The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-08-31
A UniCn Meeting in the In
tereSt of Decency.
Hells so Near Church That Gam.
bier, Nay Hear tn, Sing ng.
Expesur.s by The News Fore. One Dive
Kepr to C0s: Up.

The first practical step for the exter-
mination of tho gamblers has been
taken A conference of representatives
of the different churches has been called
and, if necessary, social purity league
nay be formed To combat the evil. The
men are being urged on by the women.
The latter arc deeply in earnest and II
there is concerted action by tho varods
congregations or a reform organization
started they will be given an opportunity
To actively participate in the crusade
against those arch enemies OF society.
They are ready and anxious To take M
the work of publication, IL is said il some
one will only take the initiative. All
they want is leader. The burd n of
disgrace which the town has been forced
To bear for soslong. is every day becoming
more ana more sickoDing to the hearts OF
the mem bers of the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union and other intelligent
and public spirited women OF the COM
munity who are interested in its moral
Welfare. The last attack on tho gam blers
was lead by Mr.. Calder, superintendent
of the Broadway Baptist Sunday achool.
This movement proved a failure. Mr..
Calder was assisted by other ohurchmeD,
but there was no concerted action by tho
congregation or all the churches, such S
is contemplated in the present move
mout and after they had formally APP
pealed 20 the Town Council they ror-
mitted the matter to drop, and n0thing
substantial resulted from their efforts.
1t has been learned on very good author
". that the present movement originated
mung members OF tho MotnuGist EpiscO-
81 church ana. that-it was through them
Int the invitation Tor general confer
nco was extended 10 the other congrega-
sions In view nf this fHct. il IL more than
orobable that il the present plans are
arried out the movement will To led 10y
some one who was not prominently lden-
iticd with the last one. While all the
hurches are, OF course Interested in the
moral welfare of tho community. il seems
hut natural that the members of the NJ.
T.. Tabernacle should bo moro directly
concerned in tho fight against tho gam
bling evil than any of the Others for two
Vt the leading dens are within "a stones
throw OF the church building. In fact, the
gan blers might sit in their rooms and
isteu tn the music and the Sunday SER
mon. Those who remember some of the
lrusaGes of years gone by will recall the
TACT that the pastor Of this congregation
was one Of ito mnst persistent and ag-
oressivo antagonists of the gamblers and
other law breakers and breeders OF social
corruption. The priZe-flGhtipg element
which used to hold forth in the building
now occupied hy the NJ. l.. church. was
driven from tho town by the eiiCrt5 Uf
Rev Mr.. Rood. VINO was then IN charge
~ the NJ l.. church on harris avouUe
st " i'll therefore be nothing rev or uu-
usual il his church takes the lead in the
VTeseL. movemont
lhe WORK Of fi.tirg up tho new gam
hliug hell nn J lalL Held street has been
stopl-" most abruptly. Yesterday after
noon the place was closed tight and
apparently deserted. Not sound was ~
lie feard or workman sgen about he
place. IL could not be 10 ruod whether
tie Suspension Of the wurk was to Da
more than temporary or rot. uut there
sCem' to he VOL founded belief thnt
nothing further will he done tnprn TO-
Gao present a5 least. and there a:s some
who tLiDE that the place has been
abandoned for good.
IL may Le that the lGndlOrd7 didn't
relish tho uoturiety lie has tCon rrtting
o u OF it and Ia ordered lis new tenants
20 Law low for. ..sNbile, till the resent
agitation suhsires 10 Is more IFrlv.
however. that the gamblers theGselYes
have wi hdrhwn without any diytaiiOu
from tho landlord. TrCro NAV have reen
u little pressure truught to bear on them
by the police, who, strange rs il may
appear, do seem ID know how o. enforce
the law WI en- it Is violated bv others
than tho members of the rcCCgniSGi and
rpgu "rly established society pf law.
breal ecs. Whatever IL NAV b, there is no
doubt that ut for TIE Novs eXJOsurCs
yhe place would ho liz operation by tins
Wine, TO add TO the SHAME Of tho com
munity