloons to pay their licenses
and to obey the law respecting closing
hours. and the aiding factor is city
club which has interested itself in see
ing that the officials carry out the law.
1t may be doubtful if any permanent
improvement will be gained from this
spasmodic effort, and it may be doubted
if there is really much less drinking. but
it will at least stir up anew the temper
ance sentiment and show what can be
done when the attempt is made. 1t will
also enlist new workers in the cause of
temperance and bring out new phases
of the problem. The streets of the city
have been very quiet on these few Sun
days. and the police judge tells me that
there has been a vast change in the
character of his work on Monday morn
ing. If only we could add to this side
of the work the coffee house element
and as we shut up the saloon, could
open the reading room and coffee room
still larger gains would be made. A
great many of the frequenters of the sa-
loon seek chiefly comfortable place in
which to lounge. Their own boarding
houses are cold and unsocial, and as
they go the to saloon they do not feel
like occupying seats without buying
glasses of liquor. To kill the saloon fea-
ture we should fill its place with better
pleasure. In our cities there are multi
tudes of men and boys who have no re-
sort but the saloon, and while we have
made great attempts to close the saloon,
we have done little to make plans of
proper social pleasures for those who
have no home but cold boarding house
room.
A movement is on foot here in Detroit
to start Coffee House Company to pro-
vide for this condition, but as yet it has
not gone far enough to prove its full
practicability. 1t costs more to supply
good coffee, bread and milk than it does
beer and whisky. So it always is. the
good in the world has double value.
and what comes cheaply is usually of
proportionately cheap value.
EAGLE.
A series of meetings was held at this
place. under the direction of the pastor,
Rev. w. S. Goodell, during the two
weeks between Feb 9TH and 22nd. The
preaching services were held in the even
ing and sermons were delivered the first
week, by the clergymen, H. L. Thornton
of Lapeer, G. p. Nash of Pennington,
Olivia Carpenter OF Diamondale; and
the second week by Charles Legal of
Lansing, Lee S. McCollester of Detroit
and by the pastor. The meetings were
we'll attended and much interest was
manifested in the cause of our faith.
On the Sunday following communion
was administered and number of men
and women united with the church.
Mr.. Goodel and his family are now To-
Gated at Eagle, but as the parish does
not demand his full time, he is available
for other work in the State part of the
time.
GRAND RAPIDS.
Rev. Thomas W. Illman preached his
first sermon as pastor of this parish
Sunday, March Sd. He comes from the
old capital city of Concord, N. H., where
he has been located for the past five
10 nj nj
strength, pleasing address and earnest
interest in his profession. On his first
appearance as pastor the church was
filed to greet him and welcome him to
his new home. The expressed feeling
of all is that Mr.. Illman is the man for
Grand Rapids and that Grand Rapids is
the place for him. We heartily rejoice
that SO brief an interregnum has occurred
between the departure of DR.. Fluhrer
and the settlement of this new pastor,
and we would welcome this new conner
heartily to the company Of workers of
this State.
PORT HURON.
Port Huron is not to retire into silence
at present. 1t is coming into larger
mention as losing the soldier minister
who may be Chaplain of the next House
of Representatives. Mr.. Couden is en-
inentiy fitted for this honorable position
and we sincerely hope he may gain the
place. In consideration OF this prob
ability it is possible that Mr.. Couden
may consent to remain while longer at
Port Huron, and at least see the parish
past the summer season.