The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-30

Through his dancing class as well as
through his bowling alleys and billiard
tables, Mr.. Scudder has Increased his
congregation at the Tabernacle amaz-
ingly. No word OF religion is spoken
In the Peoples Palace tthere are
plans for putting up a fine new build
ing here In a few years. by the way.
but somehow. over the billiard tables.
i'm the dance. the newcomer hears
some new acquaintance say: why
don't We come TO hear Scudder preach?
He's a good onei" The newcomer
generally says hat he doesn't carr for
church particularly. But sooner or lat
err he IL apt to go. and sooner or later
Join. The present clerk of the Taber-
nacle is a man who dropped In a
| OF the excellence OF the Scudder billiard
ables He finally became connected
and Joined the church. Some time lat
or the trustees. looking around for a
clerk. decided that he was Just the
man.
They are telling a good story In Jer-
sey City now of a Methodist divfne
there. Rev. w. IL. Beach. a conserva-
\ tive OF the conservative. This minis
ter declared that the Scudder church
was all bowling alley" Through curl
osity he visited the Tabernacle once
and found a prayer meeting In pro-
gress. To his surprise. the meeting was
a most earnest one. and half a score
/ OF young men signified conversion. Be
| fore the prayers were over this minis
ter had Joined In and was leading most
vigorously. He. OF course. recanted
what he had said about FALL bowling
alley at the first opportunity. Some
time afterwards he met Mr.. d
and congratulated him upon his dane
ing class. do you know" said Rev.
Mr.. Beach. 1--WE been thinking II over.
: There's an article In our faith that
the Young people who Join our church
must pledge themselves against dane
ing. I am trying TO have that article
struck out"
II have been ~ years here" said
Mr.. Scudder. 1T was eight years ago
7 started my bowling alley. the FIRST
OF these experiments. Next to he Tab
ernacIe we had a reading room. But
reading was not the thing for boys tired
out after a long days work. They
wanted 20 run and Jump. to swing their
arms. Now. we had i've on our reading
room committee. two liberal men. two
very conservative. and myself. a
thai spring the two conservative mem
hers happened 20 be out OF town. ]
called a meeting. We had a majority
three. won over the two liberals. and
out Of my own money j had a bowling
alley set up"
Here Mr.. Scudder commenced u
laugh. He told OF the horror of tn
trustees. how they came In a body u
see him, how they had q meeting from
80 TO II one evening. how that meet
ing was adjourned until the next nigh
and the battle was fought over again
well. gentlemen" said Mr.. Scudder
late that second evening. I'll tell you
Well chop the halls and the alleys uI
and use them for firewood."
This handling OF the situation as
founded even b trustees. No. the,
wouldn't do that. Then. gentlemen.
said Mr.. Scudder. "Ili tell you. lie
> us try IL a month"
The reading room" in its new guis
, proved a greater success than II eve
/ had been before. The battle for tn
/ amelloration Of Jersey City's siums wa
. won. Even the dancing class. when !
/ came. much as II has astonished tn
, outside world. did not shock the city
For the people kne that the domini
of the tabernacle had a method of hi
own for getting at things and tina
5 ascudder's way" was bound 10 sue
2 coed. CROMWELL CHILDE.