The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-20
CHURCH IN THE SHOP
Sermons and Songs Supplant ShaveS,
= ShampOOs and Shines.
i BARRIERS ENJOY A NOVELTY
Caudy Papers and Naughty Pic
lures Slowed Away. While the
Shop Becomes Place Of Wor-
ship for the A. NJ. L. Church.

Elder II. II. Hawkins of the A. NJ. l..
church was in sore straits last Tuesday
evening. His flock is not large, and for
a year or more services have been held
from Sunday to Sunday in Matte block
hall.
After sessions of the Onion club the
hall is always well ventilated and aired
so that none of the associations of that
order pollute the atmosphere and In
general. the hall answers the purpose
just as well as a building can, that has
such a variety of uses as does this. But
on Tuesday night this hall was occu-
pied. and so was every other hall In
town taken by some society or dance.
The presiding elder, Rev. p. A. Hub
bard. came all the way from Denver to
hold n quarterly conference, and the
conference must be held, because,
though he came a few days earlier than
he anticipated. Elder Hubbard had to
hurry back home and had but one day
to stay in Anaconda. That meeting
must be held, but where?
Elder Hawkins was most distracted.
He had wore out the soles of his shoes
looking for "a hall. and prayer meetings
were holding the churches. IL seemed
as though there was no place avail
able. The elder stood lamenting his
hard luck in A. Fortier's barber shop
on Commercial avenue, where he does
duty during the week as porter. in ad-
dition to his Sunday responsibility as
pastor.
why not hold church in here. eld-
err" asked the proprietor
Here in this shop" exclaimed the
Rev. Mr.. Hawkins, "Whatl we do with
all these here pink picture papers?"
Fold them away. elder, you can get
them out again the next morning"
What about that picture up there.
of Sullivan punching Paddy Ryan's
face? What you going to do with
that?"
Turn IL to the wall. The brethren
need not see the fight at all. Those
pretty actresses. and other girls too,
and the racehorses. we will get them
out of sight. Lock up the razors. and
have the big chairs out of the way;
bring in the seats from the hall. We
can't take down those mirrors, but we
can give the women all front seats, so
the looking glasses won't bother them
any. Bring in the little table from the
back room, empty the deck of cards
and the chips out of the drawer and
then that will do for a pulpit. Don't
want a better church than this. do
your
The elder was amazed and delighted:
his grief turned to joy I'm an instant.
and the matter was settled. After the
closing hour the programme was car
iicu Oul anu tHdl IL NOW IL Hdpptntu
that a barber shop for the first time on
record became a sanctuary. for one
night.
A congregation of half a hundred peo-
pie filled the chairs. and as many more
stood up outside the door, attracted by
the singing of the hymns
Presiding Elder Hubbard preached an
eloquent discourse on the text Get
Thy House in order" from the book
OF Isaiah. His sermon was enjoyed by
the most of his hearers. who adapted
themselves to the situation. They ex-
pressed their profound thanks to Broth
er A Fortier and II such a thing were
possible he would be made an honorary
member of the A. NJ. Il. congregation.
and would be given a complimentary
ticket through the pearly gates.